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To make it even easier for residents and
visitors to frequent restaurants, shops and recreation centers
throughout the Village during the summer, the free Oak Park
shuttle is offering extended hours on Thursday and Friday
evenings through the end of August. The two conversion vans,
each equipped with a wheelchair lift, typically operate on an
hour-long loop from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., seven days a week,
except major holidays. But during the extended hours, Shuttle 1
will end its route at 9 p.m. at Oak Park Avenue and North
Boulevard (stop number 1 on the route), and Shuttle 2 will
complete its final circuit there at 9:30 p.m. Offering later
hours during the summer months encourages people to use the
shuttle as a cost-effective, convenient way to sample the
Village's many sites and attractions without having to
worry about traffic or parking. The shuttle route includes 20
stops at 30-minute intervals along an eight-mile course. Among
the stops are key Village shopping and dining destinations
including downtown, in the Lake Street-Oak Park Avenue area,
the Harrison Street art district and the Oak Park-Eisenhower
business district. The shuttle also stops at two major Park
District facilities with pools and evening public swimming
during the extended shuttle hours. The shuttle stops in the
parking lot of Ridgeland Common, 415 W. Lake St., and at the
Oak Park Conservatory across the street Rehm Park and Pool, 515
Garfield St. (Visit the Park District at www.oakparkparks.com.) Several shuttle
stops also offer easy transfer to a host of mass transit
options at points throughout the Village, including PACE and
CTA buses, and the CTA's green and blue lines. Among the
shuttle stops is the downtown intermodal transportation
station, which links Metra's commuter rail west line and
CTA trains and buses at a central location near the Marion
Street Mall. To reduce travel time, riders can transfer between
the two shuttles at the top and bottom of the hour at Oak Park
Avenue and South Boulevard, the starting and ending point of
the shuttle route. By transferring to the other shuttle, riders
can loop around just the greater downtown area, or just the
southern portion of the route in only half an hour. Riders can
board a shuttle at any of the stops, which are marked by signs
including a route map, a list of attractions near each stop and
the arrival time of each of the two vans. In addition to times
and stops, the maps note nearby mass transit connection
options. Potential riders also can call 615.1830 for the most
up-to-date route information, to seek assistance, ask questions
or make comments. A route map and schedule is available on the
Village website, www.oak-park.us.
A free seminar to help prospective first-time
homebuyers understand loan programs available in Oak Park is
scheduled for 7 - 8:30 p.m., Tues. July 13, at Village Hall,
123 Madison St. Financial assistance programs will be explained
and participants will receive a free packet of helpful
information. Pre-registration is required. Call 358.5408 or
email comsvcs@oak-park.us.
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