Changing Population, Employment and Travel
Patterns
Since the 1950’s travel demands have increased and changed
due to population shifts and growth. The 2000 Census shows that
the Chicago metropolitan region of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry,
and Will Counties had 2.9 million more residents than in 1950. In
addition, the City of Chicago went from housing 70% of the region’s
residents to less than 36% of the area’s total population.
The growth in population, employment and development into rural
areas has created different travel patterns than the 1950’s.
Instead of metropolitan residents commuting to one central business
district for work, shopping, or recreation, more travel is in the
suburbs. The overwhelming majority of trips are made by automobile,
due to the type of development that suburbs tend to promulgate,
large home lots, “campus” employment centers and massive
retail centers with acres of parking. The increase in population
and development in the suburbs brings more automobile traffic, resulting
in increased delay and congestion.
| County |
Population
|
Employment |
| |
1950 |
2000 |
% Change |
1950 |
2000* |
% Change |
| City of Chicago |
3,621,000 |
2,896,000 |
- 20% |
1,864,000 |
1,370,000 |
-26% |
| Suburban Cook |
888,000 |
2,481,000 |
+179% |
836,000 |
1,487,000 |
+77% |
| DuPage |
155,000 |
904,000 |
+483% |
146,000 |
651,000 |
+346% |
| Kane |
150,000 |
404,000 |
+169% |
103,000 |
206,000 |
+100% |
* Figure is estimated from Northern Illinois Planning
Commission (NIPC) estimates, using NIPC preliminary distribution
of employment by quarter section.
1950:
- 70% of the region’s population lived and 58% worked in
the City of Chicago.
2000:
- Less than 36% of the region’s residents and less than
32% of the workers lived in the central city, and less than 32%
worked in the City.
- Chicago’s population declined by more than 700,000 and
494,000 fewer workers were employed in the City.
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Employment levels are growing
in the suburbs.
Employment centers aren’t concentrated and are difficult to
serve with public transportation.
RESULT:
Most workers use their
auto to get to work, resulting in more cars on the road during peak
periods.
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