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Chicago CTA Trains?
Posted on 1/27/25 at 4:08 pm
Posted on 1/27/25 at 4:08 pm
I’m going to be up at Hines VA for a couple of weeks in early May. First time to Chicago, so looking forward to exploring the city.
Reading some of the forums on other pages, sounds like CTA has gone to shite post Covid. The Red line south sounds sporty-reports of open drug use, homeless sleeping everywhere, threats etc. Also reading that the Forest Park branch of the Blue line isn’t much better. So, if I commute in from Hines, that leaves the Metra as the better option?
As far as the other lines, I get the sense that the Brown and other lines going north are decent and the Blue from ORD is ok.
Any locals care to help? I was hoping to use CTA to get around the neighborhoods.
Reading some of the forums on other pages, sounds like CTA has gone to shite post Covid. The Red line south sounds sporty-reports of open drug use, homeless sleeping everywhere, threats etc. Also reading that the Forest Park branch of the Blue line isn’t much better. So, if I commute in from Hines, that leaves the Metra as the better option?
As far as the other lines, I get the sense that the Brown and other lines going north are decent and the Blue from ORD is ok.
Any locals care to help? I was hoping to use CTA to get around the neighborhoods.
This post was edited on 1/27/25 at 4:11 pm
9
Posted on 1/27/25 at 4:43 pm to BluegrassCardinal
The brown and above ground CTA lines are generally fine (north of downtown). It's mostly white people commuting and from their jobs. The redline is generally okay from north to downtown (don't take it to the southside).
Just use street smarts and avoid it after dark.
Just use street smarts and avoid it after dark.
Posted on 1/27/25 at 5:01 pm to BluegrassCardinal
It's exactly like this. Be careful!
Posted on 1/27/25 at 5:02 pm to BluegrassCardinal
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/27/25 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 1/27/25 at 5:19 pm to BluegrassCardinal
We used the orange line to commute from Midway back in 2022 and I don’t recommend that line at all! We saw some crazy folks. Once we got into the city the pink, brown and blue lines seemed like business professionals. The red line was also fine as we used it to go up to Wrigleyville.
Posted on 1/27/25 at 8:03 pm to cassopher
Been to Chicago 3 times, once post-COVID. CTA is great. I had no issues at all.
It’s better at controlling riff raff than DART is in Dallas. The trains here smell like piss and are filled with homeless taking naps.
It’s better at controlling riff raff than DART is in Dallas. The trains here smell like piss and are filled with homeless taking naps.
Posted on 1/27/25 at 11:06 pm to BluegrassCardinal
Answering your questions is tricky. My short answer is, don't spend your time worrying. I've been here (now) over 12 years and have yet to fear for my safety on any train. Now, I don't want to speak in absolutes because crime can and does occur. The most I've seen are homeless, smokers, and puke/shite. None of that is cool, obviously, and CTA has been getting a ton of criticism about the prevalent smoking since COVID. City has started to really crack down on it.
With your mention of the Red Line, I think it's worth acknowledging you (and any visitor) aren't ever going further south than Cermak-Chinatown and Sox-35th. With the Blue Line, and seeing you'll be coming from Hines VA, there are a couple stations along the Eisenhower (290) near East and West Garfield Park, as you make your way into The Loop, that I would never tell anyone to voluntarily walk around. I wouldn't worry too much about that, though since, well, you aren't getting off the train. Coming from Forest Park and Oak Park on the Blue Line, there will be plenty of riders that don't take the Metra.
All said, I'll repeat what I mentioned above: don't spend too much time worrying or extending past normal precautions. Absolutely, 100% use the CTA to your advantage. Whether it's bus or train, easiest way to explore neighborhoods. I've been fortunate to live on a number of train lines. We bought our current place near California station (Blue Line) in Logan. Love living here.
ETA: I'm not sure how well I answered what you're looking for. General questions about the CTA are difficult to answer because the system is so nuanced and Chicago is incredibly segregated. If you have more specific questions, happy to answer.
With your mention of the Red Line, I think it's worth acknowledging you (and any visitor) aren't ever going further south than Cermak-Chinatown and Sox-35th. With the Blue Line, and seeing you'll be coming from Hines VA, there are a couple stations along the Eisenhower (290) near East and West Garfield Park, as you make your way into The Loop, that I would never tell anyone to voluntarily walk around. I wouldn't worry too much about that, though since, well, you aren't getting off the train. Coming from Forest Park and Oak Park on the Blue Line, there will be plenty of riders that don't take the Metra.
All said, I'll repeat what I mentioned above: don't spend too much time worrying or extending past normal precautions. Absolutely, 100% use the CTA to your advantage. Whether it's bus or train, easiest way to explore neighborhoods. I've been fortunate to live on a number of train lines. We bought our current place near California station (Blue Line) in Logan. Love living here.
ETA: I'm not sure how well I answered what you're looking for. General questions about the CTA are difficult to answer because the system is so nuanced and Chicago is incredibly segregated. If you have more specific questions, happy to answer.
This post was edited on 1/27/25 at 11:14 pm
Posted on 1/27/25 at 11:25 pm to The Scofflaw
quote:
and avoid it after dark.
This needs some context... I wouldn't jump on a train after bar close, of course, but Chicago is a city with 77 community areas and over 180 neighborhoods - a lot of people will use the train in the evening going to dinner, etc. My wife and I do it multiple times each week. If you keep your street smarts (i.e. don't sit in an empty car), you'll probably be fine.
Social stuff aside, I used to take the Red Line after 10pm quite a bit when I was in grad school at Loyola. Rogers Park is a bit dicey, but don't even think I really felt totally unsafe at that time in the middle of the week, either.
Said in my other post that you can never speak in absolutes, but the only time I would truly advise someone to just take Lyft/Uber is after midnight. At that point, you've likely been drinking for awhile and there's zero reason to make yourself that target.
This post was edited on 1/27/25 at 11:26 pm
Posted on 1/28/25 at 7:05 am to BluegrassCardinal
I used to live there for years.
Take Metra in from Hines for sure. The pink line goes through some awful neighborhoods. The green line from Oak Park isn't as bad but the Austin area gets rough. For someone from out of town, Metra is your best bet.
Take the red line to either ballpark or the far north side. Blue to O'hare is fine, as is brown anywhere, Orange is fine, too.
Take Metra in from Hines for sure. The pink line goes through some awful neighborhoods. The green line from Oak Park isn't as bad but the Austin area gets rough. For someone from out of town, Metra is your best bet.
Take the red line to either ballpark or the far north side. Blue to O'hare is fine, as is brown anywhere, Orange is fine, too.
Posted on 1/28/25 at 7:39 am to tadman
Appears the Red line going north and the purple are decent.
However, the stories about the red line south of Sox sounds like a third world hell.
However, the stories about the red line south of Sox sounds like a third world hell.
Posted on 1/28/25 at 10:50 am to tadman
quote:
The pink line goes through some awful neighborhoods.
Truly, it is a tale of two halves. One goes right through Lawndale, while the other hits Rush, West Loop, and the western edge of Pilsen.
quote:
Take Metra in from Hines for sure.
Good call on the Metra. Probably just the least-stressful option for OP.
This post was edited on 1/28/25 at 10:52 am
Posted on 1/28/25 at 3:20 pm to hoopsgalore
Thanks for your suggestions.
I'll be at Hines VA Blind rehab program for several weeks. Looks like Hines is pretty close to Forest Park Red line, not sure how far from the Metra station. On weekends, I'll be using the train and buses to get around.
The final weekend, my wife will be here with me and I have found a decent airbnb near the Rockwell station on the Brown Line.
I'll be at Hines VA Blind rehab program for several weeks. Looks like Hines is pretty close to Forest Park Red line, not sure how far from the Metra station. On weekends, I'll be using the train and buses to get around.
The final weekend, my wife will be here with me and I have found a decent airbnb near the Rockwell station on the Brown Line.
Posted on 1/28/25 at 9:48 pm to BluegrassCardinal
quote:
Looks like Hines is pretty close to Forest Park Red line, not sure how far from the Metra station.
Forest Park Blue Line and UP-W Metra at Maywood are basically equidistant from Hines VA. Blue Line will, obviously, run far more frequently. Especially when you want to transfer to another line (i.e. Brown at Clark/Lake or Red at Jackson) in The Loop, it'll be more convenient than Metra to Ogilvie. If you're an overly cautious person (don't get the sense you are), Metra simply might be less stressful.
quote:
The final weekend, my wife will be here with me and I have found a decent airbnb near the Rockwell station on the Brown Line.
Lincoln Square is a great neighborhood, and you're walking distance to Ravenswood and Andersonville, which are also nice walking neighborhoods. Can get most anywhere on the north side, and I'd also encourage you to explore Logan Square and Wicker Park. Have told this board numerous times, but Logan is the best cocktail bar neighborhood in the city and second-best restaurant neighborhood.
This post was edited on 1/28/25 at 9:50 pm
Posted on 1/29/25 at 7:42 am to BluegrassCardinal
quote:
The final weekend, my wife will be here with me and I have found a decent airbnb near the Rockwell station on the Brown Line.
This is my neighborhood. Let me know if you have any questions
Posted on 1/29/25 at 7:47 am to keakdasneak
quote:
This is my neighborhood. Let me know if you have any questions
Will do, looks like it's very walkable, just based on what I'm seeing from Google street views, as more questions come up, I'll shoot them to you, thank your the help
Posted on 1/29/25 at 7:48 am to hoopsgalore
quote:
Lincoln Square is a great neighborhood, and you're walking distance to Ravenswood and Andersonville, which are also nice walking neighborhoods. Can get most anywhere on the north side, and I'd also encourage you to explore Logan Square and Wicker Park. Have told this board numerous times, but Logan is the best cocktail bar neighborhood in the city and second-best restaurant neighborhood.
Sounds like a great place to explore, appreciate all of your advice. I'm honestly more excited about the various neighborhoods than actual downtown.
Posted on 1/29/25 at 7:52 am to BluegrassCardinal
Oh yeah you could spend your whole weekend in Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Center and do it all walking
Posted on 1/29/25 at 10:01 am to BluegrassCardinal
quote:
I'm honestly more excited about the various neighborhoods than actual downtown.
For sure - There's a reason why every train line meets in The Loop. It's a heavily-concentrated district of business. Only about 1.5% of the city's population actually lives in that specific community area. Chicago is such a neighborhood-driven city, but there is also plenty to see downtown for a weekend visitor. Wouldn't want to discourage you from this, so I'd carve out time for an architecture boat tour, couple museums (i.e. Shedd, Adler, Art Institute), top of the Sears (Willis), and walking Mag Mile. Speaking of Mag Mile, my wife and I like to walk Lakefront Trail from Fullerton into Mag Mile / Michigan. Something to consider if the weather cooperates. Good way to get your steps with a nice view of the skyline.
Posted on 1/29/25 at 10:08 am to hoopsgalore
For sure. I'm wanting to do the architecture boat tour, Field Museum, Grant Park, Willis. Interesting though is that I understand the view from the John Hancock is just as good, if not better.
Posted on 1/29/25 at 11:15 am to BluegrassCardinal
quote:
Interesting though is that I understand the view from the John Hancock is just as good, if not better.
Great view, too, and you may as well do both! The big upside with the Hancock is its setting right along Lake Michigan. Some beautiful views along the shoreline north and south, but it's hard to beat the turquoise blue water looking north in the summer months.
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