South Loop to Des Plaines commute?

[chet everett]

Sorry to hear you are sorta stuck. The combination of living in south Loop and working anywhere north / NW is bad.

I almost think you might be better off with some surface street options. The traffic along Roosevelt or even Jackson / Washington Blvd is probably more consistent than the stuff on the Kennedy that is impacted by everything from Cubs games to ramp closers on 294.

The time savings will ne minimal, but at least if you do take something like River Rd to DesPlaines you can grab a quick not dog now and then or sop by the casino...

Unless office is very near Metra station it would be hard to bicycle with all the truck traffic that tends to travel through DesPlaines. If you can find overnight parking that might at least save the nerve jangling stress of unpredictable traffic delays.

Originally Posted by KP726

Thanks for all the replies! We have already purchased a home in the South Loop, so changing housing is not an option. The job is going to be 8-430. So kinds sucks both ways as I tried taking Kennedy.
So do yall think 290 to 294 would be easier/quicker. Is Kennedy the worst interstate for rush hour?

[KP726]

I was looking at the Metra site and it shows the following as possibilites.
UP-NW: Ogilve--> Des Plaines, Cumberland, Dee road (all within 3 miles)
NCS: Union Station---> O'hare, Rosemont (within 3 miles)

This is actually for my wife, I could drop her off at either station and pick her up as well.
Which do you think is the best bet from 1400 block of S. Michigan?

Ogilvie/Union Station- which is easier to get to in morning/evening for pickup/dropoff?

Des Plaines,Cumberland,Dee Rd, O'hare, Rosemont- Which is the safest areas as my wife will be alone, for winter- which stops are cleaned the best, overnight parking available?,

on the website it shows street parking. is this permit parking? need a parking pass? How do you find out if there is a parking garage?

Thanks again for all the help

[Mr Downtown]

Ogilvie and Union stations are virtually the same distance from 14th & Michigan. No real difference, though traffic congestion is usually worse at Union. Also, there are a lot more UP-NW trains each day.

All the stations you mention are perfectly safe. Rosemont is below an overpass and will be a little lonely compared to the others. O'Hare is just a hut in a corner of the airport parking lot, though there are office buildings beside it. Street parking might be a possibility at Cumberland or Dee Road, but it might be a few blocks from the train stop. Des Plaines is right downtown, and there are a couple of municipal parking garages that might offer monthly passes.

[syi916]

Bike from the metra? But West Loop would be more accessible to both of the trains. I also live in the South Loop... if it has to be South Loop, shoot me an email syi916 at hotmail dot com.

[Sposda]

Des Plaines typically has ample parking overnight. I believe the downtown Des Plaines garage behind the theatre (always 2/3 empty) has a monthly pass option, but if you're not leaving it there during the day you should be fine. Parking enforcement is very rare. There are also several commuter lots.