Moving to Chicago, working in Des Plaines - reasonable CTA/Metra commute? (Algonquin: transfer)

[urbanchillage]

Hello,

I'm moving to Chicago (internal company transfer) and will stay temporarily with my sister in Ukrainian village until I get my own place (presumably near the blue line). The job is in Des Plaines and I was told that people regularly commute out there on the trains from the city. However, looking at google maps today the average commute times are an hour and a half to hour and 45 minutes starting at Damen O'Hare station and either taking the UP-NW Metra from Irving Park or a bus from Rosemont. That doesn't seem very reasonable to me especially since its telling me its only 28 minutes drive (without traffic). Between having to pay monthly fairs for both CTA and Metra and all the time lost (some of the bus and train times look challenging like going only twice or even once an hour) - is there no way around that I will just need to get a car?

Any input on an alternate/best route or general advice would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

[chet everett]

Data seems accurate from goggle maps -- 28 minute drive vs much slower public transit.

[Drover]

Where in Des Plaines would the job be located?

[jsk1983]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Data seems accurate from goggle maps -- 28 minute drive vs much slower public transit.

If you factor in traffic then that 28 minutes can likely double.

[chet everett]

Google maps is now incorporating data from the Waze app. That data has improved estimates, especially when using routes that are commonly traveled at typical commuter hours. It seems Waze actual "real time navigation" is still more accurate during "live" use than the generic google maps estimates.

I suspect they have some kind of algorithm to try to smooth out delays that are clearly due to poor weather conditions on the main google maps web pages that the real time navigation does not apply.

Of course live Waze data also has the user feedback for tie-ups caused by collisions / police activity, roadwork, or just "vehicle stopped on shoulder ahead". That kind of thing also seems averaged out of the google estimates.

Given the proximity of even the furthest corners of DesPlaines to not just expressways / tollways but also decent alternative surface streets I think 28 minutes is a mostly accurate estimate from the neighborhoods the OP is considering expect in the absolute worst-case weather related situation and of course in such situations the travel times on buses and even heavy rail often climb even more dramatically.

[jdiddy]

28 minutes from Ukranian Village to Des Plaines during rush hour? Not a chance.

[urbanchillage]

Thanks for the replies everybody... I'll be working on Algonquin road near the Wolf/Algonquin bus stop. It looks like I have 2 main options - either the blue line to Rosemond and then take the 606 or 221 bus or I can take the metra from maybe Irving Park to the Des Plaines stop. Any idea which is more reliable or goes more frequently? Also since the Pace buses are on the Ventra system but Metra is not does that mean it will be cheaper since I can use a Ventra monthly for both the Pace and CTA instead of also having to pay a Metra fee?

[MSchemist80]

You are better off taking the CTA and pace. It is cheaper as you can transfer from the CTA to Pace for only a small additional cost. OTOH Metra and Pace both will charge full fares plus you are waiting for both the metra runs infrequently for reverse commuters and the pace bus. The CTA runs every 10 minutes.


Another good option is to get a folder bike to commute with and take it on to the metra. It is a short ride from Desplaines to Algonquin and Wolf. You can take a regular bike as you will be a reverse commuter but as I said on another thread you are at the mercy of the conductor. He can tell you no at any time if he feels the train is too crowded though I've not had that happen to me. Not so with a folder.