CTA Transit Help/Advice

[paytonc]

I'd suggest a cab not because of crime, but because you've built at least five staircases into your luggage-laden itinerary. If you go by transit, you can minimize stairs and transfers by taking the #151 bus from Union Station to Michigan/Randolph, walking across Michigan, and then taking the #3 bus southbound. (One potential problem is that the #3 stops running after midnight, which might be a problem if Amtrak's late.) Buses take cash, but don't issue transfers; trains don't take cash, but you can pay cash for a farecard (valid on trains & buses, with transfers) at any station. You can also buy a pass at Union Station, from a machine by the Metra ticket sales. Your 3-day pass is valid for 72 hours, not three calendar days (like in certain stupid cities).

Metra is a commuter rail service mostly serving the suburbs; CTA runs city transit. Yes, Metra goes to McCormick Place, but the schedule's really inconvenient and it requires a separate fare.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Sonata36

I visited Chicago with a friend a few years ago and used CTA just for fun. We had nowhere to be at any set time, so we just rode trains, busses, and trolleys for the heck of it. This time, though, my wife and I have to be on a schedule, we have places to be, and it’s going to be late at night. (That being said, my friend and I rode from downtown to the O’Hare airport at 11pm-1am just for the heck of it. Later, I was told we were insane to attempt that.)

I don't understand that part? Why would you be insane for attempting that? Because it take 45 minutes to get there? I rode that line weekly in the middle of the night and never stopped to think about it being weird in any way.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I don't understand that part? Why would you be insane for attempting that? Because it take 45 minutes to get there? I rode that line weekly in the middle of the night and never stopped to think about it being weird in any way.

I can understand it. Riding an hourlong train to the airport at midnight, just to take the same train back is typically done by people eating bread crumbs out of their beards.

[aragx6]

^^I understood it as they were told they were insane because of some high probablity of being a victim of a crime. Which, unless they were drunk seems like a stretch to me.

[Chicago60614]

^ hell, I did it drunk 50 times at 2am-4am and no one ever once even batted an eye at me. Not that something certainly couldn't have happened - but I wouldn't call it insane to take the train to O'hare at night.

[linicx]

I would certainly grab a cab from Union to McCormic Place. Don't the hotels in Chicago take guests to Ohare?

[long101]

Originally Posted by linicx

I would certainly grab a cab from Union to McCormic Place. Don't the hotels in Chicago take guests to Ohare?

I doubt that hotels are going to send drivers on the hour long round trip to Ohare. Maybe if there was a conference or something where they would be able to pack each van with guests.