CTA Recommends Red and Brown Line Customers Allow Extra Travel Time This Weekend

Red Line Customers Bound for U.S. Cellular Field for Sox-Cubs Games Advised to Allow Extra Travel Time

Construction work planned for this weekend will require Red and Brown Line trains to share track in various areas between Armitage and Addison. This could cause delays in service so Red and Brown Line customers are advised to allow extra travel time. Several major construction projects are currently underway on the rail system and CTA is working to minimize the impact on customers while coordinating efforts to accommodate multiple construction crews.

CTA is currently upgrading crossover tracks and signals throughout the Clark Junction corridor, the busy location where Brown, Red and Purple Line trains converge just north of Belmont on the City's North Side. The upgrade to the
100-year-old junction will bring new signals and additional connections between tracks to allow trains to cross over to adjacent tracks.

Northbound Red Line Service ? Belmont and Addison
Northbound Red Line trains will operate on Brown Line tracks at Fullerton and Belmont stations from 8 p.m. Friday, May 19 to 8 a.m. Saturday, May 20. At Belmont and Fullerton stations, northbound Red Line customers will board on the east side of the northbound platform instead of the west side of that platform.

From Belmont, northbound Red Line trains will continue north on Brown Line tracks where they will cross back to normal Red Line service just north of Addison station and pull back to the Addison station to serve customers.

At 8 a.m. Saturday, May 20 northbound Red Line trains will resume normal service.

Southbound Red Line trains will make normal stops.

Northbound Brown Line Service ? Fullerton, Diversey, Wellington, Belmont
From 8 p.m. Friday, May 19 to 1:30 a.m. Sunday, May 21 northbound Brown Line trains will board on the west side of the northbound platform at Fullerton station.

Northbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at Wellington and Diversey platforms during these hours. Customers who wish to exit at these stations will need to travel to the Belmont station and transfer to a southbound Brown Line train back to these stations. Northbound customers who wish to board at the Wellington or Diversey station will need to board a southbound train and exit at Fullerton to board a northbound Brown Line train.

At Belmont station, northbound Brown Line trains will operate on southbound Brown Line tracks. Northbound Brown Line customers will board on the same platform and same side of the platform as southbound Brown Line customers.

From 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21 northbound Brown Line trains will share Red Line tracks from Fullerton to Belmont. At Fullerton and Belmont stations northbound Brown Line customers will board on the west side of the northbound platform instead of the east side.

Northbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at the Diversey platform during these hours. Customers who wish to exit at Diversey will need to travel to the Belmont station and transfer to a southbound Brown Line train back to the station. Northbound customers who wish to board at the Diversey station will need to board a southbound train and exit at Fullerton to board a northbound Brown Line train.

From 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21 to 1 a.m. Monday, May 22 northbound Brown Line trains will share Red Line tracks at Belmont station. At Belmont station, northbound Brown Line customers will again board on the west side of the northbound platform.

At 4 a.m. Monday, May 22 northbound Brown Line trains will resume normal service.

Southbound Brown Line trains will make normal stops throughout the weekend.

CTA Service to U.S. Cellular Field
The CTA Red Line is still the best option for baseball fans going to U.S. Cellular Field for the crosstown series between the White Sox and the Cubs this weekend.

The Chicago White Sox host the Chicago Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday, May 19 at 3:05 p.m., Saturday, May 20 at 12:20 p.m. and on Sunday, May 21 at 1:05 p.m. Prior to the games, CTA volunteers will be distributing a commemorative 2006 Sox-Cubs interleague series poster to fans who use the Red Line to get to the game. Volunteers will begin to greet customers approximately 90 minutes before game time to hand out posters at the Red Line Sox-35th Street Station.

The Red Line provides direct service to Sox-35th station, just steps away from U.S. Cellular Field. Red Line trains operate between Howard and 95th, making stops at the accessible Sox-35th station. Free connections can be made from Purple and Yellow Line trains at Howard, from all 'L' lines serving the Loop, or from Brown Line trains at Belmont or Fullerton.

In addition to the Red Line, CTA's Green Line provides a convenient travel option to U.S. Cellular Field. The accessible Green Line station at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT is a few blocks east of the stadium. Fans can walk to the ballpark or transfer to #35 35th buses which stop at the park. Green Line trains operate between 63rd/Ashland, Cottage Grove/East 63rd on the city's South Side and Lake/Harlem in Oak Park.

Additionally, U.S. Cellular Field is served by #35 35th buses that stop at accessible stations on both the Green and Orange Lines. On weekdays through early evening, #24 Wentworth buses serve the park from Clark Street downtown, and from 79th via Vincennes, Wentworth and LaSalle.

#29 State buses that operate on State Street between the Red Line terminal at 95th Street and Navy Pier provide another nearby travel option.

For additional CTA travel information, call 836-7000 (all area codes apply), or visit the agency's web site at www.transitchicago.com.