NATO road closures, parking, public transit outlined

May 20, 2012 (CHICAGO)

The actual NATO summit is a two-day event, May 20 and 21, at McCormick Place. Many measures were set to start leading up to it, including road closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transit lines.

Commuter Rail Lines and Public Transit

Commuter rail lines in Chicago will not be closed to riders during the NATO Summit. However, passengers should plan for delays, restrictions and some cancelations as trains approach and pass through the downtown area due to necessary security measures.

The McCormick Place stop will be closed on both Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21. Other stations may be closed as needed.

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District

Several South Shore trains will be canceled.

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20

• Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, all South Shore trains will operate, but the McCormick Place and Museum Campus/11th Street stations will be closed.

The following changes will be in effect Monday, May 21:

• The Museum Campus/11th Street station will remain closed.
• All westbound South Shore trains normally arriving at Millennium Station between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. will be canceled, including:
  Train 214 arriving at 11:12 a.m.
  Train 116 arriving at 12:39 p.m.
  Train 216 arriving at 1:21 p.m.
  Train 18 arriving at 2:24 p.m.
  Train 118 arriving at 4:16 p.m.
  Train 218 arriving at 5:34 p.m.
  Train 20 arriving at 6:32 p.m.
• Westbound service will resume with Train 220 arriving at Millennium Station at 7:55 p.m. Train 22 will also run arriving at Millennium Station at 10:21 p.m.
• The following outbound South Shore trains from Millennium Station are also canceled:
  Train 205 arriving at 6:55 a.m.
  Train 207 arriving at 7:59 a.m
  Train 209 arriving at 3:15 p.m.
  Train 215 arriving at 5:32 p.m.

For more information on the South Shore Line, visit www.nictd.com.

Metra/ CTA information

Metra Service on the Electric Line

Because the Metra Electric Line passes under McCormick Place, passengers will be subject to more extensive screening and baggage checks. Riders are advised to arrive at their departing station about 15 minutes prior to departure to allow sufficient time for the boarding process. Metra Electric passengers should also note that some station entrances may be closed.

Plans for service on the Metra Electric Line vary by the day as follows. On all three days, the South Water Street entrance to Millennium will be closed.

Saturday, May 19: Operate normal inbound and outbound service on main line and both branches and make all station stops with the exception of 47th Street (Kenwood), 27th Street, McCormick Place, 18th Street and 11th Street/Museum Campus.

Sunday, May 20: Operate normal inbound and outbound service on main line and South Chicago branch and make all station stops with the exception of 47th Street (Kenwood), 27th Street, McCormick Place, 18th Street and 11th Street/Museum Campus. (The Blue Island branch does not operate on Sundays)

Monday, May 21:

Inbound trains: Operate all trains (except Blue Island trains) scheduled to arrive downtown until noon, with the following stations closed:

• On the main line, trains will not stop at 111th Street (Pullman), 107th Street, 103rd Street (Rosemoor), 91st Street (Chesterfield), 87th Street (Woodruff), 83rd Street (Avalon Park), 79th Street (Chatham), 75th Street (Grand Crossing), 63rd Street, 47th Street (Kenwood), 27th Street, McCormick Place, 18th Street and Museum Campus/11th Street. **UPDATE** Originally Metra said the 95th Street station (Chicago State University) would also be closed, but they now say that station will remain open.
• On the South Chicago branch, trains will not stop at 87th Street, Cheltenham (79th Street), Windsor Park and Bryn Mawr.
• Trains will not operate on the Blue Island branch.

Inbound main line trains scheduled to arrive at Millennium between 12:57 p.m. and 6:46 p.m. will not operate.

Outbound trains: Operate normal service all day, except at closed stations and on Blue Island branch.

Additional information on route changes for Metra trains during the NATO Summit will be available online via Metra at metrarail.com.

As many as 24 CTA bus routes will be changed for the summits, including King Drive, Museum of Science and Industry, Sheridan, Archer, Jackson Park Express, and Streeterville/Taylor. The days and times vary, and may change as needed. For the latest information, visit transitchicago.com/nato.

Changes to bus routes within the vehicle and pedestrian restricted areas will be necessary. Information on route changes will be available on the Chicago Transit Authority website at TransitChicago.com.

Road Closures, Parking and Pedestrian Restrictions

Museum Campus/ McCormick Place Closure Maps

Officials also warn there will be intermittent traffic delays as motorcades usher world leaders around from Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21 on streets and expressways, including I-90 East & West (Kennedy Expressway) between O'Hare International Airport and Downtown; Ohio Street from I-90/94 to Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive; Ontario Street from Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive to I-90/94; I-90/94 East and West between downtown and I-55; and Roosevelt Road, 18th Street, and Canalport Avenue access from I-94 West (Dan Ryan Expressway outbound).

Road Closures
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - Monday, May 21, 2012
Road closures and pedestrian restrictions will be implemented beginning at midnight, Saturday, May 19 (Friday midnight into Saturday). The affected roadways will open for evening rush hour on Monday, May 21:

• Columbus Drive is closed between Illinois Street and Wacker Drive until further notice.
• Northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive will be closed between Grand Avenue and E. 39th Street from 4 p.m - 11 p.m. on Sunday, May 20.
• Northbound and southbound Interstate 55 between I-90/94 to Lake Shore Drive (The Chinatown feeder ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan to the northbound Stevenson Expressway (I-55) wil be shut down at 9:30 p.m. Friday. Some lanes on the northbound Stevenson north of the Ryan will also begin their shutdown at 10:30 p.m.)
• Northbound and southbound S. Columbus Drive at E. Balbo Avenue
• Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive
• Northbound and southbound S. Indiana Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
• Northbound and southbound S. Calumet Avenue between E. Cullerton Street and E. Cermak Road.
• Northbound and southbound S. Prairie Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
• Eastbound and westbound E. 21st Street between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Calumet Avenue
• Eastbound and westbound E. Cermak Road between S. Michigan Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive
• Westbound E. 24th Place between Martin Luther King Drive and S. State Street
• Eastbound E. 25th Street between S. State Street and Martin Luther King Drive
• Northbound and southbound S. Wabash Avenue between E. 24th Place and E. 25th Street
• Northbound and southbound Martin Luther King Drive between E. 26th Street and E. Cermak Road
• Northbound and southbound Moe Drive between E. 31st Street and Mines Drive
• Eastbound and westbound E. 31st Street between S. Cottage Grove and Fort Dearborn Drive
• Northbound and southbound Fort Dearborn Drive between E. 31st Street and Lakeside Center

McCormick Place parking restrictions/closures
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 a.m., Sunday, May 13, until 11 p.m. Monday, May 21, at the following location:

• East and West sides of S. Indiana Avenue between Cermak Road and E. 24th Place

Tuesday, May, 15, 2012
Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 a.m., Tuesday, May 15 until 11 p.m., Tuesday, May 22 at the following locations:

• East and west sides of S. Calumet Avenue between E. Cullerton Street and E. Cermak Road
• East and west sides of S. Prairie Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
• East and west sides of S. Indiana Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
• North and south sides of E. 21st Street between S. Calumet Avenue and S. Indiana Avenue
• North and south sides of E. Cermak Road from S. Indiana Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive
• North and south sides of E. 24th Place between S. Indiana Avenue and S. State Street
• North and south sides of E. 25th Street between S. State Street and Martin Luther King Drive
• East and west sides of Martin Luther King Drive between E. Cermak Road and E. 26th Street

Northern Museum Campus parking restrictions/closures
Three popular Chicago museums -- Adler Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, and Shedd Aquarium -- will be closed May 19-21 during the NATO summit. That's a Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Also, the Field Museum will be closed on Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21 for the Summit. The Field Museum will be open Saturday, May 19.

Parking lots open on Saturday include the top three floors of Soldier Field North Lot and the Adler Planetarium parking lot. All parking lots will close at 5:30 p.m. following the closure of museums. If vehicles are still in lots they will be towed from the campus to an off-site city lot.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday evening, May 19, the Northern Museum Campus to include Northerly Island will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. All pedestrians and vehicles still on the campus at that time will be permitted to exit at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road.

Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The following roads will be closed:

• Museum Campus Drive between McFetridge Drive and 18th Street
• E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• Lake Shore Drive between McFetridge Drive and McCormick Center (Street closure will merge with McCormick Center street closures.)
• Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive Street parking will be prohibited at the following locations:
• East and west side of N. Museum Campus Drive between McFetridge Drive and 18th Street
• North and south side of E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• North and south side of 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• East and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive

The following parking lots will be closed to museum campus patrons:

• Field Museum east parking lot
• South portion of Adler Planetarium parking lot
• First floor of Soldier Field North Lot
• Waldron Lot and Soldier Field South Lot Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 6 p.m. until Sunday, May 20 at midnight (Sunday midnight into Monday)

The following roads will be closed:

• Museum Campus Drive between E. Solidarity Drive and 18th Street
• E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• Northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive between E. Balbo Avenue and McCormick Center (Street closure will merge with McCormick Center street closures)
• E. McFetridge Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• S. Columbus Drive between E. Balboa Drive and E. McFetridge Drive
• Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive

Street parking will be prohibited at the following locations:

• East and west side of N. Museum Campus Drive between E. Solidarity Drive and 18th Street
• North and south side of E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• North and south side of 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• North and south side of McFetridge Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
• North and south side of eastbound and westbound Solidarity Drive between Museum Campus Drive and Adler Planetarium turnabout.

The following parking lots will be closed:

• Field Museum east parking lot
• Adler Planetarium parking lot
• Soldier Field North Lot (all floors)
• Waldron Lot and Soldier Field South Lot

Willis Tower parking restrictions/closures
On Saturday, May 19, 2012, there will be intermittent road closures starting at 6 p.m. at:

• S. Franklin Street between W. Adams Street and W. Jackson Boulevard
• In addition, the street closure that already exists due to construction on W. Adams Street (north side of Willis Tower) and S. Upper Wacker Drive (west side of Willis Tower) will be in effect.
  No street parking will be allowed beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 19 until midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight going into Sunday).
• North and south side of Adams Street on north side of Willis Tower
• North and south side of Jackson Boulevard between Franklin and Wacker Drive
• East and west side of Franklin Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard

Chicago Cultural Center & Art Institute of Chicago parking restrictions/closures
No street parking will be allowed beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 19 until midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight into Sunday):

• East and west sides of Wabash Avenue between Lake Street and Washington Street
• North and south sides of Randolph Street between Michigan Avenue and Wabash Avenue
• North and south sides of E. Washington Street between Wabash Avenue and Michigan Avenue
• West side of Michigan Avenue between E. Randolph Street and E. Jackson Drive
• North and south sides of E. Monroe Street between S. Michigan Avenue and S. Columbus Drive Beginning at midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight into Sunday) the following road will be closed until 11 p.m.:
• E. Monroe Street between S. Michigan Avenue and S. Columbus Drive Beginning at 4 p.m, Sunday, May 20, until 11 p.m., the following roads will be closed:
• Garland Court between Madison Street and Randolph Street On Sunday, May 20, 2012, there will be intermittent road closures starting at 6 p.m.
• Northbound/southbound Michigan Avenue between E. Randolph Street and Jackson Drive
• Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive
• S. Columbus Drive between E. Monroe Street and E. Jackson Drive

Airspace Restrictions
An interagency airspace security plan will be implemented to provide secure airspace over the Chicago area during the NATO Summit. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight advisory listing enhanced restrictions was released April 18 (Notice #NOTC3675 -) . A Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) with additional details will be published at a later date.
Pilots are strongly encouraged to check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the area or contact a Flight Service Station at 1-800-992-7433 to check for all current NOTAMs. Pilots may also contact FAA Systems Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 202-267-8276 or through the FAA's website tfr.faa.gov

Marina/Waterway Restrictions
The public will see an increased U.S. Coast Guard presence on the water during the NATO Summit. The Coast Guard's initiatives are one of the many layers of increased security during the summit. The Coast Guard will continue to perform its standard missions of search and rescue and law enforcement in addition to their homeland security responsibilities.
The following maritime security zone will be effective and enforced 24 hours a day between 8 a.m. on May 18, 2012, and 8 a.m. on May 22, 2012:

• Security Zone A - Security Zone A encompasses all U.S. navigable waters, facilities, and shoreline within the arc of a circle with a 2000-yard radius of the Burnham park boat ramp with its center point located in the approximate position 41º51'37"N, 087º36'44"W.[DATUM: NAD 83].
  Security Zones B, C, and D, effective between 8 a.m. on May 18, 2012, and 8 a.m. on May 22, 2012, will have fewer restrictions than Zone A. Commercial and recreational traffic will be allowed access to these areas unless security measures need to be temporarily implemented.
• Security Zone B - Security Zone B encompasses all U.S. navigable waters, facilities, and shoreline within the arc of a circle with a 2000-yard radius of the outer most tip of the Chicago lock with its center point located in the approximate position 41º53'19"N, 087º36'17"W.[DATUM: NAD 83].
• Security Zone C - Security Zone C encompasses all U.S. navigable waters of the Chicago River between the Western Gate of the Chicago Controlling Works Lock which is located in approximate position 41º53'18"N, 087º36'28"W. [DATUM: NAD 83] and the juncture of the north and south branches of the Chicago River which is located in approximate position 41º53'11"N, 087º38'15"W. [DATUM: NAD 83]
• Security Zone D - This zone encompasses all U.S.navigable waters of the Chicago River between Mile Marker 322.0, which is in the vicinity of the Loomis Street coal storage terminal slip, and Mile Marker 326.4, which is in the vicinity of the Chicago Tribune Wharf.
• All City of Chicago owned or operated bridges over the Main, South and North Branches of the Chicago River will be closed to masted navigation between 7 a.m. on May 18, 2012 through 7 a.m. on May 21, 2012.

• Concerned maritime traffic can contact the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Representative via VHF-FM Channel 16.

Online NATO Information
The Chicago NATO Host committee will use Notify Chicago as a resource for communicating useful summit related information on street closures, traffic disruptions and more.
Individuals may sign up for Notify Chicago through the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications website to receive message alerts via text message or voicemail related to extreme weather alerts, traffic disruptions, health alerts and major incidents.
The free subscription can be completed in a matter of minutes by visiting notifychicago.org. This is a free City of Chicago service, though text message rates may apply based on cell phone provider.
Information and updates for the 2012 NATO Summit will be available online through the following websites.

• NATO Host Committee - ChicagoNATO.org
• City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications: NotifyChicago.org
• Chicago Police Department: portal.chicagopolice.org
• Chicago Transit Authority: TransitChicago.com
• Chicago Metra www.metrarail.com
• Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions - http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
• Illinois Department of Transportation - travelmidwest.com
• Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District - www.NICTD.com
• U.S. Secret Service - secretservice.gov Additions or updates to this plan may be made prior to the start of the event.