Separate Green and Blue line project work continues this weekend; free bus shuttles provided
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is a convenient and affordable transit option for those traveling downtown to attend the 2016 National Football League Draft events in Grant Park.
To accommodate those traveling to/from events downtown, the CTA will be operating extra rail service. Details on temporary changes in bus and rail service in the downtown area are outlined below.
Customers are encouraged to purchase fares in advance, which will decrease travel times and avoid long lines at rail station vending machines. Customers can 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 nearly 1,300 local retailers (locations available at ventrachicago.com). Customers can also add value to their accounts by using the Ventra App, available for free download via www.ventrachicago.com, the App Store and Google Play.
Separately, Green and Blue lines will be impacted due to ongoing construction work. Full details below.
Customers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
Rail Service
To accommodate larger crowds traveling to and from downtown area for the NFL Draft, the CTA will implement service enhancements along the following rail lines:
Thursday/Friday:
- CTA will operate longer trains along the Blue, Red, Brown and Orange lines.
Saturday:
- CTA will operate longer trains on the Red, Brown and Orange lines from approximately 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. In addition, Red Line trains will operate more frequently from approximately 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Bus Service
Due to events associated with the 2016 NFL Draft this weekend, the following 12 downtown bus routes will be subject to temporary bus stop changes and temporary reroutes at various times. Specific details on reroute information are available by clicking on the route name:
Temporary weekend-only closure of Montrose Blue Line station
The Montrose Blue Line station will be temporarily closed beginning Friday, April 29 at
10 p.m. until Monday, May 2 at 4 a.m. During this time, Blue Line trains traveling in both directions will bypass the Montrose station.
Free shuttle bus service will be provided between the Montrose and Irving Park Blue Line stations throughout the temporarily closure. O’Hare and Forest Park-bound customers at Montrose can access Blue Line trains by taking the free shuttle buses to the Irving Park station. Blue Line customers traveling to the Montrose station will need to exit at Irving Park and then transfer to the free bus shuttle.
Green Line Laramie to Harlem/Lake Impacts
Green Line service will only operate between Cottage Grove-Ashland/63rd and Laramie beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, April 29 until 4 a.m. Monday, May 2, due to work associated with the Green Line West Track Renewal project.
During this time, Green Line trains will not serve the Central, Austin, Ridgeland, Oak Park or Harlem/Lake stations. CTA will operate free shuttle buses that will serve the affected stations.
Similar project work is currently scheduled to occur over upcoming weekends with the project reaching substantial completion in June 2016.
CTA recommends that customers allow extra travel time during weekends when work occurs.
The Green Line West Track Renewal project is one of the biggest transit investments on Chicago’s West Side in the past 20 years and will replace rails and ties and make other track improvements to provide smoother, more reliable rides and prevent imminent slow zones from developing in the area.
For more information, visit transitchicago.com/greenwest.
Stay in the Loop on CTA service
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