Resident says Ravinia shuttle shortages leave concertgoers walking two miles in heat

Susan Cole, a Highland Park resident of 35 years, told the City Council on July 14 she has repeatedly seen concertgoers left without promised shuttle service and forced to walk about two miles in hot weather to Ravinia. "People stand in the heat at the train station waiting in extremely long lines for a bus. Many give up and start walking," Cole said. She described a June 29 night when she made seven drives and "one family I drove paid $400 for their Ravinia tickets." Cole added, "They finally arrived down there exhausted and angry." She asked whether the city can require Ravinia to provide adequate transportation for sold-out nights.

City staff responded that Ravinia pays for city transit service and that "we have over a dozen buzzes that are used, for the high attendance concert" and that the buses operate as a loop. The staff member said Ravinia established an agreement with Metro so "anyone with a paid ticket to Ravinia Festival can ride the Metro state the Metro for free," and noted staff debriefs with Ravinia before and after the season. "The message will be brought to Ravinia," the mayor said and asked that staff follow up; Council member Brockman was identified as the council liaison to those meetings.

Cole urged the city to take a stronger role because she sees people walking in extreme heat carrying chairs, coolers and wagons. City staff encouraged residents not to give rides to strangers for safety reasons and said they would relay the complaint to Ravinia staff for near-term consideration and follow-up.

The council did not take a formal action on the matter at the July 14 meeting; staff said they will raise the concern with Ravinia in ongoing coordination meetings and will monitor the issue this season.