As Chicago traffic increases, more commuters turn to Metra
Eight out of the 10 highest ridership days on the Metra system since the pandemic occurred in May.
Watch CBS News
Eight out of the 10 highest ridership days on the Metra system since the pandemic occurred in May.
One way of measuring how bad traffic is in Chicago is to see how fast people have given up on hitting the roads altogether. New data from Metra shows a lot of people have done just that quite recently and opted for the rails. CBS 2's Chris Tye dug into the numbers to find some interesting trends forming, and records being broken.
Packed streets and brake lights with some degree of traffic are normal in Chicago, of course, but experts agree it is worse as of late.
If you drive in the city, chances are you've noticed the bad traffic. Some say it's worse than ever. CBS 2 has told you construction projects and alternative routes are contributing factors. But CBS 2's Tara Molina looked closer and learned construction is not the only reason drivers are spending more time behind the wheel.
When the alternates are put under the knife for pothole or sewer work, drivers go further off the grid - and the cascade effect widens out.
Chicago's NASCAR street race is approaching and the city announced plans to navigate traffic during the first-ever event. NASCAR announced plans for the city's first-ever street race last summer. The race will be held in Grant Park on July 2, 2023. It will be preceded by an International Motor Sports Association race on July 1, 2023.
The Kennedy Expressway isn't the only construction project that will slow down drivers in the coming weeks. Prepare for lane closures every weekend for the next month on Interstate 80 between Rowell and Wheeler avenues in Joliet.
"It's going to be big headache."
A new construction project has now begun, and it will close two lanes of the busy expressway at a time for repairs.
If you think traffic on the Kennedy Expressway is bad now, get ready for the next three years. A major three-year, $150 million construction project starts Monday night, which will close two lanes of the busy expressway at a time for repairs.
If you think traffic on the Kennedy Expressway is bad now, get ready for the next three years. A major construction project starts Monday night, which will close two lanes of the busy expressway at a time for repairs.
If you think traffic on the Kennedy Expressway is bad now, get ready for the next three years. A major construction project starts Monday night, which will close two lanes of the busy expressway at a time for repairs. CBS 2's Sabrina Franza had more on when commuters can expect the worst impacts.
Commuters beware - the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that rehabilitation work on the Kennedy Expressway, also known as Interstate 90/94, is set to begin on March 20.
he mayor touted the new "Smart Streets Pilot Ordinance" during yesterday's city council meeting.
CTA Red Line train service has resumed.
Drivers can expect extra traffic and delays on bridges downtown between Lake Shore Drive and Ashland.
Because of remote or hybrid schedules, drivers are hitting the road at all times of the day, making the congestion more unpredictable
Motorists are advised to pay close attention to flaggers, workers, and equipment in the work zones.
Drivers heading to the southwest suburbs can expect delays as well. A ramp connecting the southbound Dan Ryan to the southbound Stevenson will be down to a single lane for another week after it was left heavily damaged by a fire last Wednesday.
Three of four lanes are now reopened after a crash involving two semi trucks shut down eastbound I-80/90 in Northwest Indiana Tuesday morning.
State police said a truck was leaking cooking oil.
"It's a very complex piece of urbanity here."
We've learned that the after-work commute is back to being a nightmare -- but the morning drive in, not so much.
Family comes first, and mom leads the way for the Carusos, and their passion is Chicago's famous signature condiment, giardiniera.
Chicago is buzzing with March Madness, not just because the Fighting Illini continue their run in the NCAA Tournament, but because the United Center is hosting Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this weekend.
Two people were killed and two others were seriously injured when two cars collided Friday evening in west suburban Downers Grove.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder used a 22-0 run in the second half to beat the Chicago Bulls 131-113.
Dylan Garand made 27 saves for his first NHL win as the Rangers downed the Blackhawks 6-1 on Friday night.
Iran-linked cyber criminals accessed FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email account, sources said.
The Justice Department has made public millions of pages from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The House passed a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security for 60 days — but it's still unclear how the shutdown will end as the Senate, which approved its own funding plan, is on recess.
The Treasury Department plans to add President Trump's signature to new U.S. paper currency, a first for a sitting president.
An amendment that would require voters to show photo identification to cast a ballot failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
It's become an annual March Madness tradition at CBS Chicago, pitting our city's best eateries in direct competition in a foodie bracket challenge. We did pizza, we've done Italian beef, we've done Chicago dogs. This year, we're taking flight with wings.
For Cook County residents hoping to lower their property tax bills, applications are open for exemptions.
Officials in the north Chicago suburb of Wilmette issued a warning Tuesday about scammers who are impersonating representatives of village departments.
Ending domestic violence is the goal of groups and advocates all over the world, and some experts in Chicago say it is time to become less reactive and more proactive when it comes to the people causing harm.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
Food containing norovirus may smell and taste normal but still cause serious illness if consumed, FDA warns.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced a $1.5 billion investment from biotherapeutics company CSL for a new plasma therapy manufacturing plant in Kanakee.
When a doctor was told there was no cure for his daughter's condition, he was motivated to transform not only her health, but the lives of thousands of others.
The owners of the popular Uncommon Ground restaurant, live music venue, and brewery in Chicago's Wrigleyville community announced this week that they're looking for a successor to take over the business.
Chicago consistently ranks in the top three cities in Fortune 500 company headquarters, and now a competition has been launched to build on Chicago's power in business.
The flagship Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community will be moving later this year, a restaurant representative said Tuesday.
Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen threw some shade at former teammate Michael Jordan in a new pop commercial.
The City Council in Aurora, Illinois, is likely to lay down the hammer on data centers.
Chicago-native John Mulaney announced a new stop at the Wisconsin State Fair this summer.
Following a ribbon-cutting attended by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday, people were let inside the new space, at 5035 N. Broadway right off Argyle Street, for a special open house.
Chuck Norris' family said his death at 86 was sudden, but did not share any details on the cause.
ABC has canceled its already filmed season of "The Bachelorette" starring Taylor Frankie Paul after video surfaced of a 2023 incident in which she was charged with assault.
Acclaimed Chicago bar and music venue The Hideout has been sold to a performer and former employee, but the owners said it will carry on as the same beloved place that visitors have always known.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
Family comes first, and mom leads the way for the Carusos, and their passion is Chicago's famous signature condiment, giardiniera.
Chicago is buzzing with March Madness, not just because the Fighting Illini continue their run in the NCAA Tournament, but because the United Center is hosting Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this weekend.
With the partial government shutdown now in its sixth week, there's still no end in sight. While the House has passed a bill to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security through May 22, it's likely to fail in the Senate, which is in recess for two weeks. TSA employees are missing their second full paycheck, but a new measure from President Trump could bring some relief.
Pete Crow-Armstrong will be a Cub at least through the 2032 season. He and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer held a press conference Friday to talk about PCA's new 6-year, $115 million contract extension.
Chicago is buzzing with March Madness, not just because the Fighting Illini continue their run in the NCAA Tournament, but because the United Center is hosting Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this weekend.
Prosecutors laid out the details of the fatal Chicago shooting of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman at a detention hearing for her accused killer Friday.
The men charged in the deadly Chicago shooting of a beloved businessman near the United Center earlier this week will remain in custody. Prosecutors said they were staking out the business where the victim was shot.
With just two days' notice, West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park has shut down, and all patients are being cleared out by the end of the day on Friday, but the CEO of another hospital is offering to help.
Family comes first, and mom leads the way for the Carusos, and their passion is Chicago's famous signature condiment, giardiniera.
Two more women have filed lawsuits against Massage Envy, accusing the company of failing to protect them against sexual assaults by two of their therapists.
Homeowners in Berwyn said they are constantly having to pump out sewage to keep it from flooding their basements.
CBS News Chicago learned that she was hired at the school in Mundelein in 2023, which was after DCFS found credible evidence that Servant had injured her children as a form of discipline.
United Steel Workers union representatives said that some workers had already had their access cards deactivated.
Have you ever walked into a business with no employees? You may soon; autonomous businesses are becoming more popular.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder used a 22-0 run in the second half to beat the Chicago Bulls 131-113.
Dylan Garand made 27 saves for his first NHL win as the Rangers downed the Blackhawks 6-1 on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini are one win from a trip to the Final Four after an impressive win over in the Sweet 16 Thursday night.
The Chicago Bears will have to wait until at least April for action on a property tax bill that would boost their efforts to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, as the Illinois House is set to adjourn Friday.
A Chicago-area fan yelled about the White Sox when Pope Leo passed by in his Popemobile, and the Pope responded with a thumbs up and smile.
Police on Thursday were investigating two shootings that happened in broad daylight the day before in Chicago's Hyde Park and Woodlawn neighborhoods.
A man was shot and critically wounded in broad daylight Thursday in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.
A 17-year-old boy was shot multiple times and critically wounded in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood early Thursday morning.
Two men and a woman were slashed in a fight with another man they knew inside a home in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood early Thursday morning.
Large crowds and lots of flashing police lights filled the Loop Wednesday night.
