2016-12-26 23:05:15
BY CAR With its central geographic location and status as a hub for major interstates, Chicago is convenient to drive to and from every region of the country. TRAVELING THE GRID Because of its unique grid system, Chicago boasts a safe and easy-to-navigate downtown. Driving or walking, convention attendees have no trouble traversing the city. The State/Madison intersection in the Loop marks the origin of the grid system — the 0/0 mark. Every address in Chicago is relative to the 0/0 mark. Example: 900 N. Michigan Ave. Is roughly nine blocks north of Madison Street on Michigan Avenue. *One mile = eight blocks BY PUBLIC TRANSIT CTA ‘L’ Train: There are eight ‘L’ lines serving 145 stations all over town, including the Blue Line (24 hours), Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line, Red Line (24 hours) and Yellow Line. CTA Bus: There are 140 bus routes lacing the city with bus stops every few blocks and mounted maps within the bus cabs. Several lines operate 24 hours a day. CTA fares start at $2 for buses and $2.25 for trains with a reloadable Ventra card. Single- Ride Ventra Ticket: $3 (includes 2 transfers within 2 hours) or $5 (from O’Hare). 1-Day Ventra Ticket: $10 (unlimited rides for 24 hours). Visit transitchicago.com to learn more. Metra (metrarail.com): Highspeed Metra trains connect Chicago’s outlying suburbs to downtown. Most train routes arrive at and depart from Union Station and Ogilvie Station, both a short walk from the Loop and many downtown hotels. Metra fares start at $3.50 for a single trip and $31 for a 10-ride pass. BY TAXI Credit cards are accepted in all cabs and tolls are charged to the passenger. Base rate: $3.25 flag pull (base rate); $2.25 for each additional mile; 20 cents for every 36 seconds of elapsed time. Passenger fee: $1 for the first additional passenger between ages 13 and 64; 50 cents for each additional passenger after that. Standard tip: 15-20 percent of the fare, plus $1–$2 per bag if the driver helps with luggage. CHICABS allows passengers to electronically hail a taxi and pay the fare through mobile apps: Download ARRO or CURB from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Rideshare: Lyft and Uber services are available throughout the greater Chicago metro area. Download the Lyft or Uber app for fare quotes and booking. BY BICYCLE Divvy Bike: Chicago’s Divvy Bike sharing system is an easy, convenient way to get around. Thousands of bikes are available at hundreds of stations across Chicago. Rates start at $9.95 for a 24-hour rental period. Learn more at divvybikes.com. BUDGET TO LUXURY RIDE OPTIONS GO Airport Express provides shared ride services to all downtown/suburban hotels and many businesses. Pair fares and group discounts are available along with customized reservation portals for groups. Many major car rental companies have facilities at O’Hare and Midway airports, including Avis, Alamo, Budget and Hertz. Please visit specific rental company websites for details. Limousine and chauffeur agencies prefer that all customers reserve cars at least 48 hours in advance, although cars can occasionally be ordered with a two-hour notice. Visit choosechicago.com for a list of transportation partners. All fares are subject to change.
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