Driving/Parking, Chicago

In any big city and especially one like Chicago it is very expensive to park downtown. Being from the suburbs of Chicago whenever I want to spend a day in the city either walking around, visiting friends or going to a ballgame at Wrigley Field by preferred choice of transportation is to take the Blue Line "EL" train. The easiest way for me to go is to drive from my hometown of Naperville to the Forest Park station which is the terminus for the Blue Line "EL". Although this still involves a 20 mile car ride for me it still is worth it.

When I arrive at the Forest Park stop I will park by car in one of several lots surrounding the station. An all day 24 hour parking pass is $5.00. You buy your ticket at the automated machine which will take cash or credit cards and then take the receipt and put it on the driver's side front window. I have done this numerous times and without any problems. From there it is a short walk to the train.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning recently just released the congestion scans (or traffic patterns) for various highways around Chicagoland. It gives you data about the average speed on a highway between various exits. If you're driving to/from the city and don't want to get stuck in traffic, it's a good idea to plan ahead and avoid driving during certain hours of the day based on the scans.

For example, the link below gives the scans for I-90 between the I-90/I-94 split and O'Hare airport:
http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/assets/0/24/52/658/becf0c8f-7319-4eb7-91b0-c07115930391.jpg
Going towards the airport, it shows that rush-hour traffic on I-90 are 6-10am and 2-6pm. But traffic usually clears up after Nagle Ave exit when you're heading westbound.

See the website below for the complete traffic scans of all highways.
Note that the data are for Tue-Thu.

Chicago has 4 seasons - Winter, Early Construction, Mid-Construction, and Late Construction. And even without construction and bad weather, traffic is inevitable. Driving to Chicago on the expressways can be very unpleasant. Just when you think everything is going well, you see nothing but brake lights ahead of you.

To prepare for traffic, it is good to tack on some extra travel time when driving to Chicago from a nearby area during the day. A good radio station for traffic updates is 780 AM with updates every 10 minutes. From 10pm - 7am, there shouldn't be any problem, but it happens. There is nothing like a 2am traffic jam, eh?

The link is to a congestion map which is updated frequently. Notice all the orange diamonds representing construction.

If you are traveling to or from Chicago through Northwest Indiana, this very helpful website by the Indiana Department of Transportation provides up to the minute information and live cameras of traffic and road conditions.

If you are listening to traffic reports while driving through Chicago, in addition to the highway number, sections of these highways in and around Chicago have different names that they are more commonly known by

Kennedy-highway 90/94 West runs north from downtown Chicago, at the Junction the Kennedy (90) keeps going northwest towards O'Hare and the Northwest suburbs, renamed after President John F. Kennedy after his assasination in 1963

Edens Expressway-highway 94 West runs north from the Kennedy Junction to the north suburbs, named for William Edens, head of the Illinois Highway Improvement Association, who ironically never owned or drove a car.

Dan Ryan-highway 90/94 East actually runs south from downtown, splits into the Bishop Ford (94) and the Chicago Skyway (90), named for Daniel B. Ryan, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

Bishop Ford-highway 94 runs east from the Dan Ryan into Indiana, formerly named the Calumet Expressway, renamed in 1996 honor of the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford who had a church nearby.

Eisenhower-highway 290, runs west from downtown Chicago to the western suburbs, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, very appropriate as he was a major force in the development of interstate highways (although 290 isn't an interstate highway as it just runs through Illinois)

Stevenson-highway 55, runs south from Chicago towards St. Louis, named after Illinois governor and presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson

If you're a bigger geek than me and want more info, everything you could possibly want to know about the highways can be found at the website below.

4 more images

Drivers and Driving in Chicagoland is particularly stressfull are Chicago has a reputation of the worst drivers in the whole if the United States, even meaner than Manhattan drivers! lot of overspeeding, tail gating, lane changes, rude driving (but asian drivers in asia are worst hehehe like in Manila and Bangkok). it is every man for himself here in Chicago once you hit the streets. Some locals even lack common courtesy maybe because they are all in a hurry or they are stressed out. Or they are not concerned with your safety. Where they have to go is much more important than where you are going. Don’t worry if you’re not a mind reader. Communication between displeased drivers is very much in the open. If it is aimed at you, the point will be made. Just get out of the way.If you will be driving on one of Chicago’s expressways (they are not freeways) make sure you are loaded up with plenty of change for the tolls. Just about anywhere you go; you’ll hit a toll booth. Stay to the right if you have change. Currently the rate is 80 cents per toll and you may go through several. There are toll booth personal who can give you change and they are also helpful with directions.

4 more images

although public transport is cheap and efficient in chicago and getting on tour buses are excellent and renting a car would let you go places, all of this would entail time and some limitations like tour time or parking fees so the best bet in touring around chicago is riding on the cars or vans or SUV's of Local Chicagoans that are your friends but you have to plan it for months as not to inconvenience them with their busy schedules and to have some quality bonding so I make it a point to meet friends when I visit an area an schedule them when their are not busy but also make it a point that you also treat them for luch or dinner and share in the expenses, don't be an "el cheapo" and your friends will appreciate it!

4 more images

Chicago street parking can be a nightmare for travelers who don't understand how it all works. The city is famous for its efficient towing services and fast ticket writers. Public parking meters are different from most other cities in the U.S. Instead of the traditional, single-space meters that once lined the streets, the city installed several multi-space solar powered units to free up the streets. These meters also offer drivers the opportunity to pay with credit cards or debit cards in addition to coins. It helps to know where and when to park and to plan accordingly. With all the congestion and crowds often found in downtown areas, parking spaces are limited. If you are planning on parking on the street, be sure to check around for signs and meters. Careless parking in tow zones or permit spaces can lead to hefty fines and tickets, and can even get your car towed away. Also make sure that you leave your car with enough space to avoid other cards from dinging or bumping your vehicle.