8/16/06
Chicago Transit Authority bus and rail service will be the most effective way to reach viewing areas for the Chicago Air & Water Show Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20, along the lakefront from Oak Street Beach to Fullerton. The best viewing will be at North Avenue Beach. 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 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 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. #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.
Additional buses will operate after the show from North and Clark beginning at 3:30 p.m. both days on the #22 Clark and #36 Broadway routes.
To avoid street traffic altogether, spectators can reach the Air & Water Show on Red Line trains from subway stations at Chicago and State, and Clark and 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 extra #72 buses that will supplement regular service along North Avenue from California to Clark.
Additional Customer Assistants will be on hand at all downtown rail stations to assist customers with fare and travel information.
Parking is available for approximately 6,800 cars at CTA's 18 Park & Ride facilities, mainly at terminals, throughout the CTA 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 at www.transitchicago.com. Customers may also obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.
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