Jan 2, 2019, 1:15 pm
Last edit by: onthesam
Update 10/29/2021:
Per the Chicago Tribune, quoting a spokesperson from the Chicago Department of Aviation, the ATS is set to reopen "within the month".
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On October 18, 2019, the Chicago Department of Avaition announced that the People Mover / Airport Transit System (ATS) will remain closed until at least early 2020.
From the official ORD airport site
Transportation Between Terminals (ATS & TTB)
This has been a long-planned / announced Airport Transit System (ATS) Improvement Project
For airside T3 to T5 transfers - AND EFFECTIVE 6/14/2019 T1 to T5 Transfers
You must have your onward (international) BP and Passport in order to board the TTB from either T1 or T3 to T5.
If you arrive at O'Hare on an international flight and have a connecting domestic flight, you will arrive at Terminal 5 and will need to take theATS {shuttle bus transfer service} to the domestic terminals. You will need to clear security again at the domestic terminals.
Per the Chicago Tribune, quoting a spokesperson from the Chicago Department of Aviation, the ATS is set to reopen "within the month".
---
On October 18, 2019, the Chicago Department of Avaition announced that the People Mover / Airport Transit System (ATS) will remain closed until at least early 2020.
From the official ORD airport site
Transportation Between Terminals (ATS & TTB)
The O’Hare Airport Transit System (ATS or “people mover) is closed 24/7 to finalize modernization efforts and expansion of the system.
In order to maintain a travel connection between all of O’Hare’s terminals and parking lots, the CDA will operate shuttle buses to transport passengers and employees between terminals (Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5) and from the terminals to each economy parking lot (Lots E, G, H); the Multi-Modal Facility, where rental cars are housed; and the Metra O’Hare Transfer station. The buses will operate continuously to ensure prompt and reliable service while the ATS is closed.
If connecting between domestic Terminals 1, 2 & 3, you DON’T have to take the shuttle buses, you can walk. Simply follow in-airport signage.
The CDA is committed to providing a quick and reliable bus shuttle service as the ATS modernization is finalized. The new ATS is scheduled to open sometime in 2020..
In order to maintain a travel connection between all of O’Hare’s terminals and parking lots, the CDA will operate shuttle buses to transport passengers and employees between terminals (Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5) and from the terminals to each economy parking lot (Lots E, G, H); the Multi-Modal Facility, where rental cars are housed; and the Metra O’Hare Transfer station. The buses will operate continuously to ensure prompt and reliable service while the ATS is closed.
If connecting between domestic Terminals 1, 2 & 3, you DON’T have to take the shuttle buses, you can walk. Simply follow in-airport signage.
The CDA is committed to providing a quick and reliable bus shuttle service as the ATS modernization is finalized. The new ATS is scheduled to open sometime in 2020..
For airside T3 to T5 transfers - AND EFFECTIVE 6/14/2019 T1 to T5 Transfers
you can take a Terminal Transfer Bus (TTB) from Terminals 1 and 3 to Terminal 5 and bypass the security checkpoint in Terminal 5. The Terminal Transfer Bus service is year round with operation hours as follows: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm. If you are arriving into the domestic terminals and need to collect your luggage (exit the security side of the airport) and recheck in T5, you will not be able to use this service. Terminal Transfer Bus (TTB) Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 Pickup Locations
Gate B1
Gate G17
Gate K20
Gate L24
Gate B1
Gate G17
Gate K20
Gate L24
If you arrive at O'Hare on an international flight and have a connecting domestic flight, you will arrive at Terminal 5 and will need to take the
People Mover/ATS @O’Hare/ORD shuttle train ceases ops until 202? [REOPENED 11/3/21]
May 26, 2019, 4:39 pm
#77
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
It's going to be years and years before the new terminals are up. I have calculated that they will open just when I retire. Then, I will not have to connect through ORD as I expect to move out from where I currently live. It figures.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:47 pm
#79
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...620-story.html
Long story with a bunch of old news and some new tidbits.
- ATS was supposed to remain operational with only limited shutdowns during the upgrade. Eventually the city agreed to nightly shutdowns, and then weekday 24-hour shutdowns, and finally the 24/7 shutdown we are in now. The city threw in an extra $23 million also for reasons that are not made clear in the article.
- The aviation commissioner during the time in question (Ginger Evans) was a former executive at the company that has the contract to rehab ATS (Parsons), but claims she wasn't overseeing the project until her subordinate left.
- The new guideway to the multi-modal facility "didn't align with the existing" guideway and had to be rebuilt or modified?
- Parsons made "20 proposals for testing the system that the city said were “inadequate and demonstrate a lack of systems understanding.”". Great.
- Old cars are being stored in an unfenced lot and are covered in graffiti, destined to be scrapped.
Long story with a bunch of old news and some new tidbits.
- ATS was supposed to remain operational with only limited shutdowns during the upgrade. Eventually the city agreed to nightly shutdowns, and then weekday 24-hour shutdowns, and finally the 24/7 shutdown we are in now. The city threw in an extra $23 million also for reasons that are not made clear in the article.
- The aviation commissioner during the time in question (Ginger Evans) was a former executive at the company that has the contract to rehab ATS (Parsons), but claims she wasn't overseeing the project until her subordinate left.
- The new guideway to the multi-modal facility "didn't align with the existing" guideway and had to be rebuilt or modified?
- Parsons made "20 proposals for testing the system that the city said were “inadequate and demonstrate a lack of systems understanding.”". Great.
- Old cars are being stored in an unfenced lot and are covered in graffiti, destined to be scrapped.
Jun 21, 2019, 11:21 am
#80
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,053
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...620-story.html
Long story with a bunch of old news and some new tidbits.
- ATS was supposed to remain operational with only limited shutdowns during the upgrade. Eventually the city agreed to nightly shutdowns, and then weekday 24-hour shutdowns, and finally the 24/7 shutdown we are in now. The city threw in an extra $23 million also for reasons that are not made clear in the article.
- The aviation commissioner during the time in question (Ginger Evans) was a former executive at the company that has the contract to rehab ATS (Parsons), but claims she wasn't overseeing the project until her subordinate left.
- The new guideway to the multi-modal facility "didn't align with the existing" guideway and had to be rebuilt or modified?
- Parsons made "20 proposals for testing the system that the city said were “inadequate and demonstrate a lack of systems understanding.”". Great.
- Old cars are being stored in an unfenced lot and are covered in graffiti, destined to be scrapped.
Long story with a bunch of old news and some new tidbits.
- ATS was supposed to remain operational with only limited shutdowns during the upgrade. Eventually the city agreed to nightly shutdowns, and then weekday 24-hour shutdowns, and finally the 24/7 shutdown we are in now. The city threw in an extra $23 million also for reasons that are not made clear in the article.
- The aviation commissioner during the time in question (Ginger Evans) was a former executive at the company that has the contract to rehab ATS (Parsons), but claims she wasn't overseeing the project until her subordinate left.
- The new guideway to the multi-modal facility "didn't align with the existing" guideway and had to be rebuilt or modified?
- Parsons made "20 proposals for testing the system that the city said were “inadequate and demonstrate a lack of systems understanding.”". Great.
- Old cars are being stored in an unfenced lot and are covered in graffiti, destined to be scrapped.
Jun 21, 2019, 12:31 pm
#81
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Just because one is corrupt doesn't mean one can't also be inept. 
Two shuttle bus drivers were talking on the bus, and they seem to be thinking this will last longer than September. I sure hope they are wrong.
Two shuttle bus drivers were talking on the bus, and they seem to be thinking this will last longer than September. I sure hope they are wrong.
Jul 3, 2019, 6:41 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, DL Nothing (former long-time Plat)
Posts: 54
Out of the lurker bin to say that the chaos remains. Came in on the early afternoon bank yesterday.
Nearly an hour wait for bags and some less-than-helpful agents at baggage transfer. (They were literally shouting at folks, “Just drop your bags and go!” — not sure how speaking English more loudly to people who do not speak English is suddenly going to get them to understand you.)
In fairness, the transfer bus line looked demoralizing, but did actually move with decent pace. None of the buses I saw had any sort of baggage storage, so it definitely has a jitney feel onboard with bags and people packed to the gills.
Build at least 2.5 hours for any International to Domestic at ORD and bring your patience pills. (Or go through somewhere else.)
Nearly an hour wait for bags and some less-than-helpful agents at baggage transfer. (They were literally shouting at folks, “Just drop your bags and go!” — not sure how speaking English more loudly to people who do not speak English is suddenly going to get them to understand you.)
In fairness, the transfer bus line looked demoralizing, but did actually move with decent pace. None of the buses I saw had any sort of baggage storage, so it definitely has a jitney feel onboard with bags and people packed to the gills.
Build at least 2.5 hours for any International to Domestic at ORD and bring your patience pills. (Or go through somewhere else.)
Jul 3, 2019, 7:01 am
#83
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In between
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 564
Got this transfer coming up the last Monday in July arriving on an OS flight from VIE - I'm planning for chaos and I have about 5 hours to get over to T1, but given the nightmare I'm probably going to grab a ride share and head over. I'll spend the money and risk annoying a driver to not have to wait an hour for a bus.
Jul 3, 2019, 7:20 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
This sounds like a gripe with the baggage claim/re-check process having little or nothing to do with the ATS/temporary shuttle.
The shuttle bus is fine. There is no chaos. You have 5 hours please don't take a rideshare from T5 to T1. The drivers wait in line, at their own expense,sometimes for hours, for a ride. Going 3 blocks ain't too cool.
Out of the lurker bin to say that the chaos remains. Came in on the early afternoon bank yesterday.
Nearly an hour wait for bags and some less-than-helpful agents at baggage transfer. (They were literally shouting at folks, “Just drop your bags and go!” — not sure how speaking English more loudly to people who do not speak English is suddenly going to get them to understand you.)
In fairness, the transfer bus line looked demoralizing, but did actually move with decent pace. None of the buses I saw had any sort of baggage storage, so it definitely has a jitney feel onboard with bags and people packed to the gills.
Build at least 2.5 hours for any International to Domestic at ORD and bring your patience pills. (Or go through somewhere else.)
Nearly an hour wait for bags and some less-than-helpful agents at baggage transfer. (They were literally shouting at folks, “Just drop your bags and go!” — not sure how speaking English more loudly to people who do not speak English is suddenly going to get them to understand you.)
In fairness, the transfer bus line looked demoralizing, but did actually move with decent pace. None of the buses I saw had any sort of baggage storage, so it definitely has a jitney feel onboard with bags and people packed to the gills.
Build at least 2.5 hours for any International to Domestic at ORD and bring your patience pills. (Or go through somewhere else.)
Got this transfer coming up the last Monday in July arriving on an OS flight from VIE - I'm planning for chaos and I have about 5 hours to get over to T1, but given the nightmare I'm probably going to grab a ride share and head over. I'll spend the money and risk annoying a driver to not have to wait an hour for a bus.
The shuttle bus is fine. There is no chaos. You have 5 hours please don't take a rideshare from T5 to T1. The drivers wait in line, at their own expense,sometimes for hours, for a ride. Going 3 blocks ain't too cool.
Last edited by onthesam; Jul 3, 2019 at 7:28 am
Jul 3, 2019, 10:00 am
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
If any driver will even accept that ride when they've been cooling their heals at ORD for a long time hoping for a trip into the loop.
Jul 3, 2019, 10:44 am
#87
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Location: SPI
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Posts: 18,147
Might cost you $15-$20 but that’s a fair trade off for the cabbie, IMO.
Dave
Jul 3, 2019, 12:25 pm
#88
Suspended
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Got this transfer coming up the last Monday in July arriving on an OS flight from VIE - I'm planning for chaos and I have about 5 hours to get over to T1, but given the nightmare I'm probably going to grab a ride share and head over. I'll spend the money and risk annoying a driver to not have to wait an hour for a bus.
Even with a nightmare two hour wait to finally get to baggage claim at T5, you should still easily have 1-2 hours to play around at T1 airside.