8/19/04
Chicago Transit Authority bus and rail service will be the most effective way to reach viewing areas for the 46th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22, 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/Clark instead of continuing east to North Avenue Beach.
Customers traveling on Metra may take #151 buses from Union Station and Randolph Street station 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/Delaware, within walking distance of Oak Street Beach.
Additional buses will operate after the show from North/Clark beginning at 3:30 p.m. both days on the #22 Clark and #36 Broadway routes.
Additional buses will operate on the #29 State route to Navy Pier from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Additional buses will operate on the #65 Grand and #66 Chicago routes beginning at 3:30 p.m. for spectators leaving Navy Pier.
#124 Navy Pier service will operate on its normal schedule between Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station, Randolph Street station and Navy Pier from 8:35 a.m. until midnight.
To avoid street traffic altogether, spectators can reach the Air and Water Show on Red Line trains from subway stations at Chicago/State and Clark/Division, which are both just a few blocks away from Oak Street Beach.
Longer trains will operate both Saturday and Sunday on the Blue, Brown, Orange and Green Lines beginning at 6:30 a.m. Transfers can be made from these lines to Red Line trains. Longer Red Line trains will operate Sunday only beginning at 6:30 a.m. Customers also can reach the Air and 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 be supplementing 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 6,300 cars at facilities adjacent to 16 'L' stations, mainly at terminals, throughout the CTA system. Most of the spaces are used on weekdays by commuters, however Air and Water Show spectators may find parking more readily available on weekends. Rates run from $1.50 to $1.75 with most facilities charging $1.50 for up to 24 hours of parking. Customers should pay their fees as directed on the numbered slot boxes. Most accept coins only. 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 and all CTA service by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.
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