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Location and Transportation

By Mary Klest

Easy and convenient transportation to and from Barrington is available via the Metra rail line, which is serving businesses, employees, and residents as roadways become a second choice for people on the move.

When Trade Risk Guaranty merged with sister company International Business Corp. located in Barrington, Valerie Sarich was facing a dilemma. “On a good traffic day, it takes me one hour to get from my home in Hebron to here,” she says. Changing jobs was not an option for her. “It’s a great company and I love working for them.”

She had never commuted by rail before but decided to try it. Sarich now boards the train in Woodstock at 7:48 a.m. and arrives in downtown Barrington at 8:18 a.m. She saves more than time. “I avoid the aggravation driving causes. The wear and tear to my car is less and I’ve met some wonderful friends on the train.”

It’s been two years and she won’t give up her monthly train pass. “It’s a short, lovely walk through downtown Barrington. I can drop off my dry cleaning, pick up take-out food, or buy a present for a friend without having to get in a car.”

She says several restaurants nearby provide lunch options whether it be casual or business related. When the day is done, she finds life more relaxing when relying on the train.

Jim Roth, Integrated Bank Director at Harris Bank, commutes from Crystal Lake to Barrington. Taking the train is convenient for him during winter. “Metra eliminates the risk of having to inch my way along Northwest Highway during a rush-hour snowstorm,” he says.

He likes the consistency of the train and sees other advantages. “The certainty of a 20-minute trip lets me manage my time better.”

He often catches the 5:39 train at the Barrington station to arrive in Crystal Lake 18 minutes later. “If I don’t catch that one, two others will get me there by 6:30,” he says.

Business Benefits

Three years ago Steve Erhardt created a dual role for the security guards at Pepsico Global R&D in Barrington where he works as the senior manager of facilities. Every workday morning and evening a guard shuttles workers to and from the Metra train station in a company-owned van. “It became an incredible benefit,” said Steve, and a tool the company uses to recruit desirable job candidates.

The van/train connection also gets employees downtown for meetings at the corporate offices of Quaker, Tropicana, and Gatorade (parent company Pepsico Chicago). “It’s one of the reasons we stay in Barrington,” he says, referring to the good transportation system here.

Eliminating cars also frees up parking space and gives them credits towards LEED certification, which they are in the process of achieving. “By lowering our carbon footprint we get closer to that certification. It’s a big initiative at Pepsico.”

Flex time and transportation options allow everyone to arrive on time, ready to work.

Michael Beightol, owner of Coyote Marsh & Associates, Inc. says, “I can’t imagine getting to and from Chicago without the convenience of the commuter rail station and parking lot.”

He chose to locate his business in Barrington partly because of that easy access. Remembering his daily commute, Beightol says, “It helped me develop good habits for relying on Metra. When I go downtown for appointments with clients I take the train.”

Culture Seekers

Christina Adams at National Realty Network has always taken the train for work, shopping, and entertainment. “The big treat for the grandchildren is taking the train into Chicago and then a water taxi over to Navy Pier. We also take the train to Arlington Park.”

Brad Stetson, CEO at Barrington Bank, and this year’s Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, says he and his family use the train all the time. “We walk to the train from Fox Point, hop on, and then walk to our son’s house located a few blocks from Clyburn in Chicago.” The family also likes to visit museums, Millenium Park, and concerts in the city without having to pay parking fees.

“We use the train all the time to go to plays,” says G.Whiz owner Jan Cunningham. “Anyone who owns a store in town can go to the annual Gift Show on the train.”

Adding Value

Liz Luby, realtor with the Luby Group–Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, says, “The majority of our clients who move to the Barrington area are looking for three things: great schools, a thriving community, and easy access to transportation.” She touts the Metra station as one of the area’s greatest assets.

Whether getting to a job, making appointments, or attending an event, arrival times are assured with a passenger rail system in the heart of downtown Barrington. To view the local Metra train schedules on the Internet visit: www.metrarail.com/Sched/ cnw_nw/cnw_ nw.shtml.