2019-11-25 07:10:18
GETTING AROUND CHICAGO BY CAR With its central geographic location and status as a hub for major interstates, Chicago is convenient to reach by car from every region of the country. Reserve a discounted parking spot nearly anywhere in the city through iParkit, Millennium Garages, or SpotHero. TRAVELING THE GRID Because of its unique grid system, Chicago boasts an easy-to-navigate downtown. Whether 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 129 bus routes lacing the city, with bus stops every few blocks. Bus cabs have mounted maps, and several lines operate 24 hours a day. CTA fares start at $2.25 for buses and $2.50 for trains, and can be paid with a reloadable Ventra card. Single-ride Ventra ticket: $3 (includes three rides within two hours of use) or $5 (from O’Hare). One-day Ventra ticket: $10 (unlimited rides for 24 hours). Visit transitchicago.com to learn more. Metra: High-speed Metra trains connect Chicago’s outlying suburbs to downtown. Most train routes arrive at and depart from Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center, both a short walk from the Loop and many downtown hotels. The renovated McCormick Place station stops right at the convention center. Metra fares start at $4 for a single trip, with 10-ride tickets available. Go to metrarail.com for more information. BY TAXI Credit cards are accepted in all cabs, and any tolls are charged to the passenger. Base rate: $3.25 flag pull (base fare); $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 13-64; 50 cents for each additional passenger after that. Standard tip: 15-20% 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. BY BICYCLE Divvy Bikes: Chicago’s Divvy bikesharing system is an easy, convenient way to get around. Thousands of bikes are available at hundreds of stations across Chicago. Rates start at $3 for a single 30-minute trip. Learn more at divvybikes.com. BUDGET TO LUXURY RIDE OPTIONS GO Airport Express, the official shuttle provider from airports to hotels, 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. 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 within a two-hour notice. Visit meetinchicago.com/transportation-services for a list of transportation partners. HOW TO USE THE ‘L’ An inexpensive way for convention attendees to get to and from their destination. TO DOWNTOWN FROM CHICAGO’S AIRPORTS From O’Hare International Airport: The CTA ‘L’ station (Blue Line) is accessible via O’Hare’s lower level in Terminal 2 and transports riders downtown in approximately 40 minutes. From Midway International Airport: The CTA ‘L’ station (Orange Line) is accessible from Midway Airport’s Transportation Center, which is connected by a walkway east of the terminal and transports riders to the Loop (downtown) in approximately 35 minutes. TO AND FROM MCCORMICK PLACE Located at the intersection of State and Cermak, the Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station is approximately a 10-minute trip from the Clark/Lake ‘L’ station in the Loop. From Downtown: Access the Green Line train along Lake Street or Wabash Avenue going toward Cottage Grove or Ashland/63rd. From McCormick Place: To travel downtown and connect to all rail lines, take the Green Line toward Harlem/Lake. Transfer at Adams/Wabash to access the Orange, Pink, Purple (rush), and Brown Lines at State/Lake to transfer to the Red Line, or stop at Clark/Lake to transfer to the Blue Line.
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