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Drivers have experienced a 42% increase in yearly delay, rising from 31 hours per driver in 1990 to 44 in 1997. The delays represent an estimated $4 billion in economic losses. Between 1994 and 1998, federal interstate highways in the Chicago region experienced a 16% increase in vehicle miles traveled per day, while principal arterial roads saw a 9% increase. Kane County experienced the largest increases and the City of Chicago saw a small decrease. Time lost to congestion is one measure of a region’s overall ability to sustain economic growth and attract businesses, especially those that are dependent on ease of mobility.
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Only one in four residents rides a bus or train at least once per week. Cost, convenience, safety and less-than-optimal schedules are factors residents cited to explain why they do not use public transit more often.
Overall, transit ridership is at its highest levels since 1994. The CTA, which is the dominant transit provider with a ridership mix of 70% bus and 30% rail, experienced a 19% drop in bus ridership between 1992 and 1999 while rail ridership increased 18%.
Transit ridership trends indicate the competitiveness of bus and rail service with other means of transportation.
Per capita ridership dropped through most of the 1990s, to a low of less than 69 rides per year in 1997, and then increased to more than 71 rides in 1999.
Non-stop international flights from Chicago region airports increased 95%, from 19,833 in 1990 to 38,690 in 1999, while the number of destinations increased from 44 to 66. The frequency of non-stop service and the number of international destinations are major factors in business-location decisions and indicators of a region’s relationship with other metropolitan areas around the world.
