Highlights
Jon Hilkevitch has been the Chicago Tribune's transportation reporter since 1997. He is responsible for covering every mode of transportation, both locally and nationally, although his primary focus is transportation news affecting the Chicago metropolitan region.
One day he might write a story about an expressway project, the next day about an airplane accident, the problem of Chicago Transit Authority buses bunching up on downtown Chicago's congested streets or the prospect of privatizing the Illinois Tollway.
The common thread in his reporting is a strong consumer-oriented focus, whether the issue is flight delays at O'Hare International Airport or railroad grade-crossin...
One day he might write a story about an expressway project, the next day about an airplane accident, the problem of Chicago Transit Authority buses bunching up on downtown Chicago's congested streets or the prospect of privatizing the Illinois Tollway.
The common thread in his reporting is a strong consumer-oriented focus, whether the issue is flight delays at O'Hare International Airport or railroad grade-crossin...
Jon Hilkevitch has been the Chicago Tribune's transportation reporter since 1997. He is responsible for covering every mode of transportation, both locally and nationally, although his primary focus is transportation news affecting the Chicago metropolitan region.
One day he might write a story about an expressway project, the next day about an airplane accident, the problem of Chicago Transit Authority buses bunching up on downtown Chicago's congested streets or the prospect of privatizing the Illinois Tollway.
The common thread in his reporting is a strong consumer-oriented focus, whether the issue is flight delays at O'Hare International Airport or railroad grade-crossing safety.
In 2001, a team of Tribune reporters co-led by Hilkevitch was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism for their series "Gateway to Gridlock,'' which chronicled the capacity crisis confronting the airline industry and the nation's commercial airports.
Hilkevitch, 52, also writes a weekly commuting column, called Getting Around, which allows him to interact more informally with readers and to bring their complaints about problems on Chicago-area roads and mass transit to the attention of the appropriate government agencies and, when necessary, to relentlessly prod those agencies until they do the right thing.
Hilkevitch lives in Lisle and commutes to work using Metra, the CTA and his own two feet.
His son, Nicholas, is an FAA-certified commercial pilot. He is completing his senior year at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and plans to pursue a career in aviation.
One day he might write a story about an expressway project, the next day about an airplane accident, the problem of Chicago Transit Authority buses bunching up on downtown Chicago's congested streets or the prospect of privatizing the Illinois Tollway.
The common thread in his reporting is a strong consumer-oriented focus, whether the issue is flight delays at O'Hare International Airport or railroad grade-crossing safety.
In 2001, a team of Tribune reporters co-led by Hilkevitch was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism for their series "Gateway to Gridlock,'' which chronicled the capacity crisis confronting the airline industry and the nation's commercial airports.
Hilkevitch, 52, also writes a weekly commuting column, called Getting Around, which allows him to interact more informally with readers and to bring their complaints about problems on Chicago-area roads and mass transit to the attention of the appropriate government agencies and, when necessary, to relentlessly prod those agencies until they do the right thing.
Hilkevitch lives in Lisle and commutes to work using Metra, the CTA and his own two feet.
His son, Nicholas, is an FAA-certified commercial pilot. He is completing his senior year at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and plans to pursue a career in aviation.
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Helicopter wreckage moved as investigation continues
Tribune reporterThe wreckage from the fatal crash this week of an emergency medical helicopter south of Rockford is being transported to Kansas for examination, and additional witnesses to the accident will be interviewed, the chief investigator said Wednesday. The...Tags: Transportation Industry, Accidental Death, Chicago Tribune Columnists, Health and Medical Professionals, Medical Specialization
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CTA expands Red Line project to battle slow zones
Tribune reporterWith service disruptions already delaying commuters this summer on the CTA Red Line north branch due to emergency facelifts on seven of the rail system’s most dilapidated stations, transit officials today expanded the project by adding $15 million...Tags: Chicago Tribune Columnists, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Forrest Claypool, Chicago Transit Authority
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Chicago man accused of CTA pickpocketing spree
Tribune reporterA Chicago man with more than 100 arrests for theft and other crimes has been arrested again in connection with a spree of recent pickpocketings at the CTA Jackson Red Line subway station, police said today. Police are crediting the Tribune and CTA...Tags: Chicago Tribune Columnists, Crime, Law and Justice, Subway Transportation, Chicago Police Department, Police Arrests
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CTA says new savings will avert fare hike, service cuts
Tribune reportersAfter months warning of fare hikes and service cuts unless labor unions came up with $80 million worth of concessions by July 1, CTA President Forrest Claypool today called off the threats, saying the agency has suddenly come up with the money,...Tags: Unions, Chicago Tribune Columnists, Collective Contract, Career and Workplace, Forrest Claypool
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Railroad police on high alert as Sept. 11 anniversary approaches
Railroad police are on high alert for suicide bombers at Union Station in Chicago as the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks approaches this week, authorities said.
Based on intelligence that al-Qaida might attempt to strike again in the U.S.,...Tags: O'Hare International Airport, Pakistan, Transportation Security Administration, Chicago Tribune, Explosions
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Road rage: Cars vs. bikes
Are the roads wide enough for both?
If you've had it with cyclists who blow off stop signs or car drivers who hog the road, don't miss Thursday's Chicago Live show at Chicago Theater. Here's the note I just got from Chicago Live executive producer, Lara...Tags: Traffic, Road Transportation, Travel, Transportation, Commuting
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Boeing shows off 787 Dreamliner at Oshkosh air show
Tribune reporterOSHKOSH, Wis. -- Marking its public debut in the U.S., Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the 21st century's first radically different commercial airliner, landed at the AirVenture air show on Friday. The world's first jetliner made largely of superhardened...Tags: Boeing Co., Japan, Health, New York, Aerospace Manufacturing
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Trains to run under NATO summit at McCormick Place
In a signal that downtown Chicago won't be placed on a virtual security lockdown during the NATO summit next month, trains will be permitted to pass under McCormick Place, although commuters should expect delays, theU.S. Secret Service said Tuesday....
Tags: Chicago Tribune Columnists, NATO, International Organizations, Chicago Tribune, Metra
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New CTA train cars had dangerous flaw (How we found out)
It has been six years since then-CTA president Frank Kruesi -- who in 2012 is herding goats and making cheese in North Carolina -- so long ago signed a contract with Bombardier Transportation of Canada for hundreds of new rail cars. The trains started...Tags: Facebook, Media Industry, Chicago Transit Authority, Car Safety Tips and Advice
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RTA board takes a pass on hiring firm to seek funds from Washington
In a nod to a dismal funding picture, the board that oversees the Chicago area's mass transit agencies on Wednesday rejected a proposed contract for up to $425,000 a year aimed at launching a campaign to get tens of billions of dollars out of Washington....Tags: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Chicago Tribune, Metra, Chicago Transit Authority
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CTA approves 'facelift' for 7 Red Line stations
Tribune reporterSeven of the most shabby, leaky and all-around deplorable rail stations on the CTA Red Line north branch are in store for a “$57.4 million face lift’’ starting this summer and running through early next year, under a contract the CTA...Tags: Finance, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Forrest Claypool, Economy, Business and Finance, Facelift
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Amtrak able to travel to 110 mph in Indiana, Michigan
Tribune reporterAmtrak passenger trains sped up to 110 mph for the first time Tuesday in western Michigan and northern Indiana on two routes serving Chicago, officials announced. But the railroad crossings lack safety mechanisms that will be installed on Illinois’...Tags: Human Mishaps, Transportation Accidents, Chicago, Transportation Accidents, Lansing
Dec 12, 2012
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Aug 8, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 4, 2012
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May 30, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 5, 2011
|Column| Chicago Tribune
May 24, 2011
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 29, 2011
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Apr 18, 2012
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Mar 8, 2012
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Jan 19, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Feb 8, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Feb 7, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
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