11/21/00
CTA will run longer trains on the Blue and Orange Lines to serve holiday travelers using O'Hare and Midway Airports over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, beginning after the p.m. rush period Wednesday, November 22. Longer trains will also operate on the Brown, Green and Orange Lines on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, for spectators and shoppers attending Marshall Field's Jingle Elf parade.
Extra buses will operate through Christmas, mainly on weekends, along 11 routes that serve shopping areas throughout the CTA service area. These routes include the #9 Ashland, #21 Cermak, #54B South Cicero, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th, #63 63rd, #77 Belmont, #79 79th, #87 87th, #95 W West 95th and #151 Sheridan (between Belmont and Union Station).
For a fare of $1.50, air travelers can ride a Blue Line train to O'Hare in about 45 minutes from stations in the Dearborn subway downtown, where free connections can be made from all other 'L' lines serving the Loop. Free connections can also be made downtown to Orange Line trains, which serve Midway Airport in about 30 minutes from stops on the inner Loop ?L."
Visitors should consider purchasing visitor passes that are valid for unlimited riding on all CTA buses and trains for 24-hour periods beginning with the first use. The 1-Day Pass costs $5; 2-Day, $9; 3-Day, $12, and a 5-Day Pass costs $18. The passes are sold at both O'Hare and Midway 'L' stations, Union Station's Amtrak ticket counter, Visitor Information Centers, and at several museums and other locations.
To avoid highway congestion, car drivers picking up or discharging air travelers using O'Hare, or who go downtown to shop, might wish to park at garages adjacent to CTA Blue Line stations near O'Hare and complete their trips by train. More than 1,600 spaces are available at the Cumberland garage along the Kennedy Expressway for up to 12 hours for $1.75, and another 700 spaces at Rosemont for up to 18 hours at $1.50. Limited parking is also available at 14 other CTA stations on all seven CTA 'L' lines.
For information about all CTA service, call 836-7000 (all local area codes).
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