The COV&R Annual Meeting is at the DePaul University Conference Center at 1 E. Jackson Blvd. in the Chicago Loop. Make sure that you are not mistakenly reserving housing near or taking transportation to DePaul’s larger campus in Lincoln Park. COV&R is not meeting there!
Bringing a car into downtown Chicago is not recommended. Hotel parking typically costs $60–80 per night, and a car is unnecessary given the city’s excellent public transportation and walkability. Most people who live and work in the Loop walk, take a bus, or use the train for daily travel.
Chicago’s CTA rapid-transit system provides direct service from both O’Hare and Midway airports to downtown, with travel times of under an hour. The CTA Blue Line is the quickest and most economical way to travel between O’Hare and the Loop. Look for signs for the train in the airport. Chicago bus drivers are friendly and will answer questions.
A 7-day CTA pass for unlimited bus and train travel can be purchased at vending machines at either Midway or O’Hare or at Ventra retailers throughout the city. Passes may be loaded onto a plastic Ventra card (cards are $5). If you are using your cell phone in Chicago, it is more convenient to get a 7-day digital pass after installing the Ventra app on your phone. An alternative pay-as-you-go option is to tap a contactless credit card or mobile wallet (Apple Pay or Google Wallet) directly on bus or train readers.
As a general guideline, residents walk for short trips, use buses for distances of up to about 1.5 miles, and take trains for longer journeys. Buses are widely used and considered reliable at all hours of the day and night, and weekday travel by bus or train during the day and evening is generally comfortable throughout the city. Google Maps provides real-time transit information, and many Loop bus shelters have digital displays showing routes and expected arrival times.
If you are traveling alone late at night—particularly on weekends or after midnight—or arriving at O’Hare after 11:00 pm or before 7:00 am, we recommend sitting in the first train car (near the operator) or using a taxi or rideshare service (Uber or Lyft), especially when traveling beyond the Loop.