Chicago downtown traffic question from an East Coaster.

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Feb 27, 2009 | 09:53 AM

4Driver4

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Chicago downtown traffic question from an East Coaster.

Greetings from CT.

I'm headed out to Chicago for a one day meeting, and I'd like to do it without an overnight (budget restrictions). Is it realistic to expect to get from O'Hare to downtown between 8 AM and 9 AM on a weekday? (Thursday, if it matters). Flight lands at 7:45 and I need to be at West Wacker Drive by 9:00 AM at the absolute latest (don't want to miss the free coffee)

Feb 27, 2009 | 09:55 AM

Bleu CHEEZE (Loren)

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how much of a gambler are you?

Is your flight REALLY going to land at 7:45? What if you are delayed?

Traffic heading into the city is hit or miss. One day it could take you 2 1/2 hours to get from O;hare to DT, and the next day, same time, could take you 30 minutes.

How full is your karma bank?

Feb 27, 2009 | 10:00 AM

4Driver4

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I'm more comfortable with the flight than the traffic.

The flight originates at Bradley, and it's non-stop. Admittedly, the airlines in general suck pretty badly, but I think it is reasonable to expect that the flight will be on time, barring weather issues.

I assume that the drive length is weather and crash dependent, or it just random? What's the bottleneck?

Feb 27, 2009 | 10:14 AM

911eric

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Can take the eL (Blue Line) from Ohare. Will drop you off within 1 block

of West Wacker. Take the Clark & Lake stop, exit west side, puts you at Lake & Wells which is right at W. Wacker.

That's how I got to work before I started driving. Screw that peasant wagon.

Feb 27, 2009 | 10:15 AM

gregmag

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Re: Chicago downtown traffic question from an East Coaster.

Worst case: Land at 7:47, taxi until 7:57. Wait to prep for de-planing for 8 minutes. United C-terminal at one of the ends. You have to get to the escalator, go through the tunnel and up to the taxis - 6 minutes. You're at 8:11. You're in prime landing time so 5-10 minutes to get a cab, 8:21. Rush hour doesn't end until after 9:30 so 35-40 minutes to get to downtown. Either get off at Ohio or Madison and fight traffic for another 5-8 minutes. No way that way.

You can shave off 5-8 minutes by not coming in to United C terminal but if you're at the end of one of the others, it's the same issue.

Better case is the subway but that's a 40-45 minute adventure to downtown after a 10 minute walk to the station, assuming no delays and the closest stop for you would probably be the State of IL building which would put you at a 5-8 minute walk to whatever building you need to be in.

I'd say you're pushing it. I had the same problem a few months back going into Escondido for a 1PM meeting. I could have flown into San Diego and landed at 12:00 but opted for landing in LAX at 9:30 and driving down. Never hurts to play it safe with ORD