07/09/99
CTA's #72 North buses will operate to the North Avenue beach beginning Saturday, July 10, and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 6.
Service to the North Avenue beach was made possible by the completion of work on a new beach house and bus turnaround on the lakefront at the foot of LaSalle Drive, and follows the CTA's extension of similar service to the beach at 63rd Street over the Memorial Day weekend. Fully accessible #72 North buses will operate to the beach during the hours beaches are open to the public, from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. daily.
"In the summer, the beaches are where many Chicagoans like to go to cool off," said CTA Chairman Valerie B. Jarrett, ?and we want to make their trips as convenient as possible. Just as we did on 63rd Street last May, we?re extending service to the North Avenue beach so our customers can save some steps on their way to summer fun."
To reach the new terminal, #72 North buses operating east on North Avenue will turn north on LaSalle Street and enter Lincoln Park on LaSalle Drive en route to the lakefront. Beach visitors can transfer to #72 North buses from any crossing bus line, or from the Blue Line 'L' at Damen; the Red Line at North/Clybourn, or the Brown Line (weekdays and Saturdays) at Sedgwick.
"The North Avenue beach is one of the most popular in Chicago," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. "With parking at a premium, public transportation makes the beach easily accessible to everyone. Our #72 North buses are lift-equipped, so senior citizens and people with disabilities as well as parents with children can enjoy direct service to the beach without having to fight heavy traffic."
While #72 North buses are operating to the beach, connections with #22 Clark and #36 Broadway buses can be made at stops on LaSalle between North Avenue and Eugenie (1700 North). Connections can also be made with #73 Armitage buses that start their trips northbound on Clark just south of LaSalle Drive, and with #156 LaSalle buses (weekdays only) on LaSalle Street.
In the early morning hours and after the beach closes, #72 North buses will use the regular terminal on North at Clark.
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