CTA bus and rail service is a convenient and affordable option for customers traveling to weekend events, including the annual Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park, the North Coast Music Festival in Union Park, the One Direction and Luke Bryan concerts at Soldier Field and Northwestern Football at Ryan Field.
To decrease travel times and avoid long lines at rail station vending machines during the return trip, the CTA recommends that customers load ahead of time transit value or unlimited ride passes (1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day) to their Ventra farecards at rail stations, online or at more than 1,300 local retailers (locations available at ventrachicago.com). Other ways to pay fares including purchase from CTA vending machines 1-day unlimited ride tickets ($10) or single-ride tickets ($3) that include up to two transfers in two hour. Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards.
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time when heading to/from the following events:
RAIL SERVICE
Blue Line
- Friday: Longer trains will operate in both directions until 11 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: Longer trains will operate in both directions beginning at 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Green Line
- Friday: Longer trains will operate from Harlem/Lake beginning 6:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.; and from 63rd/Ashland/Cottage Grove until 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: Longer trains will operate in both directions beginning 11 a.m. until at least 10:30 p.m.
Pink Line
- Saturday and Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
WEEKEND EVENTS
North Coast Music Festival
The CTA will operate longer trains along the Green and Pink line and provide additional service along the #9 Ashland bus route for the North Coast Music Festival in Union Park beginning Friday, August 29 until Sunday, August 31. Concertgoers can get to Union Park via the # 9, #20 Madison or #50 Damen bus routes, or by taking the Green or Pink lines to the Ashland station.
Concerts at Soldier Field
To accommodate concert goers heading to this weekend’s concerts at Soldier Field, additional service will be provided along the #130 Museum Campus and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes.
In general, additional bus service will be provided approximately two hours prior to the start of each event and then again for one hour following each event:
- One Direction (August 29-30): Concerts are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. each day, with gates opening at 5 p.m.
- Luke Bryan (August 31): Show time is 6 p.m. and doors open at 4 p.m.
Northwestern University Football
The Northwestern University Wildcats host the University of California Golden Bears this weekend with kick-off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. In anticipation of large crowds, CTA will provide additional service and longer trains along the Purple Line beginning at 11:30 a.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. (from Howard). Ryan Field is located just west of the Purple Line’s Central station in Evanston.
In general, for each Northwestern football home game at Ryan Field, the CTA will operate longer trains more frequently beginning three hours prior to kick-off time until approximately two hours following the end of the game.
Stay in the loop on cta service
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for timely system travel updates and alerts.
To learn more about CTA fare payment options, including use of contactless personal bank cards, how to add value or passes to your Ventra card in advance, or to locate one of the 1,300+ Ventra retailers closest to you, visit ventrachicago.com.
For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
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