10/18/06
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon fans can count on the Chicago Transit Authority as a travel option this Sunday, October 22. The marathon will start just north of Jackson on Columbus Drive with the course winding through numerous city neighborhoods. CTA will operate longer trains and extra buses to accommodate spectators. Because bus routes in the vicinity of the marathon will be impacted with intermittent reroutes CTA is advising customers to allow extra travel time.
To speed travel and reduce lines, customers heading for the marathon are encouraged to buy CTA farecards or Visitor Passes in advance with sufficient value, or to add enough value to their existing farecards (either the Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus or magnetic strip Transit Card) for their return trips later in the day.
Additional CTA personnel will be on duty at select stations along the Blue, Red, Green, Brown, Pink and Orange lines and at major bus stops to assist customers and provide travel information.
Rail Service
Blue/Green/Orange/Pink
Longer trains will operate on each of these lines until approximately 4 p.m. to and from downtown.
Brown
More frequent service between Kedzie and downtown.
Red
More frequent service between 95th and Howard.
Park & Ride Facilities
Parking is available for approximately 6,800 cars at CTA's 18 Park & Ride facilities, mainly at terminals, throughout the CTA system. Rates are $3 at Rosemont and Forest Park and $2 at all other locations.
Park & Ride stations are listed on CTA's system map and on the CTA's web site. Customers may also obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.
Viewing Areas
For marathon fans interested in following the progress of the race, there are spectator viewing areas designated near CTA rail stations at 10 points along the race route.
First Viewing Area ? Jackson (Red Line) Station ? Race Start, Mile #2.Board a Red Line train and exit at Jackson. Walk a half-mile east toward Grant Park.
Second Viewing Area ? Grand (Red Line) Station ? Miles #1, #3 and #12. Board a Red Line train and exit at Grand.
Third Viewing Area ? Chicago (Red Line) Station ? Miles #3.5 and #11.5. Board a Red Line train and exit at Chicago. Walk three blocks west to LaSalle.
Fourth Viewing Area ? Addison (Red Line) Station ? Mile #7.75. Board a Red Line train and exit at Addison. Walk four blocks east to Broadway.
Fifth Viewing Area ? Sedgwick (Brown Line) Station ? Mile #10.25. Board a Brown Line train and exit at Sedgwick. Walk a half-block north to North Avenue.
Sixth Viewing Area ? UIC-Halsted (Blue Line) Station ? Miles #16 and 16.5. Board a Blue Line train and exit at UIC-Halsted. Use the Halsted and Morgan exits. Walk two blocks north on Morgan to view the runners at Mile 16 in Greektown. Use the Halsted exit to view the runners at Mile 16.5.
Seventh Viewing Area ? 18th (Pink Line) Station ? Mile #19.Board a Pink Line train and exit at 18th. Walk one block east to Ashland to Mile 19 in Pilsen.
Eighth Viewing Area ? Halsted (Orange Line) Station ? Mile #20.5.Board an Orange Line train and exit at Halsted.
Ninth Viewing Area ? 35th-Bronzeville-IIT (Green Line) Station ? Mile #23. Board a Green Line train and exit at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT. Use either the 34th Street or 35th Street exit.
Tenth Viewing Area ? Roosevelt (Red, Green and Orange Lines) Station ? Finish Line. Board a Red, Green or Orange Line train and exit at Roosevelt. Walk east on Roosevelt toward the Museum Campus and Grant Park.
Fare Information
For bus customers who use CTA fare media, fares are $1.75 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. Bus customers who use cash pay $2.
For rail customers who use the CTA Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus, the fare is $1.75 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. The fare for rail customers who use a magnetic strip Transit Card or pay cash is $2. Transfers are not available when paying with cash.
Customers may purchase fare media at CTA's main office at 567 West Lake from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., online at CTA's web site, www.transitchicago.com, at any of CTA's 144 rail stations or at more than 200 non-CTA outlets such as Currency Exchanges, Jewel-Osco and Dominick's Finer Food stores and select Cub Food Stores and CVS Pharmacies.
Visitor Passes
A 1-day ($5) pass offers 24 hours of unlimited riding from the first use. Visitors can also purchase 2-day ($9), 3-day ($12), 5-day ($18) and 7-Day ($20) passes.
For Visitor Pass and advance sales locations, call 1-888-YOUR-CTA or visit the CTA web site. Transit Cards and Visitor Passes will be sold at the CTA booth at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo taking place Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21 at the McCormick Place Convention Center, North Building, Hall B-1.
Visitor Passes can be purchased with exact cash or major credit cards at vending machines located at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, CTA Red Line Chicago station (at State), CTA Blue Line Cumberland and Rosemont rail stations, Union Station on Canal and at the Water Works Visitor Information Center at Chicago and Michigan. Value cannot be added to Visitor Passes and they cannot be shared.
Bus Service
CTA will operate earlier service on the #3 King Drive bus route between McCormick Place (from 6 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.) and Michigan and Chicago(from 6:22 a.m. until 8:47 a.m.) to accommodate runners and spectators staying in downtown and McCormick Place hotels. Service will run every 15 minutes.
During the course of the race, there will be intermittent reroutes along several CTA bus routes. The affected routes are:
#3 King Drive
#4 Cottage Grove
#6 Jackson Park Express
#8 Halsted
#9 Ashland
#10 Museum of Science & Industry #11 Lincoln
#12 Roosevelt
#14 Jeffery Express
#18 16th/18th
#20 Madison
#21 Cermak
#22 Clark
#29 State
#35 35th
#36 Broadway
#44 Wallace/Racine
#50 Damen
#56 Milwaukee
#60 Blue Island/26th
#62 Archer
#65 Grand
#66 Chicago
#70 Division
#72 North
#73 Armitage
#74 Fullerton
#76 Diversey
#77 Belmont
#124 Navy Pier
#126 Jackson
#145 Wilson/Michigan Express
#146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express #147 Outer Drive Express
#151 Sheridan
#152 Addison
Reroutes can be expected in the downtown area from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.; on the North Side from 6:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.; on the West Side from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.; and on the South Side from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. All times are approximate and detours will be determined by Chicago police and CTA supervisory personnel.
For all CTA service information, call 836-7000 (from any local area code) or visit the web site at www.transitchicago.com.
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