How’s that commute? Bloggers respond

Jen to price forecasters: Enough about gas prices already!

On a voyage outside of McHenry County, Cal finds that the roads are rough all over. So I’m not the only one with a household vehicle tortured by Route 31‘s treacherous pavement. I also didn’t know that the pitted valley in question is called Terra Cotta, but now I know.

The CTA Tattler shares a snippet from the lives of the Fourth Car Regulars.

Colleen is proof that your commute can get you into the movies.

And finally, Mary at the Sun-Times shares an action-filled Illinois Tollway video that demonstrates how to mount the I-Pass transponder in a vehicle window. The video’s best parts show how not to handle the I-Pass.

Reminder: It’s time to gain some daylight and lose some sleep. Don’t forget to spring forward Sunday morning.

Filed under: Commuting, CTA, Gas Prices, McHenry County, Route 31

Pothole mid-season update

With another wintry mix in the short-term forecast, it should be noted that winter is far from over and potholes are still in bloom.

Call ’em out: Grayslake allows motorists to report pothole sightings via the village’s website. The website indicates that this online reporting service is for Grayslake residents, and the form asks for your identifying information including name and address. If you report a pothole and are not a Grayslake resident, what would the village do? I don’t know. Nevertheless, Grayslake joins Highland Park in making an online pothole reporting form available.

Potholes next door: Although this site’s primary focus is Lake County, it has a few McHenry County readers. We are neighbors, after all. If any of those neighbors happen to know which municipality maintains Route 31 in the Fox River Valley area, please tell them that the potholes in the valley are numerous and deep, and in need of repair.

Found a pothole and don’t know who to tell? You can always tell the press. Post about it on Pioneer Press‘ Lake County blog, and perhaps help someone else avoid tire damage. Read and learn from pothole reports sent to the Lake County News-Sun. If you know who’s in charge of the rocky road and want to tell them directly, refer to this January 2008 post for some links.

Filed under: Road Conditions, Fox River Valley, Grayslake, McHenry County, potholes, Route 31

Do suburbanites care about the CTA funding crisis?

More accurately, do suburbanites care about the RTA funding crisis, as this fiasco encompasses more than just the Chicago Transit Authority. Judging from blog posts and news commentary, some suburbanites do care about the transit funding situation. Their views sometimes vary – from those of Chicagoans, and from those of other suburbanites – on how it should be resolved.

A Chicagoan thoughtfully explores the funding issue, the CTA’s relationship with Momma RTA, and why suburbanites should care about transit funding.

Here’s McHenry County Blog’s take on the funding foibles as they relate to McHenry County, Lake County’s neighbor to the west.

Suburban legislators voted their opposition to the latest funding bill.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Metra’s Union Pacific North line’s new Sunrise Express has beat ridership expectations. Trains leave from and arrive at the Waukegan terminus at unbelievably early hours on weekdays, with the first southbound train leaving at 4:20 a.m.

“People can argue all they want about what to do about mass transit,” [state Sen. Susan] Garrett said. “But here’s a real success story.”

A Spring Grove reader sent his thoughts on the issue to the Lake County Journal.

And finally, here’s a comment sent to the Daily Herald by an Elgin commuter.

Filed under: Mass Transit, doomsday, McHenry County, Metra, RTA, transit