CTA bus and rail service is a convenient and affordable option for those traveling to the upcoming annual Bud Billiken Parade in Grant Park, the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears pre-season game at Soldier Field,or the Katy Perry concerts at the United Center.
To help decrease travel times and reduce lines at rail stations during the return trip, the CTA recommends that customers either load transit value or unlimited ride passes to their Ventra farecard at rail stations, online or at more than 1,300 local retailers ahead of time (see below for more information) or purchase a 1-day unlimited ride Ventra ticket.
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time when heading to/from the following events:
BUD BILLIKEN PARADE
Additional bus and rail service will be provided for customers heading to the 85th Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic on Saturday, August 9. The parade will start at 10 a.m. and run until approximately 4 p.m. before disbanding in Washington Park.
The southbound lanes of King Drive from 33rd Street to Oakwood, Oakwood from King Drive to Langley, and Pershing from King Drive to Cottage Grove will be used for parade assembly beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday.
As a result of the street closures, CTA will reroute the #3 King Drive, #15 Jeffery Local, #43 43rd, #47 47th and #55 Garfield buses around the immediate parade area. All service stops will be honored along the reroutes.
Detours will begin at 6 a.m. at the direction of the Chicago Police Department based on traffic volume in the area. King Drive is expected to remain closed until late Saturday afternoon.
Rail Service
- Green Line: longer trains will operate during all hours of service on Saturday.
Bus Service and Reroutes
Extra service will be provided on the #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #15 Jeffery Local, #29 State and #55 Garfield bus routes beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday.
#3 King Drive
Northbound #3 buses will detour around the parade area via King Drive, 61st Street, Indiana, 31st Street to King Drive and resume the regular route. Southbound #3 buses will operate via 31st Street, Michigan, 61st Street to King Drive and resume the regular route.
#15 Jeffery Local
Northbound #15 Jeffery Local buses will travel over the regular route along 51st Street to Drexel then will operate via Drexel, Bowen/Payne to Cottage Grove before turning to begin southbound service. From Payne at Cottage Grove, southbound #15 buses will travel north on Cottage Grove to 51st Street and resume the regular route.
Shuttle Service to 47th/Red Line
Customers who normally use the #15 route to access Red Line service at 47th Street will need to instead transfer to a shuttle bus that will operate between 51st Street/Cottage Grove and the 47th/Red Line station.
From Cottage Grove/51st Street, westbound #15 shuttle buses will operate south on Cottage Grove to 61st Street, then will travel via 61st Street, Indiana to 51st Street and resume regular route to the Red Line. Eastbound #15 shuttle buses will travel via Michigan, 61st Street, Cottage Grove to 51st Street.
#43 43rd
Eastbound #43 43rd buses will not travel past the 43rd Street Green Line station. From the Green Line, westbound #43 buses will travel west on 43rd Street over the regular route.
#47 47th
Service on the #47 47th will operate in two segments with regularly scheduled service operating between the Orange Line at Midway and the 47th Street Green Line station.
Shuttle Service East of 47th/Green Line
Customers who need to continue their trip east of the 47th Green Line station will need to board a shuttle bus that that will operate between Lake Park/47th Street and the 47th Red Line station.
Eastbound #47 shuttle buses from will travel via 47th Street, Indiana, 35th Street, Cottage Grove to 47th and resume the regular route. Westbound #47 shuttle buses will operate via 47th Street, Cottage Grove, 35th Street, Michigan to 47th Street and resume the regular route.
#55 Garfield
Eastbound #55 buses will travel over the regular route to 55th Street/Michigan and then will operate via Michigan, 61st Street, Cottage Grove to 55th Street and resume the regular route. Westbound #55 buses will travel over the regular route to 55th Street/Cottage Grove then will travel via Cottage Grove, 61st Street, Indiana then return to 55th Street and resume the regular route.
Shuttle Service between MSI and Garfield/Green Line
A bus shuttle will operate between the Garfield (55th Street) Green Line station and the Museum of Science & Industry (MSI).
2014 BEARS PRE-SEASON GAMES AT SOLDIER FIELD
CTA offers convenient sand affordable bus and rail travel options for fans attending Bears’ pre-season games at Soldier Field on Friday, August 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles and on Thursday, August 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kick-off time is 7 p.m. for both games.
Bus Service
The #128 Soldier Field Express provides non-stop service between the Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station to Soldier Field for all Bears games. Special round-trip cash fare is $5 full-fare (or $2.50 reduced-fare). When paying, customers must either use a Ventra card, contactless personal credit or debit card, or cash (exact amount only).
Service along the #128 route is provided approximately two hours prior to the start of the game and until 30 minutes after kick-off. After the game, buses will leave Soldier Field every few minutes for one hour (board east on McFetridge).
Supplemental service will also be provided along the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express route, which will operate additional buses to Soldier Field every few minutes for two hours before the start of the game and one hour after game's end.
Rail Service
CTA’s Red, Orange and Green line trains also provide a convenient connection to Soldier Field via the Roosevelt station at Roosevelt and State, a few blocks west of the stadium. CTA Customer Assistants will be on hand at the Roosevelt Green and Orange Line elevated and Red Line subway stations to assist fans.
KATY PERRY CONCERTS
Service along the #19 United Center Express will be provided for fans attending the Katy Perry concerts at the united Center on Thursday, August 7 and Friday August 8. The concert begins at 7 p.m. both nights.
Buses will leave every 12-15 minutes from Michigan and Randolph beginning 2 hours before the start of each event. After each event, #19 buses will await customers on the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3 and will depart approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
FARE INFORMATION
In general, full-fare bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2 to ride. The full fare for rail customers and for customers who choose to pay cash on the bus is $2.25. Customers who use CTA fare media may transfer for a 25-cent fee within two hours of the start of their trip. A second transfer within that period is free. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
Special round-trip cash fare for the #128 Soldier Field Express is $5 full-fare (or $2.50 reduced-fare). When paying, customers must either use a Ventra card or cash (exact amount only).
New Ventra Fare Payment System
Effective July 1, the CTA fully transitioned to the new Ventra fare payment system. Customers are no longer able to purchase or use Transit Cards (i.e. magnetic stripe and Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus cards) on buses or at CTA rail stations.
Ventra makes it easier to travel on the CTA by allowing customers to pay-per-ride or use unlimited-ride passes from the same reusable Ventra transit farecard. Unlimited-ride passes available for purchase include 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day passes. Customers can add value or passes to their Ventra cards at rail station vending machines, online (including from mobile phones) or at more than 1,300 retailers (including drugstores and currency exchanges). Customers can also pay for rides using their contactless credit or debit card.
To learn more about CTA fare payment options, including use of contactless personal bank cards, or if you wish to add value or passes to your Ventra card in advance, visit ventrachicago.com.
*New Ventra cards cost $5 at machines, which can be refunded as transit value upon registration within 90 days online at ventrachicago.com or by phone at (877) NOW VENTRA (877) 669-8368.