Sunday drive in city won't be easy

If you don't absolutely have to be in Chicago Sunday, just stay away.

If you are going downtown, plan ahead and expect frustrating delays.

Sunday's Chicago Marathon and possible Cubs playoff game are expected to wallop drivers and even transit riders with a one-two punch.

Still, officials are recommending it will be less aggravating and costly to hop a train or bus than take your car.

"There will be a lot of cars heading downtown and to the North Side, so anyone who can use mass transit should do so," says Mike Claffey, state transportation spokesman.

The marathon, which starts at 8 a.m., will create road blocks along a 26-mile track reaching as far north as Addison Avenue just east of Wrigley Field.

North Side roads lining the run are expected to be closed off as late as 11 a.m. If the Cubs are playing, Wrigley Field will start letting fans in at 10 a.m. for the noon game. All marathon roads, except for those near Grant Park, should be open by 3 p.m..

Another reason to ditch the car: Parking prices are expected to spike given the number of Cubs fans and marathon watchers jockeying for space on the North Side.

To get around the mess, here are some tips:

Metra is offering an extra run on its BNSF Line to Aurora and its UP-Northwest Line to Harvard, each arriving downtown at around 6:30 a.m.

For Cubs fans, the UP-Northwest and UP-North Line have stops within a bus ride of The Friendly Confines.

Check CTA routes. The Blue Line has parking in Rosemont and Forest Park. Buses from the west take riders to Wrigley along Irving Park Road and Montrose Avenue.

El trains will be crowded. CTA officials are adding more trains and cars to keep pace with demand, but service will be slower on the Red Line due to construction.

One lane in each direction of the Edens Expressway, I-94, will be out of service for construction. Lake Shore Drive is sure to be jammed.

For more transit information call 836-7000 from any local area code or visit www.rtachicago.com. For real time traffic information visit www.gcmtravel.com.