Commute from Northbrook to Downtown Chicago (Wilmette: how much, depreciation, taxes)

[pred8er]

Hi All,

We currently live in Edgewater, and we have decided to take a look at the surrounding areas for a more surburban feel.

Northbrook is a nice place that we like very much.

I was wondering what the commute from Northbrook to Chicago downtown is like.

i start work at 7am and finish between 3-4 pm

Not sure what the traffic is like on the highway at 7am

I imagine even at 3-4 it would still be very busy?

Any info anyone has would be very helpful...

Thanks!

[Ace Rothstein]

Is there any reason you wouldn't take Metra?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

Is there any reason you wouldn't take Metra?

+2. There's no reason to do this unless you want to deal with traffic and your company actually pays for your parking (expensive as all hell downtown).

I have coworkers who live in Northbrook and take the Metra downtown. No big deal to them. I think it's less than an hour..

[pred8er]

Is Wilmette any better?

I just prefer driving over train etc

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by pred8er

Is Wilmette any better?

I just prefer driving over train etc

You are aware that parking downtown is $30-$50/day right?

[pred8er]

I am aware it costs me $13 per day with my early morning arrival....

[MannheimMadman]

To answer the initial question, you're joining the ranks of many executives and others who commute from the north-shore. Traffic on the Edens/Kennedy starts very early in the morning wanes a bit, and picks up again fairly early in the afternoon.

I would guesstimate at least an hour each way +/- 15 minutes.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by pred8er

I am aware it costs me $13 per day with my early morning arrival....

$13 for downtown? Not as bad. Well I guess it only depends on how much you want to spend for housing huh?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by marothisu

$13 for downtown? Not as bad. Well I guess it only depends on how much you want to spend for housing huh?

Chances are if they want to live in Northbrook and are working in the Loop, they make decent enough coin that parking isn't going to break them. Still, $13/day is nearly $300/month, plus that's 50 miles round-trip of wear-and-tear on the car. With $4 gas and a reasonable 30/mpg, that's an extra $140 a month just in gas. Probably 2 extra oil changes per year at $30 each rounds it out to be $5,000 per year (mostly after-tax) to commute by car. That's ignoring additional depreciation on the car from the mileage, which would vary widely depending on the car make and model.

An E-zone monthly pass from Metra costs $1,800 per year, likely pre-tax at most downtown employers, so the *minimum* annual premium the original poster is willing to pay to commute by car is $3,200, without considering taxes or depreciation but assuming he or she doesn't need to pay for parking by the Northbrook Metra station. (my coworkers who use Metra lots pay less than $400/year to use them, though, so it's not enough to tip the scales in the equation - driving would still carry a minimum of a $2,900 premium annually). Heck, even assuming they don't commute downtown for 1 month a year (to cover holidays and vacation), the premium is still about $2,500/year, minimum.