Wheaton Location and Transportation
Saving Commuters from the Country’s
Regularly
Rising Gas Prices
By Becky Cline and Kristin Roberts
Wheaton is located in DuPage County, and lies approximately 25 miles west of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County, and according to the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,416. Considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area, its placement within the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a key consideration for businesses.
Its close proximity to the east-west running Interstate 88 and the north-south Interstate 355 expressways places Wheaton in a prime location. Interstate 88, running from Hillside to Rock Island, provides commuters with an easy link from Chicago to Iowa.
And Interstate 355, or the North-South Tollway, is a 20-mile interstate highway and tollway stretching between Interstate 55 in Bolingbrook and Interstate 290 in Itasca.
With gas prices continually leaning towards the high end of the spectrum, alternative modes of transportation have become more appealing to commuters in the city of Wheaton and its surrounding areas. Metra Rail service is available from two stops in the Wheaton community, providing quick transportation to downtown Chicago and numerous stops in between.
More than 3,200 rail commuters use the Metra West Line from the two local train stations in order to reach the bustling downtown destination and nearby suburbs. Located in the center of Wheaton’s historic downtown, at 402 Front Street, is the Downtown Wheaton Station, with the second station located on College Avenue, both affording residents and visitors alike trouble-free travel in and out of the Wheaton area.
The Pace Bus system provides transportation to and from the two stations, as well as a number of additional locations spanning Chicago’s suburbs. Through the strong effort between the College of DuPage, DuPage County, the city of Naperville, Pace, the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, and the city of Wheaton, a new bus route was recently established in August of 2006.
Serving as the first direct connection between Wheaton and Naperville, Route 714, the Naperville-College of DuPage-Wheaton Connector, also offers a link to the College of DuPage campus and affords transfers to over 20 additional Pace routes. Running between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., Route 714 costs an affordable $1.50 a pop, approximately half of the price per gallon of gasoline.
The city’s senior population enjoys specialized transportation programs, sure to meet every need and budget. The Finance Department, sponsored with DuPage County, provides Reduced Fare Taxicab Coupons for the area’s senior citizens and those with disabilities. For sale at City Hall, riders pay $2 for the coupons, which affords $5 worth of travel throughout DuPage County. A Reduced Fare permit is available from Metra, offering about half-off the regular price to senior citizens and persons with disabilities riding the CTA bus, Pace and Metra rail service. Additionally, commuters with an RTA Reduced Fare permit can receive the Dial-a-Ride services provided by Milton Township.
Even with the nation’s increasing prices at the gas pump, commuters traveling throughout the Chicagoland area can effortlessly attain expeditious, reasonably priced travel options within the city.
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