Metropolitan Chicago's outstanding system of public transportation makes owning a car unnecessary; many Evanston residents who work in Chicago or the suburbs choose to commute by rail or bus rather than drive. Immediately adjacent to campus are CTA trains leading into and around the city, as well as Metra commuter trains that connect Chicago's Union Station with all major United States cities.
Two major airports serve the Chicago metropolitan area, with connections to Evanston by airport shuttles, trains, buses, and fixed-rate taxis.
As a full-time graduate student enrolled at Northwestern, you will receive a U-Pass, which covers all transportation on the CTA, Metra, and PACE (suburban bus network). For information on this program, see the web-site of the Graduate School.