Chicago - NATO Summit and ORD

Just got an email from United with "tips" for traveling to/from ORD this week. I'm flying IAD->ORD tonight (5/17) and ORD->IAD Sunday (5/20). Is there any reason to expect issues?

Getting to and from the airport on Saturday could be a mess. There might be some airspace closures when bigwigs arrive (including the president).

Here is when I think the mess will be the worst. This is probably when the president is arriving/leaving:

FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR OVER CHICAGO, IL BEGINNING SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012
A NOTAM has been issued that will restrict flight in the area during the
2012 NATO Summit.

==> 30 NM RADIUS TFR <==
Location:
On the CHICAGO O'HARE VOR/DME (ORD) 182 degree radial at 0.5 nautical miles
From the surface up to but not including 18000 feet MSL

Times:
7:30 PM local until 8:30 PM local Saturday, May 19, 2012
6:30 PM local until 7:30 PM local Monday, May 21, 2012

Plus the protests that go along with such high profile events.

And if you're expecting to ride a CTA train into the city, expect a noticeable police presence.

Even Metra (regional commuter line) will be heavily locked down. No liquids, no bags/parcels larger than 15x15x4, and no backpacks, messenger bags, briefcases, etc will be allowed on board. They'll be doing random security checks, also. Figures to be a wild weekend in the city.

As another sidenote, the local news did a live report from a city neighborhood and my wife noticed that it was literally across the street from where my sister and her family live. The report was on the bus of protesters that showed up earlier in the day at that very location, which is apparently one of their meeting points. I told her she could spend the weekend with us out in the 'burbs :)

What about people who commute for work and must bring items such as documents with them? No briefcases on local transportation sounds excessive.

Normally I would be excited for Chicago, but I am flying in on Friday and out on Sunday. I have a large meeting on the Southside on Saturday with attendees coming from all over the city. Ugh. Staying at the IC MM is not going to help.

Can I still bring a backpack on the EL?

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Just received the message below from United.

Know before you go: Stay informed about how the NATO Summit may affect your travel plans

Dear ANC-ORD772,

Chicago will host the 2012 NATO Summit on May 20-21. This is the first time that an American city other than Washington, D.C., has hosted a NATO summit. Our records show that you will be traveling in or out of Chicago O'Hare this weekend. Here are some tips to ensure smooth travels:

Before you head to the airport, check the Today's Operations page on united.com for any operational messages.
Sign up to receive flight status notifications via email and we'll notify you if anything changes about your flight.
You can also use our mobile website (mobile.united.com) and our mobile app to stay informed about flight updates.
Allow extra time to go through security at the airport.

You should also be aware of how the summit may affect your plans outside of the airport, particularly getting to and from O'Hare. Most important to note is that the I-90 Kennedy Expressway and CTA Blue Line may be subject to intermittent closings. Here are some additional ways to be prepared:

Plan alternate routes and allow extra time to get to the airport, especially if you are coming from the downtown area. You can find information on road closures, parking restrictions and traffic alerts at www.chicagonato.org.
The CTA is rerouting some buses and adding additional capacity on the trains. Check www.transitchicago.com/nato for information.
You may not bring food, drink, backpacks, briefcases or luggage on Metra trains May 19-21. Visit www.metrarail.com for details.

Thanks for your patience during this historic event. We look forward to seeing you on board.

What about people who commute for work and must bring items such as documents with them? No briefcases on local transportation sounds excessive.

"Too bad" is the response I've read. And you're absolutely right, it's completely excessive/overboard, etc. :td::td::td:

Normally I would be excited for Chicago, but I am flying in on Friday and out on Sunday. I have a large meeting on the Southside on Saturday with attendees coming from all over the city. Ugh. Staying at the IC MM is not going to help.

Can I still bring a backpack on the EL?



Yes. The heavy-handed restrictions are on Metra which runs the suburban train lines.

"Too bad" is the response I've read. And you're absolutely right, it's completely excessive/overboard, etc. :td::td::td:

A bunch of my friends are being instructed to work from home next week.

Yes. The heavy-handed restrictions are on Metra which runs the suburban train lines.

Yeah, that makes no sense. While I feel bad for Metra users, it doesn't affect me since the El is a ok with packages.

We have been told to work from home Friday and Monday. Traffic to Chicago certainly lighter this week^

A bunch of my friends are being instructed to work from home next week.

Same here. Tomorrow and Monday are work remote days, if at all possible, in Chicago.

My building complex has already been locked down twice today, and once earlier this week. Totally unnecessary. Good thing I won't be there tomorrow or Monday. Can only imagine the hysteria. :rolleyes:

Back on OT: Last news I saw from an ORD spokesperson, they weren't expecting any "significant" delays...whatever that means.

It amazes me that cities are so stupid to host these useless events - they generate far more cost and issues that far outweigh any incoming dollars from the event or post-event tourism. I would campaign to vote out of office any mayor or council that authorized any sort of global meeting or summit event in my city.

If I was mayor and this was somehow forced on me, my response would be "sorry, no protection, no police, no closures, no modifications whatsoever - you come, you take your chances".

I can't believe how millions of locals are going to be displaced and inconvenienced by this nonsense.

It amazes me that cities are so stupid to host these useless events - they generate far more cost and issues that far outweigh any incoming dollars from the event or post-event tourism. I would campaign to vote out of office any mayor or council that authorized any sort of global meeting or summit event in my city.

If I was mayor and this was somehow forced on me, my response would be "sorry, no protection, no police, no closures, no modifications whatsoever - you come, you take your chances".

I can't believe how millions of locals are going to be displaced and inconvenienced by this nonsense.

You’re obviously not familiar with Chicago politics. :D

Here’s the analysis: President Obama + Mayor Emanuel = NATO in Chicago.

Remember, Chicago was supposed to host BOTH the G8 AND NATO until Obama changed his mind and moved the G8.

Back on topic - stay away from ORD.

I dont see the problem with ORD, its going to be getting to ORD from downotwn. the closed roads are significant. Airspace restrictions I don't think will be that bad as most may fly in Sat which is a lighter day anyways. The biggest problems would be MX but weather looks good.

No, O'Hare will not be suffer delays as bad as certain roads Expressways to/from downtown Chicago and feeder roads to those expressways will be severely restricted/closed when the VIPs arrive/leave. Thus, don't expect to be able to taxi/limo directly into/out of city, and expect the subway to be crowded. (Even so, the subway is a great way to get into Chicago.) A creative driver will find away around but expect 2x the price.

No, O'Hare will not be suffer delays as bad as certain roads Expressways to/from downtown Chicago and feeder roads to those expressways will be severely restricted/closed when the VIPs arrive/leave. Thus, don't expect to be able to taxi/limo directly into/out of city, and expect the subway to be crowded. (Even so, the subway is a great way to get into Chicago.) A creative driver will find away around but expect 2x the price.
I don't imagine the El's going to be allowed to run down the middle of the expressway when the expressway is closed.

Please follow this in the Chicago forum.

l'etoile
UA moderator

I am in downtown Chicago now and have seen an increased presence of CPD officers standing on street corners. Almost every corner, especially on the MM, there are tons of them. Today, there were quite a few police helicopters flying over as well. But you can definitely tell a lot of workers are taking their employers up on staying home, the rush hour was noticeably lighter today. The city has notified downtown employers to do this where possible and to have the extra security in place, as well as food/water for employees that had to be on site...in case of extended lockdowns.

Yeah, that makes no sense. While I feel bad for Metra users, it doesn't affect me since the El is a ok with packages.

One Metra line (Metra Electric) runs beneath McCormick Place where the summit is located. So, it makes perfect sense that there would be restrictions on that line (and the NICTD South Shore line that uses those tracks as well). That line is being subjected to heavy security measures, including a bunch of closed stops so that screening can be at less places. Why Metra decided to expand the bag/food/beverage limitations to all lines is mystifying. Given that CTA has no such restrictions, it's obvious that it wasn't ordered by the feds.

One last post for me before the fun begins. Personally, I would be worried more on Monday for airport operations than today or tomorrow when everyone is going to be heading out to ORD in a specific window of time.

Based on what they do when the President or VP is in town, they'll probably do a short (a few minutes) hold at ORD when the VIP aircraft are landing and taking off (which they'll probably do on one of the lesser used runways like 14L/32R or 4L/22R).

For the motorcades, they won't shut down the full length of the expressway, they'll clear moving sections as the motorcade moves along, and only in the direction it's moving. And the blue line shouldn't be effected, so that's probably your most reliable option.

Really, I agree that Monday's going to be a bigger hassle when they all leave and start messing up the outbound Kennedy at the end of the work day.

And Metra's gone gaga. Nobody really believes that forcing people in Aurora to dump their coffee is going to increase security. I put it at 50/50 that Metra escapes the weekend without a significant PR problem.

So far so good. There are indeed a LOT of police around and I love the line of snowplows along Columbus and Bablo, but if anything my commute was shorter this morning than usual, and I go right through Grant Park and Mc Cormick. I'm leaving work early today, hunkering down for the weekend and playing it by ear, and taking Monday as it comes.

As another sidenote, the local news did a live report from a city neighborhood and my wife noticed that it was literally across the street from where my sister and her family live. The report was on the bus of protesters that showed up earlier in the day at that very location, which is apparently one of their meeting points. I told her she could spend the weekend with us out in the 'burbs :)

I'm about 8 blocks away from this church (615 W. Wellington, for those in Chicago). I don't mind that they are hosting protesters as long as the protesters respect the neighborhood. But the minute there's any property damage I'll be mighty annoyed.

I think those of us outside the "red zone" assumed we'd be safe from the NATO craziness, but apparently that was an incorrect assumption. NBC reported that there were pockets of protests in Lincoln Park and Lakeview last night, and I saw another report speculating that even the suburbs could experience protests. (Apparently protesters hope those suburbs will have lighter-than-normal police forces because they'll have loaned officers to Chicago for the weekend.)

Ugh, they are randomly closing exits and onramps on the Kennedy despite saying closures wouldn't start until tomorrow.

Did any citizen groups organize and sue to try and stop the meeting from being hosted in Chicago?

Did any citizen groups organize and sue to try and stop the meeting from being hosted in Chicago?

I would have no problem with having the summit in Chicago to increase the city's visibility on the world stage.

The heavyhanded security theatre is what I object to.

I used to live right in the center of where the street closures are...Michigan and Roosevelt. Glad I'm not there right now.

I would have no problem with having the summit in Chicago to increase the city's visibility on the world stage.

The heavyhanded security theatre is what I object to.

I used to live right in the center of where the street closures are...Michigan and Roosevelt. Glad I'm not there right now.

Here is the problem - the cost of hosting these meetings far outweighs the intangible "benefits" of increased visibility. The number of post-meeting tourists incrementally added never matches the number of visitors lost during the meeting period or permanently lost due to their experience during the meeting.

The Olympics are no different - billions in the hole to earn back a hundred million in incremental short and long term tourism spend.

At this meeting, the world won't see 'Chicago' - they will see a city in locked-down chaos, angry residents, heavy-handed security tactics, protests and other chaos - not exactly the stuff of tourism brochures.

At this meeting, the world won't see 'Chicago' - they will see a city in locked-down chaos, angry residents, heavy-handed security tactics, protests and other chaos - not exactly the stuff of tourism brochures.

I sincerely hope that's not the case, but if history is any indicator, you're probably right.

By most accounts, yesterday's protests were fairly peaceful. The highest-profile arrests were of three out-of-towners in their 20s who were reportedly making Molotov cocktails. I hope the media does a post-NATO arrest wrap up and reports on how many of those who were arrested are from out of town. It's sad that people think it's acceptable to come to another city, demonstrate against a non-local organization and destroy local property in the process.

While we are not going into the Loop, Mrs Sweet Willie & I were downtown last night, will be this evening for a play, then tomorrow morning to have breakfast with a friend.

I have zero concerns from a safety standpoint, business & social will proceed as normal from my perspective.

Here is the problem - the cost of hosting these meetings far outweighs the intangible "benefits" of increased visibility.

Agreed. It's a chance for the mayor to preen around, nothing more.

Does Chicago get any reimbursement for all these expenses from the Feds or NATO?

Agreed. It's a chance for the mayor to preen around, nothing more.

Does Chicago get any reimbursement for all these expenses from the Feds or NATO?

From what I've read, the feds are reimbursing the city for overtime expenses and equipment for CPD, which is the big one security-wise. One I wonder about is the bill that'll come for all the streets with meters shut down.

From what I've read, the feds are reimbursing the city for overtime expenses and equipment for CPD, which is the big one security-wise. One I wonder about is the bill that'll come for all the streets with meters shut down.

I wonder how much businesses lost because so many people were avoiding downtown for 3 days.

A PITA that it coincided with Chicago Craft Beer Week. I was hoping to enjoy a couple weekend evenings.

From what I've read, the feds are reimbursing the city for overtime expenses and equipment for CPD, which is the big one security-wise.I rode metra inbound last night ~9:15pm, there were still numerous security personnel w/guns on the train, seemed quite a bit overkill. One I wonder about is the bill that'll come for all the streets with meters shut down.Rahm won't pay it:D