Worst Time For Holiday Travel, Plus Free Metra NYE Rides In IL

ILLINOIS — Christmas is right around the corner, and if you're planning on hitting the road for holiday travel, there are a few things you should know. The Illinois Tollway is anticipating 1.8 million vehicles to use the tollway system on Friday, Dec. 20, which it expects to be the heaviest traffic day this season.

But AAA expects delays to be the worst and traffic to be the heaviest in the Chicago area after the Christmas festivities are over. According to AAA, peak congestion is expected to hit between 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, which it's calling the worst day to travel. Delays are expected to be 1.3 times worse than usual during those travel times.

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AAA also expects 115.6 million people will travel this holiday season through Jan. 1, shattering holiday records. More than 104 million of those holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, according to AAA.

Nearly 1.5 million vehicles are expected to travel on the Illinois Tollway system on Tuesday, December 24, and more than 1.1 million on Christmas Day. Approximately 1.4 million vehicles are expected on the tollway system on New Year's Eve, and 1.1 million on New Year’s Day.

Spreading holiday cheer

But stressed travelers can take heart — as long as they're coffee lovers. The tollway will continue its holiday tradition as 7-Eleven and McDonald's offer motorists a free small coffee at the following locations on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

• Belvidere Oasis, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

• Lake Forest Oasis – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s
• O’Hare Oasis – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven
• Hinsdale Oasis – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s
• Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis – 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. at McDonald’s and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• DeKalb Oasis, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s

Share your I-PASS

I-PASS customers now have the ability to add license plates of traveling family and friends and rental cars to their I-PASS accounts. Temporary plates can be added as authorized I-PASS account users to pay tolls electronically and avoid violations. Account holders can update their accounts online or by calling 800-UCI-PASS.

Construction restricted

If you're driving for the holidays, at least you (probably) won't hit construction traffic. According to the tollway, ongoing construction activity will be restricted to better serve customers during holiday travel with any temporary maintenance and construction lane closures suspended from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, through 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, and again from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 31, through 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Some work may continue behind barriers with long-term lane closures remaining in place, including lane reductions on the Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) between Illinois Route 43 and the Edens Expressway and traffic shifts on the on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and east end of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90).

Metra holiday schedule, free rides

Don't want to drive? Metra has you covered with a special holiday schedule.

On Monday, Dec. 23, Tuesday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 30 and Tuesday, Dec. 31, all lines except the Heritage Corridor will adjust schedules to add early afternoon departures from Metra’s downtown stations to accommodate workers and shoppers leaving downtown early. Some normal rush-hour trains will be canceled on those days.

For the first time in its history, Metra will offer free rides on all trains arriving at or departing from Metra’s downtown stations after 6 p.m. New Year's Eve. On some of its lines, Metra will hold the last train of the evening for a later departure time to accommodate customers attending New Year’s Eve festivities downtown.

The last trains will depart between 1:10 a.m. and 1:25 a.m., depending on the line. Alcohol is prohibited on all trains after 7 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Metra will also make special holiday passes available for unlimited travel Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1. The Dec. 24-25 pass will cost $10 for unlimited rides and a $5 unlimited ride pass will be available for travel Jan. 1. The regular $10 weekend pass will also be available for Dec. 21-22 and Dec. 28-29.

Metra hasn’t left out families for its holiday season deals and will expand its Family Fares program on weekdays from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 for the holiday break, meaning Family Fares will be in effect from Dec. 21 through Jan. 5. Family Fares, which are always available for weekend travel, allow up to three kids 11 and under to ride free with each adult.

A Sunday/holiday schedule will be in effect on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. There will be no service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines on those days.