Metra vs CTA

This question was buried in a previous post I had, so thank you to everyone who replied to that post, but I was hoping for some more advice now that I did some research.

I will be staying in the Northbrook Radisson for three weekdays, and will be going to downtown Chicago. My question is should I take the Metra or the CTA. My 2 options are:

OPTION 1:Drive from Radisson Northbrook to Glenview Metra 5 miles (11 Min-per Mapquest), Train from Metra to Union Station approximately 40 minutes

OPTION 2: Drive from Radisson Northbrook to Linden 12 miles (30 Min-per Mapquest), CTA Train from Linden to Union Station approximately 45-50 minutes

My biggest thing is that it seems that being tied to the Metra (likley not going to be the rush hour trains, so the wait will be an hour) doesn%26#39;t seem very convient when on vacation. However, I know that the Metra trains are nicer (not sure how much nicer) and I will spend up to a half hour more going to Linden.

Based on my previous post the Linden station is safe and $2 to park. Can anyone tell me anything about the Glenview Metra station?? Financially I will have a CTA visitor pass, but with Metra I would have to buy seperate fares (2 of us)

WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST???

Metra vs CTA

Metra trains are much nicer, in my opinion, and have bathrooms and conductors. It%26#39;s a pleasant experience (or about as much of one as public transit can be.) I would personally not spend the extra half hour going to Linden and then waiting for a CTA train that will likely take about 45 minutes (more or less) to get downtown from there. Plus, with Metra, you are departing from Union Station, which is certainly a nicer place to wait than on a subway or ';L'; platform.

Personally, I think it%26#39;s worth it to be on the more relaxing Metra trains (nicer seats, more comfortable) and they%26#39;re much closer to your hotel. The Glenview station is very nice and I believe that Glenview station also handles Amtrak trains. Glenview, like Northbrook, is another very nice North suburb. Hopefully when you get there the wait will be less than an hour, and you%26#39;ll time it so that you won%26#39;t have to wait long for a train. The nice thing with Metra is that, aside from an occasional mechanical issue, track work or bad weather, they are on-time the majority of the time.

The Metra train from Glenview should be a little over $3 each way, but again, I%26#39;m a fan of Metra for longer distances whenever possible and think it%26#39;s more than worth it. Taking the CTA to get across downtown for a few minute ride is fine, but I%26#39;m not a fan of taking it all the way out to Wilmette (Linden) or O%26#39;hare. I%26#39;d much rather take Metra, especially as it gets later in the evening or during rush hour.

Others may feel differently, but I%26#39;m 100% in recommending Metra.

Metra vs CTA

Make that 110%.

You can count me as being of a different opinion on Metra vs. CTA. Yes, the trains are nicer and have restrooms and conductors, but they run a more limited schedule and doesn%26#39;t run as late. If you miss your train, you will be waiting for an hour or more. Also, do you really want to use a restroom in a commuter train?

CTA trains run every 10-20 minutes (sometimes even more frequently) and the Red and Blue Lines run 24/7/365. The Purple Line runs until 2 a.m. (The last train arrives at Linden at 2:20 a.m.)

A correction to your post: CTA trains do not run to Union Station. Once south of Fullerton, the Red Line descends into a subway and eventually runs underneath State St. The advantage is that you have less of a walk (or bus ride) to the things you will most likely want to do downtown. Union Station is in the west Loop, and somewhat more of a walk.

If you already have a visitor pass, you might as well use it.

DVD%26#39;s given you excellent information.

Metra has nicer trains, but limited schedules off rush hour.

CTA has the schedule flexibility and is less expensive since you%26#39;ll already have a visitor pass.

A suggestion - if you don%26#39;t mind driving a few extra miles, drive to the Davis St train station in downtown Evanston. There%26#39;s a city parking garage there. At that point, you can catch a Metra or CTA train. You%26#39;ll have the flexibility of train options, depending on the time of day. Also, if you%26#39;re hungry, there are tons of dining option in the immediate area.

BTW - if you end up at the Glenview Metra station - good eats at - www.thenoodlecafe.com - it%26#39;s across the street to the east.

I really don%26#39;t see the Metra schedules being too terribly limited. If you get there within half an hour of a train, it%26#39;s not that much of a wait, especially considering the drive to Linden would be quite a bit further. Keeping the schedule (which is available on-line) in mind, it%26#39;s easy to budget more than enough time to get to the station in advance. And the restrooms on the Metra trains aren%26#39;t bad - better to have them on-board than to have to get off and search for one if need be.

While I%26#39;m still pushing for Glenview (I think it%26#39;s nicer to take a Metra train back if you%26#39;re downtown later on at night, as well), the option that Dave mentioned in Evanston would be a good idea, as it would give you the choice, if you wanted to take the CTA train one way and the Metra back. Plus, downtown Evanston%26#39;s terrific and has a wide variety of nice restaurant options.

Parking by Davis St (or Main St) in Evanston really does give you the most flexibility.

The Metra on-train toilets are not the greatest but they%26#39;ll do if you really need one. Generally they do not have running water in the sinks; if you have some wet-naps or equivalent on you you%26#39;ll be glad. The washrooms in the train stations are better, if you have the time to spare.

One tip: if you look for the coaches that are handicapped-equipped (they have the wheelchair logo, and have the larger windows than non-equipped coaches) the washroom is pretty large. In the other cars the washroom is barely big enough to enter. At off hours it%26#39;s likely that all the coaches are the handicapped-equipped type, but at rush hour there is sometimes a mix of coach styles.

There are a lot of variables here.....

On a business day if you are coming and going during rush hours, the metra is a good option since you%26#39;ll have a train every half hour or less. After about 9:00 and 6:00, trains begin running every hour. On weekends, they only run every two hours, severely limiting your schedule.

The other thing is Union Station and Olgilvie Transportation Center are a long walk from attractions. If you%26#39;re getting the visiotrs passes, it%26#39;s easy to hop on a bus, but during rush hour that may eat up the time you gained by not taking CTA.

All in all....I%26#39;d say take the CTA on the weekend and Metra on weekdays if you are planning on coming and going near rush hours. The Davis Street option is also a very good recommendation. I live by both a metra and a CTa station and tend to take the metra in, but the CTA back home because I don%26#39;t like being bound by the Metra%26#39;s schedule.

Also...dont%26#39; sweat it...if need be you could take two different routes and get a cab back to your car...it%26#39;s not something I would plan on, but if you%26#39;re stuck it won%26#39;t be all that expensive.

Thanks for the suggestions. One more follow up question.

If I drive from Northbrook to Evanston (Davis St.), Mapquest has me on Milwauke Rd (IL-21) to Golf Rd. (IL-58), anyone familar with the area are these very congested roads?? Based on Mapquest its a 27 minute drive does that seem appropriate??

Also I would like to buy a Visitor Pass, can anyone help me figure out if there is a location to buy the Visitor Pass between Northbrook and Evanston??? If you go to www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares.html#e

it shows where the visitor passes are sold, but I don%26#39;t know which if any are near Northbrook/Evanston??

(NOTE: I am leaving in a week, so it is too late to get one mailed to me) Thanks again.

Both IL 21 (Milwaukee Ave) and IL 58 (Golf Road) are busy regional arterials. They will get very busy in the late afternoon (i.e. 4 pm+), especially after larger offices (e.g. Allstate) that feed from Sanders Road start purging. You were talking about leaving in the early afternoon, you should be fine w/ your time estimate - but don%26#39;t forget to allow time to park.

On your pass, none of the suburban locations listed are near Northbrook/Evanston. There is one at O%26#39;Hare. Would that work on arrival?