Driving Around Chicago: The Missing Manual

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Chicago Public Radio‘s ace traffic reporter Sarah Jindra has created something you may not have even realized you were missing. It’s a beginners’ manual (in .pdf form.)

Whether you know that the Northwest Tollway, The Jane Addams Tollway and I-90 are all the same road or not, Jindra’s maps and detailed descriptions of the major roadways in the Chicago area reveal all, from the names, to the numbers and the nicknames of all the roads.

In the list of resources, you’ll find CHICAGO OEMC where you can sign up for alerts specific to your neighborhood and know when there are special events or incidents that may cause heavy traffic or closures, and links to CTA travel information, and many more.

• CHICAGO OEMC: http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/NotifyChicago/index.jsp
• CTA: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/systemalerts.aspx

-Check all delays and alerts on CTA trains and buses
-You can also click on “News & Initiatives” to read press releases about upcoming projects

This is one of the most useful works of community journalism I’ve encountered in some time.

via Sarah Jindra: Decoding Chicago’s traffic reports (FAQ) | WBEZ Blog | blogs.vocalo.org.