Evanston to the loop commute? (Chicago, Addison: insurance, transfer, neighborhood)

[zachb7]

So I've been trolling these forums a bit and found some really good information so far. I'm moving to Chicago in a couple months, and am going to be working in the loop, but my wife doesn't want to live right in the city. So far we've been looking at places like Lincoln Park/Lakewood, or something as far north as Evanston. It looks like there's enough public transit options to Evanston, but how long does it take on the subway? I've got about an hour commute from Queens to NYC right now (15 min walking + 40 min or so subway). I'll also be bringing a car, but not sure I want to pay for parking in the city and drive every day.

thanks

[jessiegirl_98]

You can go to Chicago Transit Authority | 1-888-YOURCTA and enter your starting and ending addresses to get a better time estimate, but the purple line and the EVANSTON-DAVIS STREET METRA both go from Evanston. The metra would take about 30 minutes to the loop. It would be about 30-40 minutes via the purple line, depending on exactly where you live/work.

[KevK]

If you go during rush hours via the CTA subway, it runs express from Evanston (Howard) to the Loop stopping only at the Belmont transfer station on the way. It takes about 30 minutes. Off hours, it only runs between Howard and Wilmette which means you will have to ride the Chicago train to Howard, get off and switch to the Evanston train. That will mean about 45 minutes up until midnight and about an hour after midnight. METRA also stops in Evanston and runs to the Loop in about 30 minutes. So you have 2 options.

[KevK]

And no, you do not even want to think about paying for parking in the Loop! It cost more than Times Square!

[Windy City John]

ditch your car, GO GREEN --live along Gold Coast, Printers Row, Musiem Park, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Wrigleyville--whatever floats your boat..

If you do bring your car expect to pay $150-$200 a month to park it at night and you will pay 10-20 bucks a day to park it at work. That's another $400/month. So you are up to $600 a month plus insurance plus gas-- so now you are up to $800/month to have a car in the city. That doesn't include you car payment.

[Mel2882]

You mean Lakeview, not Lakewood, right? The commute by train to the Loop on the red line from the Addison, Belmont, or Fullerton stop in Lincoln Park or Lakeview is about 20-25 minutes. However, if you don't want to live in the city, these places are probably not for you. Evanston is pretty nice, and taking the purple line or the purple line to the red line to the Loop wouldn't take you more than an hour.

[mshalen]

Parking in Chicago is just like parking in midtown NYC. Avoid it if at all possible. Take public transportation. The 30 minute trip is not too bad.

[Attrill]

If you're looking for a place that is a little less urban and more leafy check out West Andersonville/Ravenswood/North Lincoln Square. The area around the Ravenswood Metra is very nice and neighborhoody - plus you can either take the Brown line or Metra to the Loop. The Brown line is pretty slow with current construction, but Metra costs about $2 and takes about 10 minutes.

[zachb7]

Thanks for the replies. I think the wife has decided an hour commute is too long (she's thinking about going back for a masters at UIC and doesn't want that long a commute to classes).

[zachb7]

I saw the metra wasn't that long a ride into the city.. but I'll be working right next to the Clark stop in the loop, and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to get from the last stop on the Metra to the loop.