CTA provides convenient and affordable service for spectators heading to the Bud Billiken Parade on Chicago’s south side, the Kansas City Royals versus White Sox games at U.S. Cellular Field, the pre-season game between the Bears and the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field and the Taste of Tall Ships exhibit at Navy Pier.
Bud Billiken Parade
The 82nd Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic will be held on Saturday, August 13. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from 35th Street and King Drive and proceeds on King Drive to Washington Park.
CTA will provide supplementary service on the following bus routes to accommodate anticipated crowds: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #15 Jeffery Local, #47 47th and #55 Garfield.
Longer trains will operate on the Green Line from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from the Loop for customers attending the parade and picnic and the Taste of Tall Ships exhibit.
Due to street closures, buses along the #3 King Drive, #15 Jeffery Local, #43 43rd, #47 47th and #55 Garfield routes will undergo temporary detour from 6 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m.
Kansas City Royals versus White Sox
The White Sox play host to Central Division rival Kansas City in a weekend series beginning Friday, August 12. Game time on Friday is 7:10 p.m. Saturday’s game time is 6:10 p.m., and Sunday’s game begins at 1:10 p.m.
The Red Line provides direct service to the accessible Sox-35th station, just steps from the ballpark. Red Line trains operate between Howard and 95th Street. Free connections can be made from Purple and Yellow line trains at Howard, from all elevated lines serving the Loop, or from Brown Line trains at Belmont and Fullerton.
In addition to the Red Line, the Green Line also provides a convenient travel option. The accessible Green Line station at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT is a few blocks east of the park.
Fans can walk to the ballpark or transfer to #35 35th buses, which stop at the ballpark. Green Line trains operate on the South Side from 63rd/Ashland and East 63rd/Cottage Grove, and from Lake and Harlem in Oak Park. Orange Line customers can reach the ballpark via the 35th/Archer station from which fans can transfer to the #35 35th or the #39 Pershing buses (Friday only).
The #35 35th buses stop at 35th Street stations on the Green, Orange and Red Lines. The #39 diverts to the 35th Red Line Station and 35th/Archer Orange Line Station and operates until 10 p.m. on weekdays.
Bears versus Bills
CTA’s #128 Soldier Field Express and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes are convenient traveling options for fans heading to the Bears’ first pre-season game on Saturday, August 13 versus the Buffalo Bills. Game time is 7 p.m.
Additional service will be provided on both routes to accommodate anticipated crowds.
#128 Soldier Field Express buses will operate non-stop between the Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and Soldier Field for the convenience of Bears fans. Service will operate from 5:15 p.m. until 7:35 p.m. After the game, buses will leave Soldier Field every few minutes for one hour.
The fare for #128 buses is $1 for full-fare customers and 50 cents for reduced-fare customers. The exact cash fare is required.
Additional service on the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express will operate for two hours before the game starts and one hour after the game ends.
Customers also can travel to Soldier Field via Red, Orange or Green line trains. The Roosevelt station is located at Roosevelt and State, a few blocks west of the stadium. CTA will provide additional Customer Assistants at the Roosevelt Green and Orange Line elevated and Red Line subway stations to assist fans.
Taste of Tall Ships
The Taste of Tall Ships exhibit is at Navy Pier from Thursday, August 11 through Sunday, August 14, where visitors can board and ride the historic sailing vessels. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The following service will be provided for customers heading to Navy Pier:
Bus Service
Additional service on the #124 Navy Pier will operate from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. On Sunday, additional service will operate approximately every 12 minutes from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Additional service on the #29 State will operate between Navy Pier and State/Roosevelt approximately every 12 minutes on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Additional service on the #65 Grand will operate approximately every 12 minutes between Navy Pier and the Grand Blue Line station from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and approximately every 15 minutes on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m,
Rail Service
Longer trains will operate on the Blue, Brown, Green, Orange and Red lines from early evening until 11 p.m. on Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12.
On Saturday, August 13, longer trains from the Loop will operate on the Brown, Blue, Green, and Orange lines from 9:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Longer trains will operate on the Purple Line from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. from Howard on Saturday.
On Sunday, August 14, longer trains will operate on the Blue, Brown, Green, Orange and Red lines from the Loop from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Longer Purple Line trains will operate from Howard from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Fare Information
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2 to ride. For rail customers or customers who pay cash on the bus, the fare is $2.25. Customers who use magnetic strip cards or other CTA fare media may transfer for a 25-cent fee. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
Park & Ride
Parking is available for approximately 6,000 cars at facilities adjacent to 17 CTA rail stations, mainly at terminals, throughout the CTA system. Rates are $5 at Rosemont and Forest Park and $4 at all other locations. Park & Ride locations are listed on CTA’s system map and on the CTA website, www.transitchicago.com.
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