Transit / Accessibility Total weekday boardings at East Garfield Park CTA stations (defined as stations within onehalf miles of the community) increased between 2000 and 2008, by approximately 44.8%. The Western-Congress stop had the highest percentage increase, at approximately 62%. The Kedzie-Homan-Congress stop had the lowest percentage increase, but the second most riders. East Garfield Park Average Weekday CTA Rail Boardings, 2000-2008 Average Weekday Boardings 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200-2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Kedzie-Lake Kedzie-Homan-Congress Pulaski-Lake Conservatory California-Lake Western-Congress Station Name 2006-2008 %Change 2000-2008 %Change Kedzie-Lake 6.91% 21.76% Kedzie-Homan- Congress 15.62% 8.43% Pulaski-Lake 9.56% 25.49% Conservatory 4.05% 28.53% California-Lake 15.24% 59.54% Western-Congress 33.79% 61.97% Total 14.03% 44.81%
Total weekday boardings at East Garfield Park Metra stations (also defined as stations within one-half miles) increased as a whole, although the entire gain came from the Western Avenue (Grand) station, which also serves the Near West Side. The Kedzie station actually experienced a 7.25% decline in average weekday boardings from 1995 to 2006. Average Weekday Boardings 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 - East Garfield Park Metra Average Weekday Boardings, 1995-2006 1995 1997 1999 2002 2006 Kedzie Western Avenue (Grand)
Using a half-mile buffer around rail stations (both CTA and Metra), there are only two areas of East Garfield with insufficient rail access two densely populated triangles along the southern edge of the community. Using a quarter-mile measure around CTA bus stops, there are only two areas of the community, at the extreme northeastern and northwestern corners, without sufficient access to bus service. However, the rail holes are covered by bus service, and the bus holes covered by rail.
A four-person household living in East Garfield Park and earning Chicago-area median income ($51,046) spends $887 a month or 20.8 % of their total income on transportation. A four-person household living in East Garfield Park and earning the median income for the neighborhood ($24,357) earns less and spends less on transportation expenses ($644 a month). However, their transportation expenses account for a greater share 36.1 % of their total income than a family earning more. These findings suggest lower-income households spend a greater percentage of their incomes on transportation. Monthly Transportation Cost for Typical Household (Center for Neighborhood Technology) For household earning area median income, size, and workers per hh Current Year Estimate $887 N/A % income spent on transportation for area median hh Current Year Estimate 20.8% N/A For household earning neighborhood median income, size, and workers per hh Current Year Estimate $664 N/A % income spent on transportation for neighborhood median hh Current Year Estimate 36.1% N/A
In 2000 (the most recent year for which data are available), 46% of East Garfield Park residents drove alone to work, the largest single mode of transportation to work. Otherwise, 23% took a bus and 11% drove in two-person carpools. Despite the fact the vast majority of the community s residents live within one-half miles of a CTA rail station, only 5% of people commuted that way. East Garfield Park Modes of Transportation to Work, 2000 5% 6% 10% 23% 11% 45% Drove Alone 2p carpool Bus Subway/El Compared to the city as whole, East Garfield Park is only substantially different from the broader norm in that 23% of resident relied on a bus, as opposed to 13.74% for the city. Between 2000 and 2008 the population of East Garfield Park grew 2.1%, whereas CTA weekday boardings at East Garfield Park stations increased by 44.81% for the same period. Average weekday boardings on Metra increased by 121.45%, though the gains actually occurred at only one station, Western Avenue (Grand).