Jon Hilkevitch is responsible for covering all types of transportation for the Chicago Tribune, both locally and nationally, although his primary focus is on the Chicago metropolitan region. 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. Hilkevitch also writes a weekly commuting column, called Getting Around, which allows him to interact more informally with readers and to help resolve major problems as well as annoyances they experience on the transportation scene.

Jon Hilkevitch, 57, has been the Chicago Tribune's transportation reporter since 1997. 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. Since starting at the Tribune in 1979, first at the Suburban Trib, Hilkevitch has held a variety of reporting and editing jobs in the city, the suburbs and Washington. Hilkevitch lives in Lisle and commutes to work using Metra, the CTA, Chicago River water taxis and his own two feet. His son, Nicholas, is a pilot at a major airline.

Planes, trains and buses, fast cars, bicycles, express ski lifts, golf carts, road bikes, motor scooters, folk music and great food.

52% of low-income, minority CTA riders paying more 5/20/2013
Civil rights review focuses on effect of fare hikes As South Side and south suburban Chicago Transit Authority riders figure out the best way to get to work and other activities Monday without Red Line Dan Ryan service , a new analysis shows that about 52 percent of minority and low-income CTA customers are paying higher fares this year.        

Gary taking a new tack to expand, land business for its airport 5/13/2013
Study for public-private partnership is in the works For many years, Gary/Chicago International Airport has offered its services as a reliever airport to help ease flight-delay pressures at Chicago's two airports.        

Analyzing the effects of shutting Red Line for 5 months on South Side 5/6/2013
Some say better service, jobs await at end of bumpy road The Chicago Transit Authority's next big project and its impact on riders were the focus of conversation Friday afternoon at Carter's Barbershop in the city's North Lawndale neighborhood.        

Indiana E-ZPass users may face extra fee on Illinois Tollway 4/29/2013
Indiana drivers who use E-ZPass transponders to pay tolls electronically on the Illinois Tollway might soon be charged an extra fee to balance out what Illinois officials see as a long-unresolved fairness issue.        

Brace for delays at O'Hare 4/22/2013
FAA begins furloughs of air traffic controllers because of federal budget sequestration Delays may average 50 minutes per flight at O'Hare International Airport this week because of fewer air traffic controllers in the tower until the federal budget sequestration is resolved, according to the Federal Aviation Administration .