So you're a woman and you want to see the world - on your terms.

Join the crowd!

More and more women are traveling alone or with girlfriends; an estimated 32 million in the past year, according to the Travel Industry Association.

"It's the new trend in travel and, really, it's a no-brainer," says Ruth Yunker, an intrepid solo traveler and author of "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," (www.ruthyunker.com), a humorous recounting of her extended stay in Paris as part-time resident, part-time tourist.

"Women hold the purse strings, so to speak, and we don't necessarily want to see and experience our travel destinations in the same ways men do."

The numbers tell the story:

• 28 million single women ages 35 and older - a growing demographic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Earnings for women with a college degree have increased 31 percent since 1979 while men's grew just 16 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• In 2011, 28 percent of married women made more than their husbands, up from 17.8 percent in 1987.

"We value our independence and we have the means to get up and go, so why not?" Yunker says.

If you're a woman who has dreamed of taking off on a safari, jaunting across Europe or sampling fried seahorses in Beijing, Yunker offers valuable advice:

1. So you want to travel. You are dying to travel. You have a list of 10 favorite places you're going to get to ... one day. Buy the airline ticket six months in advance. A non-refundable ticket. Don't fret. Don't get stopped by all the details. Just do it. There. You've taken the first step. You can, and will, worry about all the other details later. But baby, with this ticket, you are now on your way.

2. Bring a few creature comforts from home. I bring my own pillowcase for the airline pillows, my ragged at-home comfy wear instead of new nightgowns for the hotel or apartment, and the clipboard for working crossword puzzles.

3. Pack only clothes you currently actually wear. Do not buy a ton of new clothes for the trip. A suitcase packed with new clothes is a trip doomed to tears, trust me. The old clothes fit you now. You know without thinking how to look pulled together. The new clothes are uncomfortable. They don't go with anything yet. And they scream brand new traveler!

4. Bring some currency from your destination country with you. Do it. Everyone will tell you otherwise. They'll say it's so much cheaper to change your money once you get there. Maybe. But in the mayhem of the airport, suitcases going in every direction, do you really want to be finding the currency exchange? Just getting to the hotel/apartment will be job enough. So do arrive with Euros or whatever currency you need. It doesn't have to be a huge sum, just enough to ease your arrival.

5. Once at the hotel, unpack your toilet articles and arrange them in the bathroom in the same order you do at home. It makes things so much easier. It's so nice to be able to leave the hotel/apartment without having had a meltdown looking for misplaced mascara.

About Ruth Yunker

Ruth Yunker is an author, humorist, columnist, blogger and diehard world traveler. Her peripatetic childhood led to an adulthood always on the move; she has lived all over the United States, from Boston to Los Angeles, Brussels, Belgium and, for a short time, Paris. Her first book, "Me, Myself & Paris," recounts her first experiences as a single woman living alone in Paris for three six-week stints. Her newest book, "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," continues the saga from a more City of Light-experienced perspective.

Federal Railroad Administration Names Illinois to Lead National Procurement of 35 Next-Generation Locomotives

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has named Illinois to lead the multi-state procurement of next-generation locomotives for high-speed rail. With the consent of the partnering states, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will lead the effort to procure at least 35 next-generation diesel locomotives for high-speed passenger trains on behalf of five states - Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington. Today's announcement is part of the governor's commitment to bring Illinois' and our nation's transportation systems into the 21st century.

"This decision by the federal government is a testament to Illinois' role as a national leader in high-speed rail," Governor Quinn said. "This important multi-state procurement is a key to success for high-speed rail throughout the nation, and I have directed my administration to move forward quickly."

The FRA has allocated $808 million to build the next generation of passenger rail equipment, including 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars. As lead agency, IDOT will manage and oversee the procurement, involve the other states in planning and implementing the procurement process, develop a detailed project plan, and coordinate the review of the procurement among the involved states and FRA.

"Following significant analysis and consideration, FRA recommends that IDOT be the lead agency for the multi-state locomotive procurement," the FRA stated in their decision letter. "We are confident that your team - jointly with the significant contributions from California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington - will manage the procurement process and stakeholder involvement that will lead to a successful contract award."

"We are thrilled in Illinois to have the confidence of the FRA and Governor Quinn as we move forward with this crucial procurement effort," Illinois Secretary of Transportation Ann L. Schneider said. "Our goal is to offer 110-mile-per-hour service on at least 75 percent of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor - the segment from Dwight to Alton - by the end of 2015, and these locomotives are the key to achieving that goal. It takes time to build these complex and powerful engines, however, and we are moving quickly to get this procurement under way as soon as possible."

Last year, IDOT was part of a multi-state procurement of the 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-speed service, an effort led by the state of California. That procurement resulted in the selection of Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Illinois, including the 88 cars to be used on Midwest high-speed corridors. The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created 250 jobs in Illinois.

Illinois debuted 110-mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in fall 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that positive train control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service as much as possible in the years ahead. The FRA in December provided a Record of Decision on the entire Chicago-St. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment studies and specific project studies to move toward high-speed service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including segments from Joliet to Chicago and from Alton to St. Louis.  The segment from Dwight to Joliet is under development and is expected to offer 110-mph service in 2017.

Illinois also is working in close partnership with the state of Michigan to establish 110-mph service from Chicago to Detroit as the next Midwest segment targeted to run at higher speeds.

The state helps fund 28 Amtrak trains serving four corridors including those from Chicago to Milwaukee and St. Louis. The partnership with Amtrak has led to a steady increase in ridership in recent years. The state-supported corridors together carried a record 1.8 million passengers last year. Ridership growth in Illinois has been exceptional, up more than 92 percent overall since 2006, and up on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor by 224 percent.

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State Will Seek Federal Funds for Critical Project to Ease Congestion, Create Jobs and Improve Safety by Fixing Nation's #1 Bottleneck

CHICAGO - Following approval today by a key planning group, Governor Pat Quinn has directed the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to accelerate a $420 million project that will reconstruct Chicago's famed Circle Interchange, improving traffic flow in the most congested interchange in the nation. Today's decision by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to include the project in the "GO TO 2040" long-term transportation plan allows IDOT to pursue federal funding for the landmark project that will create thousands of jobs. Today's announcement is part of the Governor's agenda to create jobs and drive more economic growth.

"Strengthening our transportation system drives economic growth for generations to come while creating thousands of jobs today," Governor Quinn said. "Reconstructing the Circle Interchange will ease congestion, move people and freight more efficiently, and clean up the environment by reducing emissions from idling vehicles."

The Circle Interchange Improvement project will improve traffic flow on the three expressways that meet in the heart of Chicago. According to estimates by transportation planners, it will reduce traffic delays by at least 50 percent; it will save drivers 5 million hours annually; and the improved traffic flow will lead to savings of 1.6 million gallons of fuel per year.

IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider is chair of the CMAP policy committee and presided today over a meeting at which CMAP agreed to IDOT's recommendation to amend the region's long range transportation plan, GO TO 2040,  to accommodate the Circle Interchange project.  Additionally, this project will put hundreds of men and women to work rebuilding and repairing our critical transportation network.

"Through a comprehensive and transparent process, we have identified a plan for the Circle Interchange that will keep our region and our economy moving," Transportation Secretary Schneider said. "We applaud CMAP's decision to support Governor Quinn's efforts to enhance safety and improve congestion at the Circle Interchange and include this project in the region's long-range plan, so we can continue our planning and design efforts without delay."

The Circle Interchange was constructed between 1958 and 1962, and has outlived its design life according to several performance indicators on safety, infrastructure condition and congestion. The interchange experiences an average of 940 crashes per year. In addition, each day,  more than 400,000 vehicles pass through the Circle Interchange, which connects the Kennedy, Dan Ryan and Eisenhower expressways, and is a vital regional and local hub for commuters, businesses and freight movement. In 2010, the Federal Highway Administration and the American Transportation Research Institute identified the Circle Interchange as the No. 1 bottleneck among highways crucial to the nation's freight transportation system. Of the more than 400,000 vehicles that use the interchange each day, about 33,000 are trucks.

Based on engineering concerns over safety, infrastructure condition and congestion, Governor Quinn last April directed IDOT to begin planning work for this estimated $420 million project. The planning work began in spring 2012 and is proceeding on an accelerated schedule. Extensive stakeholder outreach has been a focal point of a comprehensive planning process, which is expected to be completed in spring 2013.

The proposed scope of the work involve replacing aging ramps and pavement with two existing single-lane ramps (the northbound Dan Ryan (I-90/94) to the westbound Eisenhower (I-290); and the eastbound Eisenhower to northbound Kennedy (I-90/94)) being widened to two-lane ramps providing additional capacity.  In addition, the design of the ramp merging points will be reconfigured to provide safer and more efficient traffic flow. The new design incorporates aesthetic features and improves the multimodal transportation system of the surrounding street network with the inclusion of bike lanes, wider sidewalks and improved access to transit.

As part of the planning process, IDOT has been conducting an extensive public outreach and involvement campaign. The agency has scheduled a Public Hearing to provide an overview of the study process and solicit public input on April 3, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Marriot Chicago at Medical District/UIC, 625 South Ashland Ave. For more information about the project, go to: http://www.circleinterchange.org/.

The Loop riverfront circulator will begin service 2 hours early on Saturday, March 16 to accommodate St. Patrick's Day festivities.  The service will run its regular route beginning at 3PM and will end with the last stop in Bettendorf  at 1:45AM.  Four buses will be in operation that evening -- two traveling in a clockwise direction and two running the route in a counter-clockwise direction each hour -- giving riders more frequent service and increased capacity for the busy night.  The extended service schedule is available at www.qctransit.com.

The Loop riverfront circulator gives riders easy access to downtown attractions in Bettendorf, the Village of East Davenport, Davenport, The District in Rock Island, and Moline.  It is a safe and enjoyable way to travel among popular venues and enjoy local festivities.  The brightly colored orange retro-style buses are easy to spot and comfortable to ride.  Since buses may be boarded either at a designated "Loop Stop" or by flagging the bus down in "The Loop Zone" (anywhere along the route in the downtown areas), The Loop is a safe and convenient means of travel to Saturday's St. Patrick's Day downtown events.

Cost: $1 per trip or $3 for a day-pass, 50 cents for those over 60, the disabled, and Medicare cardholders.  Additional information about The Loop, including printable St. Patrick's Saturday schedule and  2012-2013 Loop Rider's Guide, may be found at www.qctransit.com.