(CHICAGO) Illinois Department of Transportation announced more roadwork projects this week that will continue over multiple weeks, and in some cases, even months.
Harlem Avenue from 26th Street to Interstate 55, in Berwyn, Lyons, Riverside, Stickney and Forest View will begin to see closures on Monday, April 24th for resurfacing. Harlem will be reduced to one lane in each direction with flaggers during daytime hours. This project is expected to be completed in Fall 2017.
In Summit, Archer Road (Illinois 171) from 55th Place to 63rd Street will experience closures for resurfacing and pavement. According to IDOT, in order to complete the work, daytime lane closures will take place in both directions on Archer Road between 55th Place and 63rd Street. This project will focus on improving safety and create new sidewalks and ramps which will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2017.
In Gurnee, Illinois 132 between Ferndale Street and Estes Street, will experience closures for a pavement reconstruction project. Westbound traffic on Illinois 132 will be reduced to one lane between Ferndale Street and Estes Street during daytime hours Monday through Friday. Per the scope of the project includes pavement reconstruction, patching, storm sewer improvements and new concrete and gutter. Expect these closures to continue through Fall 2017.
(CHICAGO) Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that Chicagoans significantly reduced the average number of disposable bags used per shopping trip in the first month of the Checkout Bag Tax, demonstrating measurable success in the City’s effort to reduce paper and plastic bag use in Chicago.
The city implemented a seven-cent tax on plastic and paper bags to help reduce waste, which helps benefit both the local environment and economy.
“We know from our work in behavioral science that while shoppers often want to do the right thing for the environment, they sometimes need a little help, and our team’s study shows clearly that the Checkout Bag Tax is effective in reducing the use of disposable bags,” said Ted Robertson, a Managing Director with ideas42. “These promising results not only benefit Chicago’s environment but may also inform other municipalities around the nation.”
A study conducted by ideas42, New York University and the University of Chicago Energy & Environment Lab have shown the following statistics:
Disposable bag use per trip decreased by 42 percent;
Residents using disposable bags decreased by 33 percentage points;
About half of customers who stopped using disposable bags switched to using reusable bags while others used no bags at all.
According to a news release, the study tracked bag use of customers at several large grocery chains in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs before and after the tax was implemented to compare consumer experience and determine the possible environmental impact.
From 2010 to 2015 Chicago’s carbon emissions from waste were down 30 percent, with the expansion of the City’s recycling program playing a significant factor. During those five years, the City increased the numbers of tons of recycled material from 58,000 to 97,000.
Thursday | Windy with a few clouds from time to time. High 71°F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Friday | Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 40s. Saturday | Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 40s. Sunday | Sunshine. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.
Friday | Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 69F. (cooler near lake) Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Friday Night | Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then the chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 62F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Saturday | Windy with a few clouds from time to time. High around 80F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Saturday night | Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm after midnight. Low 62F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Easter Sunday | Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 40s.
Sixteen at the Trump Tower
Date: Easter Sunday Time: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: 401 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Dine like an American president on the anniversary of the rising of Christ!
Sixteen (on the 16th floor of Trump Tower) is hosting Easter Brunch with the Easter Bunny!
Just as one would expect at a Trump event, be prepared to meet MasterChef Junior Season 5 Contestant Avani.
Prices are as follows:
Adults – $165
Children 5-12 – $50
Price includes one glass of sparkling wine or mimosa; excludes tax and gratuity.
Bunny Brunch at Lamb’s Farm
Date: Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 Time: Seatings at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. Location: Libertyville
From the website: Join us for a delicious buffet at the Magnolia Cafe & Bakery then take a walk over to the Bunny Patch! At the Bunny Patch kids can enjoy Spring crafts, activities and get a photo with the Easter bunny! Some of our Farmyard friends will also be available for petting and learning.
The price for all is $16.95, however, children 23-months and younger are only $7.95 with Bunny activities.
Call the Magnolia Cafe & Bakery for reservations at 847-362-5050.
It’s always a beautiful day when dining at Cog Hill. With a display of more than 25 breakfast, lunch and other items, you will surely leave satisfied after a long Lenten season.
The prices are as follows:
Adults – $32.95
Children under 10 – $12.95
Children under six years of age are complimentary.
Celebrate Easter Sunday with food and fun for the entire family! Our delicious brunch is perfect for all ages, featuring an elaborate buffet featuring over seven stations, plus mimosas and bellinis for the adults.
Prices are as follows:
Adults – $50
Children 6 to 12 – $15
Children 3 to 5 – $10
Children 2 and Under – FREE!
Easter Brunch at The Onion Pub
Date: Easter Sunday Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location: Lake Barrington
Pork Loin, Cod, and Chicken Stir Fry are just some of the non-traditional items you can splurge on at this Easter brunch.
This looks like maybe the most fun Easter brunch out there! Half price Stoli martinis, pink champagne, a four-course meal, and live performances!
The price? Only $39.95 for brunch and a show. However, it is adult only!
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
Various roadwork projects began on Monday, April 10 in the metro, and will continue long term in some areas.
Lane closures along U.S. 30 will happen both during the day and night in both directions from Lincoln Station Drive to 143rd Street in Plainfield, Aurora and Oswego for resurfacing. This project has an expected end date of late summer 2017.
Nightly lane closures on the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate 94) between I-57 and Martin Luther King Drive will happen during the overnight hours in Chicago for resurfacing. Both the inbound and outbound sides will be affected through the end of the spring season.
Temporary lane closures in Des Plaines along Wolf Road from Rand Road (U.S. 12) to Golf Road (Illinois 58will take place during off-peak travel hours between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with has an anticipation completion date during this spring.
Finally, intersection improvement on Butterfield Road in Aurora at Raddant Road including widening, drainage improvements and new traffic signal installation. The overall project is expected to be completed in Fall 2017.
CTA Alerts and Route Changes
BLUE LINE
Apr 14 – 15 11:30pm Fri to 4am Sat Boarding Change, Delays Between Division and California How does this affect my trip? Board/exit all trains on the Forest Park-bound platform at the Damen and Western (O’Hare branch) stations. Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Division and California, resulting in minor delays. Allow extra travel time. Why is service being changed? We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Blue Line. Bus Routes The bus reroutes listed below are short-term reroutes during this weekend or long-term reroutes beginning this weekend. For a full list of bus reroutes currently in place, please visit the Bus Alerts page.
#22 Clark Temporary Reroute 9am, Thu, Apr 13 to 4pm, Sat, May 13 or completion How does this affect my trip? Southbound buses will operate via Clark, Polk, and Dearborn, ending their trips at Dearborn/Polk. Northbound buses will begin their trips at Dearborn/Polk. Why is service being changed? Buses are being rerouted due to street construction on Clark between Polk and Harrison. #36 Broadway Temporary Reroute Sat, Apr 15 7pm to 11:30pm or completion How does this affect my trip? Southbound buses will operate via State, Chicago, Clark, and Erie, then resume their normal route on State. Northbound buses will operate via State, Huron, Dearborn, and Chicago, then resume their normal route on State. Allow extra travel time. Why is service being changed? Buses are rerouted due to the Holy Name Cathedral Easter Vigil Mass.
(CHICAGO) The highly unanticipated-for-commuters (anticipated for boaters) Chicago bridge lift season commences this weekend.
According to CDOT, each year, in the spring and fall, the department raises the movable bridges along the main and South Branches of the Chicago River on a twice-weekly schedule on most Saturdays and Wednesdays for about eight weeks to accommodate the movement of recreational sailboats traveling to their storage yards.
These begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, and continue each Saturday and Wednesday, through June 28.
A total of 27 bridges are lifted in succession from Ashland Avenue to Lake Shore Drive over the Chicago River. It is also noted that if no boat owners make arrangements to move their boats on a scheduled day, the bridges will not be lifted.
Per previous years, the streets affected by the bridge lifts are: Lake Shore Drive, Columbus Dr., Michigan Ave., Wabash Ave., State St., Dearborn St., Clark St., La Salle St., Wells St., Franklin St., Lake St., Randolph St., Washington St., Madison St., Monroe St., Adams St., Jackson Blvd., Van Buren St., Congress Pkwy., Harrison St., Roosevelt Rd., 18th St., Canal St., Cermak Ave., Halsted St., Loomis Ave., and Ashland Ave.
(CHICAGO) The Illinois Department of Transportation has released information for more road construction projects beginning the week of April 10.
There will be daily, off-peak closures on Illinois 59 between Barrington Road & Higgins Road, in Barrington, Barrington Hills and South Barrington for patching and resurfacing.
IL-59 will be reduced to one lane with flaggers during construction activities that will continue through the end of summer 2017.
In another project, the Foster Avenue bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Keeler Avenue and Pulaski Road daily.
These closures are for a bridge painting project that will extend the life span of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2017.
By Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM Traffic (CHICAGO) Various roadwork projects began on Monday, April 10 in the metro, and will continue long term in some areas.
Lane closures along U.S. 30 will happen both during the day and night in both directions from Lincoln Station Drive to 143rd Street in Plainfield, Aurora and Oswego for resurfacing. This project has an expected end date of late summer 2017.
Nightly lane closures on the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate 94) between I-57 and Martin Luther King Drive will happen during the overnight hours in Chicago for resurfacing. Both the inbound and outbound sides will be affected through the end of the spring season.
Temporary lane closures in Des Plaines along Wolf Road from Rand Road (U.S. 12) to Golf Road (Illinois 58will take place during off-peak travel hours between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with has an anticipation completion date during this spring.
Finally, intersection improvement on Butterfield Road in Aurora at Raddant Road including widening, drainage improvements and new traffic signal installation. The overall project is expected to be completed in Fall 2017.
(CHICAGO) It may have taken the Chicago Cubs 108 years to win the title, but it only took Chicago residents Shan Riggs and Loli Arosemena less than seven hours moving time to honor the team with what could be considered an equally challenging feat.
On Saturday, March 25, Riggs and Arosemena took to the streets of Chicago to run the shape of the Chicago Cubs logo through a variety of north and west side neighborhoods.
Riggs, 38, has been participating in ultramarathon events for about a decade and has completed around 40 ultramarathons ranging in distances from 31 to 200 miles.
“I ran cross country and track in high school,” Riggs said. “Then 10 years ago, I tried an ultramarathon…I’ve been doing ridiculously long runs ever since.”
When Riggs and Arosemena found out in early March that the city they love and reside it would no longer be their home come April due to a business opportunity in Los Angeles, they decided to combine their passions of ultrarunning and the Chicago Cubs for an ultimate “love letter” to the city.
“We wanted to do one last big run as a celebration and ‘thank you’ to our friends and the city of Chicago,” Riggs said. “The Cubs have been a big part of our life here, so we thought it appropriate to use the logo as a template.”
GPS art is popular in the fitness world with the modern innovations of location tracking through electronic devices such as watches and smartphones. According to Wikipedia, GPS art (or GPS drawing) is a “method of drawing that uses Global Positioning System technology (GPS) to create large-scale artwork. It combines art, movement, and technology.”
Shan and Loli ran 41.2 miles in 6 hours, 12 minutes to create the Chicago Cubs GPS art.
With the help of a friend, Erol Cims, they put together a map which they used as a template for the six-hour, 12-minute long run which allowed the duo to “basically run through every neighborhood on the north side.”
The total distance of the run was just over 41 miles with a few stops on the route to grab photos of local tributes to the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.
“I like to push myself and see how far I can go,” Riggs said. “When things get really hard, you definitely find out what you are made of and it makes the everyday things much easier.”
Cubs Field on North Rockwell – Courtesy of Shan Riggs
Loli Arosemena – Courtesy of Shan Riggs
A railroad bridge over Belmont – Courtesy of Shan Riggs
Recapping yesterday’s hearing for SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch. Former KGB spy Jack Barsky talks about his experience as a spy. Plus, please remember to secure your snake and hitch your horse.
Entertainment including the City of Chicago Pipe Band, Trinity Irish Dancers, The Dirty Wellies and so much more, the Irish American Heritage Center will be celebrating the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day.
The day-long celebration in the Fifth Province pub features live music, dance, food and drink for purchase and face painting for children.
The party is from noon to midnight and tickets are $10 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Mass is at 11:00 a.m.. Tickets can be purchased by clicking above, calling the Center office at 773-282-7035, ext. 10 or by visiting the IAHC Office.
Chicago Bulls Play the Utah Jazz
Date: Saturday, March 18th, 2017 Time: 8:00 p.m. Location: United Center
Always a great time, the Chicago Bulls light up the United Center for regular season play this weekend against the Utah Jazz. The last match-up in November proved victorious for the Bulls.
Get tickets here: http://www.nba.com/bulls/tickets
Come hungry, though! WLS-AM’s Rachel Brady takes a look at all of the delicious food you can grab while at the game.
It is also White Sox night, so if you’re not wearing your red, wear your black & white!
The Shannon Rovers Play Navy Pier
Date: Friday, March 17th, 2017 Time: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Location: Various locations at Navy Pier
Go for an early lunch, late lunch or just skedaddle out of the office early to head to the pier for an Irish celebration at the pillar of Chicago activity.
Harry Caray’s also serving St. Pat’s Day specials:
Harp and Irish Cheddar Soup Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon Cup $3.95 | Bowl $5.95
Fish and Chips $17.95 Beer Battered Cod, Cabbage Slaw, Remoulade, French Fries
Hot Corned Beef Sandwich $9.95 Seeded Rye, Swiss Cheese, French Fries
Here is when the Shannon Rovers joined the John Howell Show!
Deer Park St. Patty’s Day 5k & 10k
Date: Saturday, March 18th, 2017 Time: 7:15 a.m. Location: Deer Park Town Center
Eat corned beef, have some Guinness, and then run it off on Saturday morning in either a 3.1-mile or 6.2-mile course in the northwestern suburbs. Register now!
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
Crown Point, Ind. St. Pat’s Day Parade: From the Indiana Department of Transportation, there is an alert of closures on State Road 55 and U.S. 231, between E Clark Street and both S West Street and S East Street in Crown Point, Lake County Friday, March 17 from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The City of Crown Point will close State Road 55 and U.S. 231 at this location to act as a parade route and for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
95th Street Red Line Terminal on the Ryan: Construction for the CTA’s 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project close the left northbound lane on I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway, between Halsted Street and 95th Street this weekend, continuing through the fall.
Wabash at Washington: The intersection of Wabash and Washington will be closed for the entire weekend from 9 p.m. Friday, March 17 through 6 a.m. Monday, March 20 for construction of the new elevated Washington-Wabash CTA Station.
The Chicago Department of Transportation says that motorists traveling eastbound on Washington will be detoured either left or right on State Street, back to an eastbound trip resuming on Lake or Monroe Streets.
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
It’s Transit Employee Appreciation Day and the RTA is encouraging riders to say “Thank You” to transit employees.
Click to enlarge and print! Then give to your daily driver.
In a new release from the RTA, this Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, the Regional Transportation Authority is asking riders to celebrate the contributions of the hard-working transit employees at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.
“We all know the familiar faces we see each day, whether it’s the man or woman who works at the station or the driver who makes sure we get to our destination. They become part of our daily commute and it’s nice to show we know them and appreciate the work they do,” said Leanne Redden, RTA Executive Director.
The RTA has created personalized “Thank You” cards that are available on its website that can be given to transit employees. These “transit thank you notes” are a simple and easy way to offer appreciation to the transit employees we see every day. Riders can also help spread the word about this special day by posting to their social media pages using the hashtag #LoveTransit.
Wabash at Washington: As a result of the construction work on the CTA Station at Wabash & Washington, a temporary closure of portions of the Loop elevated tracks with be required from 10 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday. Brown, Orange, Green and Pink line trains will be re-routed.
Orange and Brown Lines: Trains will operate as one route, between Kimball and Midway, via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.
Green Line: Trains will operate between Harlem and 63rd via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.
Pink Line: Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and Polk, then to Racine Blue Line for connecting Blue Line train service to/from downtown.
For service to downtown from Pink Line stations between 54th/Cermak and Polk, take a Pink Line train toward the Loop and stay on board until the train reaches Racine on the Blue Line, where you can transfer to continuing Blue Line service into downtown.
For service from downtown to Pink Line stations between Polk and 54th/Cermak, take a Blue Line train toward Forest Park to Racine and transfer to a Pink Line train toward 54th/Cermak.
For service to/from Ashland, Morgan or Clinton stations, use Blue Line service between Racine and Jackson, and Green Line service.
Customers may transfer between the Loop elevated, and Blue and Red line subways at Harold Washington Library (Loop elevated) and Jackson (Blue and Red lines) stations. Allow extra travel time.
Quincy CTA Station: The Quincy station southeast street-to-mezzanine stairway will be temporarily closed from Thursday, March 16 until further notice. Entry/exiting between the street and station mezzanine will be available via the stairways on the northeast, northwest, and southwest corners of Quincy and Wells streets.
Submit an Event to Jen
What's on your agenda this weekend? Send it over in an email, and it's just might pop up on Jen's A-Jenda and the Big John Howell Show!
John Howell and Ray Stevens talked about the ability to buy friends and followers on social media on Wednesday morning.
Ray stated that all of his connections are real, organic followers, yet that companies such as the WLS-AM parent company, Cumulus, have the means to purchase ‘likes’ and ‘followers.’
Note: WLS-AM 890 does NOT buy followers or ‘likes’ — we would have WAY more if that were the case.
The guys found this Japanese organization that sells you friends by way of photos to help make you look popular on social media.
So if you are feeling down because you went out to eat alone for the lack of friends, this company can make it appear that never happened. That deep, awful feeling of sadness and despair, unfortunately, has no product that will create a fix.
Dyeing of the Chicago River & the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: Saturday, March 11th, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. River Dyeing, 12:00 p.m. Parade Step-Off Location: The Chicago River at Columbus Drive, then along Columbus Drive
ChooseChicago.com explains the event as In what might be one of the world’s most famous St. Patrick’s Day rituals, 45 pounds of eco-friendly vegetable dye are poured into the Chicago River to turn it emerald green for the occasion. Actually, at first glance, the dye appears orange on the river’s surface—but don’t panic. Thanks to a little leprechaun magic (or, well, science), the hue transforms and seeps in until the whole river is a bright, beautiful green.
The dyeing of the river remains a beloved tradition for many generations of Chicagoans (it dates back over 50 years ago) and draws nearly 400,000 spectators downtown looking to catch a glimpse before taking in the parade that follows. The Chicago River keeps its coloring for about five hours only, so don’t miss out.
An annual staple in Chicago’s south side Beverly neighborhood, the South Side Irish Parade has been not only a local tradition but a suburban tourist destination.
Though the parade has a long-standing reputation of being a place for excessive consumption, it is the official policy from the organizers that “The South Side Irish Parade is a family-friendly event and has a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol along the parade route.”
What would Jen do?
The 2017 Emerald Isle Mile, that begins at 11:30 a.m., before the start of the parade. The race runs from 104th Street to 112th Street, and is expected to have nearly 250 entrants. Fun fact: one-mile burns about 100-110 calories which is equivalent to an O’Doul’s Non-Alcoholic beer, a shot of whiskey, or about two-thirds of a Smithwicks.
Northwest Side Irish Parade
Date: Sunday, March 12th, 2017 Time: 12:00 p.m. Location: Norwood Park
Venturing to the south side can be a bit much for north siders wishing to imbibe on St. Pat’s celebration weekend. For that, the Northwest Side Irish Parade and festival provides a means of entertainment.
The parade after party is held at the Immaculate Conception Recreation Center, 7271 W. Talcott Avenue, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for party-goers aged 10+ and includes “Danny Boy Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner, Eli’s Cheesecake, soda, and live entertainment!”
GET LUCKY Half Marathon, 14k & 7k
Date:Saturday, March 11th, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. Location: Soldier Field
A lucky morning to burn away all of that whiskey and corned beef? Yes, please.
Participants can choose between the seven or 14-kilometer version, or better yet run both adding to 21-kilometers, or a half-marathon.
Here’s how to get in: http://www.chicagogetlucky.org/Information/
Finish the race, enjoy the post-event party, and then head over to Columbus Drive for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade!
Chicago Bulls against the Houston Rockets
Date: Friday, March 10th, 2017 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: United Center
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
Saturday, the parade starts at Balbo and Columbus, will be closed to traffic. The parade will proceed north on Columbus Drive to Monroe. These streets will be closed.
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
It is predicted that the CTA will increase service this weekend for St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
The 100 Club of Chicago CEO Joe Ahern talks a little bit about what the organization does for families of first responders, and its relationship with the Chicago Auto Show’s annual First Look for Charity gala.
Since 2011, the 100 Club of Chicago has raised over $600,000!
Benefitting 18 local charities, the First Look for Charity Gala boasts the best of the Chicago Auto Show the night before the 10-day show kicks off.
More than 80% of the ticket price is tax-deductible, plus the proceeds go to all of the following organizations:
100 Club of Chicago
Advocate Health Care
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet
Clearbrook
The Cradle Foundation
Franciscan Community Benefit Services
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields/Chicago Heights
Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities
JDRF
Susan G. Komen-Chicago
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
March of Dimes
Misericordia
Special Olympics Illinois
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
Jesse White Tumbling Team
(CHICAGO) Each year the Chicago Auto Show attracts over one million visitors each year to its McCormick Place home. Presented by the oldest and largest automotive trade association, CATA (the Chicago Automobile Trade Association), the show debuts a variety of new automobiles from various manufacturers.
This year, the event falls in the middle of lengthy roadwork projects from the Illinois Department of Transportation on the Stevenson and other arterial roadways around McCormick Place. However, organizers of the Chicago Auto Show have made accommodations to ease travel time impacts for the masses of people traveling to the event.
The Chicago Auto Show website states that, “there is extensive shuttle bus service from all area parking lots to and from McCormick Place, and Weekend and Presidents Day shuttle service from the Millennium Park Garage. Weekend shuttles stop in 10-15 minute intervals near Lower Randolph and at Gate 3 at McCormick Place.” Parking at the Millennium garages vary, however on Presidents Day weekend, there will be a 12-hour rate of $18.
Parking is ample at McCormick Place in three parking lots. Lots A & C cost $23 and are indoors, while Lot B is open-air, costs $15 and is accessible from the 31st Street exit off Lake Shore Drive. Visitors after 6:00 p.m. are charged $10 for parking on the dates of the show only.
Getting to the Chicago Auto Show by train is now even more convenient with the Cermak- McCormick Place Green Line station, which is approximately three blocks west of the venue. Customers traveling on the Red, Brown, Orange and Blue lines can make free transfers to the Green Line at the following locations:
Red and Orange Lines: make a free transfer at Roosevelt and board a 63rd-bound Green Line train to Cermak-McCormick Place.
Blue Line: make a free transfer at Clark/Lake (farecard required) and board a 63rd- bound Green Line train from the Loop Elevated platform.
Brown and Pink Lines: free transfers to 63rd-bound Green Line trains can be made at the Clark/Lake, State/Lake and Adams/Wabash Loop Elevated stations.
Additional buses will operate between Fairbanks/Ontario and McCormick Place approximately every 20 minutes beginning at 5 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, this additional service will be provided beginning at 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. (Note: 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on the last Monday).
Special “Auto Show” Buses
Special Auto Show all-electric buses will operate between the Ogilvie Transportation Center/Union Station and McCormick Place approximately every 12 to 30 minutes on weekdays, every 7.5 to 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every 10 to 30 minutes on Sundays, beginning at 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. On the last Monday of the event, bus service will be provided beginning 9 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
These buses will have either “To Auto Show McCormick Place” or “Metra Stations/Via Downtown” in their destination signs depending on the direction of travel and can be boarded from the following locations:
Ogilvie Transportation Center: on Clinton at Madison.
Union Station: from the corner of Clinton and Quincy or Jackson Boulevard and the Chicago River.
Museum Campus: on Columbus at 11th Street.
McCormick Place: at Gate #26.
SOUTH SHORE
The South Shore provides train service to McCormick Place on weekends. Check the weekend schedule here. In addition, the South Shore will stop select weekday trains at the McCormick Place station, click here for the Chicago Auto Show Weekday Service Bulletin.
(CHICAGO)The Eisenhower, an arterial expressway that runs east-west along Interstate I-290 from DuPage County into downtown Chicago, needs a face-lift, and the state is asking for input from the people who use the accessway on a daily basis.
The stretch was originally called the “Congress Expressway” when it opened in the 1950’s. It followed the path of the CTA Garfield Park rapid transit branch and connected I-90 in the Schaumburg area to I-90 in downtown Chicago by swinging around the city limits on the west side.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) said that the area in question is 38 percent over capacity, resulting in the highest travel times of any of the five major Chicago expressways during the morning and afternoon weekday rush periods. This has prohibited access to employment, caused modal connection concerns and created safety issues. These points are just a few reasons for the need of modifications on the Eisenhower.
Peak period travel speeds, as stated by the report, are estimated to be as low as 24 miles per hour in 2010, with projections to slow down by half, doubling travel time, by 2040 is nothing is done. Currently, the Eisenhower Expressway carries 185,100 to 217,700 automobiles daily, but it was only designed to hold 138,000 vehicles.
As far as safety concerns, IDOT alongside the Illinois State Police reported that from 2011-2013, a total of 5,365 crashes and 711 injuries were reported along I-290. That is an average of 1,788 crashes and 237 injuries per year.
HOV and HOT lanes are proposed as a means to help alleviate travel times and accident rates. HOV meaning “high-occupancy vehicle lane” which will cater to carpool vehicles carrying three or more persons. HOT being “high-occupancy toll” lanes which will potentially be different prices based on vehicle size, persons in car and time of the day.
John returns to the airwaves. ABC7’s Chuck Gowdie talks about President Obama commuting the sentence of Oscar Lopez-Rivera. U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger talks about the politicians boycotting the inaugaration. Plus, Vladimir Putin weighs in on the leaked dossier from Russia.
John is off today. Cubs’ great Ryne Sandberg talks about visiting the White House. Former CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy says Loretta Lynch is lying about trying to reach him. Plus, a group of bikers are planning to form a “Wall of Meat” to help provide security at Trump’s Inauguration.
Dean Angelo is the head of Fraternal Order of Police and joins the show to talk about the impending release of the Department of Justice’s report on the Chicago Police Department.
Ray Stevens asked on Friday morning, “When this report comes out [will there be] more handcuffs on police than offenders?”
“Hopefully not,” Angelo responded. He explained that the FOP tends to deal with a morale issue every once in awhile especially with the uptick in an anti-police trend sweeping across the country.
“We’re expecting some hits, and hopefully, there is something in there that benefits our members for promotions,” Angelo explain. He has optimism that there will be observations made of the positive occurrences in the department and that the report will not solely focus on the indiscretions.
The Vernon Hills choir sings some songs for John and Ray. James Rosen from FOXNews talks about Trump’s Twitter activity. Another episode of what not to do on social media. Plus, Eli Lake from Bloomberg talks about Russian hacking.
(CHICAGO) As with any year, excitement and optimism fill Soldier Field with the hopes of another chance at the glory the 1985 Chicago Bears brought to the city. This year, it was the baby bears who did that job (the Chicago Cubs), while their big brothers suffered loss after loss. … MORE
Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM 890 News (CHICAGO) In a surprise move (literally), longtime Oak Brook-based McDonald’s Corporation moved it’s global headquarters to Chicago. In June the company stated that the move to the new location at the former Harpo Studios would be completed by 2018. … MORE
(CHICAGO) Park Ridge native, Hillary Clinton successfully clinched the Democratic primary beating out Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Presidential nominee title. … MORE
(CHICAGO) Shortly after the 2015-2016 NBA season came to a close, the New York Knicks acquired former NBA MVP Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls. … MORE
Riggs, 38, has been participating in ultramarathon events for about a decade and has completed around 40 ultramarathons ranging in distances from 31 to 200 miles.
As far as safety concerns, IDOT alongside the Illinois State Police reported that from 2011-2013, a total of 5,365 crashes and 711 injuries were reported along I-290. That is an average of 1,788 crashes and 237 injuries per year.
