ChiTown Traffic Tattler

Via the Chicago Tribune The plan, announced last month by the Illinois Tollway Authority, will shutter several oases gas stations and convenience store as 7-Eleven assumes leasing and sponsorship duties from ExxonMobil. Tollway officials approved ExxonMobil’s request to transfer the gas station lease to 7-Eleven, who will take over the remaining 17 years left on [...]

From the Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch last week: “The CTA is controlling climbing energy costs by locking in the price for three-fourths of the diesel fuel it expects to use this year to power the agency’s approximately 1,800 buses, officials said Wednesday. With the AAA reporting the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in [...]

Beginning April 3, White Sox fans who ride Metra will have a station to call their own, as the Rock Island line will make stops on 35th Street, east of the Dan Ryan Expressway. The White Sox open the 2011 season at U.S. Cellular Field on April 7. From a Metra news release: On weekdays, [...]

So you’re driving around, wondering where in the heck you plug in your new-fangled electric car. Worry no more. A new ios app will show you where charging stations and outlets are.   Via Gizmodo: Driving an electric car is like going through life with permanent food poisoning. It takes lots of planning to make [...]

The guys at Google have nearly made your GPS obsolete after an announcement Monday that it’s Android Google Maps Navigation application has added real-time traffic re-routing. Of particular note… the app is free for Android users, something that can be said about comparable iPhone apps, let along Tom-Tom and Garmin. Via Google’s the Official Google [...]

Chicago-area gas prices have increased by about 37 cents over the last 30 days, the Chicago Tribune reports. U.S. gas prices have increased for 13 days in a row, rising nearly 34 cents in that time, the second-biggest price jump in the history of the gasoline market, the publication reported. Lowest Gas Prices in Chicago Chicago [...]

The Illinois Department of Transportation plans two more meetings in March to gather public input and comments on expanding high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis. Comments can be submitted online until March 18. IDOT plans a second series of meetings this summer, and is scheduled to complete a study of high-speed rail options late [...]

South Shore commuters in Northwest Indiana will have two fewer options when it comes to buying tickets, after the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District decided to close windows at the Hammond and Gary Metro Center South Shore stations. The stations will remain open, and the halt in ticket sales was called a cost-cutting measure, according [...]

The website Atohms offers up a prototype of a traffic camera sure to fool motorists — it’s disguised as a pigeon. Writes the poster: A speeding driver will not pay attention to the silhouette of a simple bird. Thus it’ll safeguard the camera from detection and possible vandalism. A funny side effect would be that drivers [...]

As the Chicago area hunkers down for the first serious winter storm of the season, the Cook County Highway Department put out a news release detailing its efforts. The highway department is responsible for roads stretching from from Palatine township in the north to Bloom Township in the far south. Cook County residents can report [...]

On New Year’s Day, I-Pass users will have to pay an extra 3 cents each time they pass through a booth on the Indiana Toll Road, the Times of Northwest Indiana reported on Friday. The new charge came about because the Illinois Tollway Authority in July began charging Indiana Toll Road Concession Co. a transaction [...]

Chicago Current reports that the Chicago Transit Authority on Friday notified employees that it is plans layoffs at the beginning of 2010. The agency issued notices under the federal WARN Act, which requires employers to advise workers 60 days in advance of mass layoffs. In the past, the CTA has sent notices in instances when [...]

From the CTA Tattler: Riders searching for Chicago Transit Authority bus times at ctabustracker.org accounted for the second most popular Google search in the city for 2009. The RTA Trip Planner was No. 4. The Tattler’s 2nd annual Holiday Train meetup is set for Dec. 12. The Chicago Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch reports that two types [...]

T-Mobile customers can now use cellular service on Red and Blue Line subways. The cellular company completed upgrades after signing a 10-year contract with the Chicago Transit Authority for $3.1 million. T-Mobile joins AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular and Cricket as companies that now provide subway cell service in Chicago.

As overheard on Twitter during Monday’s morning and evening commute. As always, follow and tweet commuting or traffic tips and story ideas to @chitowntattler. @alkrea: Lake Forest Oasis again. Damn Chicago traffic. My gas light was on for awhile in bumper to bumper traffic. Oasis is my savior! @willowztroll: RT @rockkboy: I hate Chicago rush [...]

The Chicago Transit Authority Board has scheduled an informational meeting on proposed fare increase and service reductions for Thursday. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Austin Town Hall, located at 5610 West Lake Street in Chicago. Under the proposed service reductions, the CTA — effective February 7, 2010 — would [...]

NBC5 reports that the Chicago Transit Authority has completed its analysis for a new Circle Line, which was considered a crucial transportation improvement included in the city’s plans to host the 2016 Olympic Games. An idea that arose in 2002, the Circle Line would create a second Loop connecting the Loop, Chinatown, the Illinois Medical [...]

As overheard on Twitter during Friday’s commute. As always, follow and tweet commuting or traffic tips and story ideas to @chitowntattler. @astrophysics: I like astronomy a lot, but when I drive to Chicago, I’m putting my life on the line in the name of Science. Night, rain & traffic don’t mix @euphenia: Chicago traffic, you [...]

The Chicago River bridge lift season is winding down, and scheduled to end Nov. 14. Lifts occur Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting at Lake Michigan and continue down the Main and South Branches of the Chicago River. Wednesday lifts begin at 9:30 a.m. and impact the downtown area — especially Lake Shore Driver — between 9:30 [...]

As overheard on Twitter during Thursday’s rainy commute. As always, follow and tweet commuting or traffic tips and story ideas to @chitowntattler. @dkw2487: O my god. Just had 2.5 hours of stop and go traffic and still not out of Chicago! @andrewkordek: I spent 224 minutes in traffic today going to and from downtown Chicago. [...]