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Old Jun 12, 2012, 8:06 am
  #8  
milepig
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
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Originally Posted by denisiel
What time do you suggest to be on the train going back to ORD if we already have boarding passes?
Originally Posted by toomanybooks
Also:

If you have time, walking on Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) would be a good thing to do as mentioned. If you run short of time or don't want to walk to a Blue Line stop, taxis in the downtown area are cheap.
You need to be at your gate no later than 8:30 for an 8:50 flight, and I'm one who would want to be there by 8:15 when they begin boarding. Working backwards, you need to allow 45 minutes for the train, up to a 10 minute wait for a train at the station, 15 minutes walk from the train to your gate (that's likely the max) and 20 minutes in security. That totals to 90 minutes, so I'd want to be at the Clark/Lake CTA station by 6:45 at the latest.

Good tip from toomanyhbooks on the taxi. You can easily hail a taxi from wherever you are in the general loop area as late as 6:30 and be at the station in just a few minutes. Rush hour will be mostly past, and it'll cost just a few dollars.

The CTA does a really good job about posting upcoming work that would cause delays, and you can check the status of the Blue line the day before you begin your journey.
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