08/12/2008
The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient travel option for spectators heading to the Chicago Air & Water Show Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17 along the lakefront from Oak Street Beach to Fullerton. The best viewing location will be at North Avenue Beach.
The festivities kick off Friday at 3 p.m. with an addition to this year's show, immediately followed by a free concert at the North Avenue Beach Boat House and fireworks. On Saturday and Sunday water performances begin at 9 a.m. and air performances start at 11 a.m. continuing until 4 p.m. both days.
Additional buses will be in service beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday on the #72 North and #151 Sheridan routes, which operate close to all the activities. To avoid traffic congestion, #72 buses will only travel as far as North and Clark instead of continuing east to North Avenue Beach.
Customers traveling on Metra may take #151 buses from Union Station and Millennium Park Metra station (formerly Randolph Street) to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches. The #151 buses are also within walking distance of the Ogilvie Transportation Center and the LaSalle Street Metra station.
Buses on the #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #147 Outer Drive Express routes operate to Michigan and Delaware, within walking distance of Oak Street Beach. Riders can also take the #22 Clark or #36 Broadway routes to North and Clark, within walking distance of North Avenue Beach.
To avoid street traffic altogether, spectators can reach the Air & Water Show on Red Line trains from subway stations at Chicago/State or Clark/Division, which are both just a few blocks away from Oak Street Beach.
Customers may take the Blue, Pink, Brown, Orange and Green Lines to downtown and transfer to Red Line trains in the State Street subway. Customers also can reach the Air & Water Show by transferring from the Blue Line at Damen, the Red Line at North/Clybourn or the Brown Line at Sedgwick to board additional #72 buses that will supplement regular service along North Avenue from California to Clark. Capacity will be added to Blue and Brown Line trains throughout the weekend.
Additional Customer Assistants will be on hand at all downtown rail stations to assist customers with fare and travel information.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $1.75 to ride and may transfer for a 25 cent fee. Rail customers who use Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus pay $1.75 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. For rail customers who use a magnetic strip transit card, or for customers who pay cash on either the bus or rail system, the fare is $2. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
Parking is available for approximately 6,200 cars at facilities adjacent to 18 CTA rail stations throughout the system. Rates are $3 at Rosemont and Forest Park and $2 at all other locations. Park & Ride stations are listed on CTA's system map and on the CTA's web site.
For details about all CTA service and Park & Ride stations, call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA web site at www.transitchicago.com.
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