Highways from Fort Wayne (South Bend, Portage: 2010, costs, airport)

[Signora]

Hello,

I have been reading a lot about revival projects for downtown Fort Wayne.... After studying the map and looking at travel times from Fort Wayne to the cities around it... I am wondering if there are any plans to build better highways to link Fort Wayne to the cities around?

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by Signora

Hello,

I have been reading a lot about revival projects for downtown Fort Wayne.... After studying the map and looking at travel times from Fort Wayne to the cities around it... I am wondering if there are any plans to build better highways to link Fort Wayne to the cities around?

Good question. And one that buggers me quite a bit. There is I-69 for quick travel to Indy and Detroit region, but try to go east, west, or variations thereof, and you are stuck on mostly 2 lane roads - exception being mainly US30, which is 4-lane semi-interstate, but yet has stop lights impeding good flow of traffic. Upgrades are needed IMHO on US33 also, considering the heavy amount of traffic that route receives also.

A general overview of the State's plans: STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN

[rrtechno]

Work is currently underway to improve US 24 to the east to 4 lane somewhat interstate (mostly 65 mph in Ohio) to Toledo, but Ohio is much farther along than Indiana. The Ohio section I believe is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2010, although the stretch from the state line to Napoleon should be completed in 2009. If you are looking for total interstate to say Chicago, I believe you would need to take I 69 up to the Toll Road by Angola to go west from there.

[MzSnapCup]

Hwy 24 from Huntington to Fort Wayne is a good road to travel. Only takes about 25 minutes.

[Signora]

I am unfamiliar with Huntington. Is there something specific to go visit there?

How about the train that travels north of Fort Wayne? Is that a convenient way to get to Chicago?
We have a train that goes from Portage, WI to Chicago... but it is almost always late! Are they more timely coming from the East?

It just looks like Chicago is soooo close on the map... until I ask about actual travel time! I find it hard to believe that people wouldn't want a faster safer road there.

[ShadowCaver]

Signora - yea, as one that travels to Chicago on semi-regular basis, it is a pain [relatively speaking] to get from FtW to that city. Three main options: US 30, US 33, or I 80/90... the latter, while all interstate, takes you tad east of north to start, and then ya flow due west, but at that expense of going so far north to get going. US 30 and 33, as stated before, take you through numerous towns/areas w/ stop lights, even tho' 30 is 4-lane vast majority of its way. Would love to see 30 turned into an interstate, or at least something w/ fewer traffic lights. Not just a time saver, but fuel, brakes, safety, convenience...

[rrtechno]

Originally Posted by Signora

How about the train that travels north of Fort Wayne? Is that a convenient way to get to Chicago?
We have a train that goes from Portage, WI to Chicago... but it is almost always late! Are they more timely coming from the East?

Personally, I have never been on the train to Chicago. We are north and east of Ft Wayne and the nearest train station is 10 minute away. I have friends who ALWAYS take the train to Chicago and friends who have taken the train and said they will NEVER do it again. Just keep in mind that as far as schedules go, Amtrak generally shares rails with freight trains, and the freight trains have priority.

I checked the train schedule out once to try to use it to visit our sons near Cincinnati. Their train station is about 10 minutes away from them also. Going there would be 23 hours if everything is on time and coming back would be 25 hours. Round trip cost when I checked ... $292 per person. I don't check it too often.

I looked up the Waterloo-Chicago route. They have trains scheduled to leave Waterloo at 6:24 and 7:33 AM for Chicago and return at 10:47 PM and 1:45 AM with one way ticket costs ranging from $26 to $50.

Good luck in your travels.

[MzSnapCup]

If I had my choice I would drive my car to Chicago, not take the train.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by MzSnapCup

If I had my choice I would drive my car to Chicago, not take the train.

Or drive to the south bend airport and take the southshore into Chicago. It saddens me so say, but Amtrak is just too unreliable on that route.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Or drive to the south bend airport and take the southshore into Chicago. It saddens me so say, but Amtrak is just too unreliable on that route.

lol, to me, if I'm gonna drive that far, unless I need to be in area of Chicago where my vehicle would be more hindrance than help, I'd just keep on trekking past South Bend and on in to Chicago - as you say, more reliable than that alternative... altho' that could be an enjoyable ride to do sometime.