30 bus routes will be affected at various times beginning early morning through midday Friday
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will offer additional train service in conjunction with the City of Chicago’s celebration of the Blackhawks’ 2013 Stanley Cup victory in Grant Park beginning Friday morning, June 28.
Customers traveling into the Loop on Friday are advised to allow plenty of travel time due to street closures, traffic congestion and reroutes. CTA’s Red and Blue subway lines and Brown, Green, Pink and Orange elevated lines are the best option for Blackhawks fans heading downtown for the parade and rally.
Additional service will be provided on all eight rail lines following the morning rush period through midday. Detailed service information for each rail line is provided below.
A total of 30 CTA buses will be detoured in the downtown area as a result of street closures for the set-up, take-down and duration of the parade and rally.
To speed travel and reduce lines, customers are encouraged to buy farecards in advance with sufficient value or to add enough value to their existing farecards (either the Chicago Card or magnetic strip Transit Card) for their return trips later in the day.
See the City of Chicago's press release for official info on the parade and rally, policies and restrictions, access to the rally and more.
NOTE: Please fold strollers and carts; they must be folded before boarding buses and trains on Friday, June 28.
Bicycles will also not be allowed on 'L' trains. (Bicycles will, however, continue to be allowed on all buses, at all times, using the racks on the front of the bus.)
Friday Morning Rush Service
Effective all morning and until approximately 3 p.m., Columbus Drive from Monroe to Roosevelt; and Monroe, Jackson and Balbo between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive will be closed to all traffic due to the set-up, duration and take-down of the parade and rally staging area.
Bus Reroutes
The following 18 bus routes will be detoured to adjacent streets to maintain bus service in the downtown area:
- #2 Hyde Park Express
- #3 King Drive
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #6 Jackson Park Express
- #7 Harrison
- #10 Museum of Science & Industry
- #J14 Jeffery Jump
- #20 Madison
- #26 South Shore Express
- #28 Stony Island
- #124 Navy Pier
- #132 Goose Island
- #143 Stockton/Michigan Express
- #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
- #147 Outer Drive Express
- #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
- #151 Sheridan
- #157 Streeterville/Taylor
In general, most northbound buses will be rerouted from Michigan to State Street or Dearborn Street; and southbound buses will use Clark Street.
All bus routes will be returned to their normal routing in time for the evening rush period.
Service Details for Parade and Rally
The parade will begin at approximately 10:15 a.m. from Washington/Desplaines and will proceed east on Washington to Michigan, north on Michigan to Randolph, east on Randolph to Columbus, south on Columbus to Balbo where the celebration continues with the Championship Rally at Lower Hutchinson Field. The rally is expected to begin at approximately 12 noon.
Tip: Load up your farecard before you get downtown
Don't wait until after the events—or even until after you get off the train on your way. Avoid waiting in long lines by filling up your farecard at the station where you board, closer to home.
Also, if you plan to be riding around on transit all day, you can also consider buying a 1-Day Pass in advance (the $10 pass is good for unlimited rides, for one person on CTA, for 24-hours from the first use).
Tip: Use stations south of Madison for Rally
If you're heading to the rally in Lower Hutchinson Field, use stations south of Madison.
From the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Lines, use the Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren station or Adams/Wabash; from the Blue Line, use Jackson or LaSalle; from the Red Line, use Jackson, Harrison or Roosevelt.
Bus Reroutes
In anticipation of large crowds of attendees, the following 22 bus routes will be detoured to adjacent streets beginning at 9 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m.:
- #8 Halsted
- #9 Ashland
- #10 Museum of Science & Industry
- #J14 Jeffery Jump
- #20 Madison
- #22 Clark*
- #24 Wentworth
- #29 State
- #36 Broadway*
- #37 Sedgwick*
- #56 Milwaukee
- #60 Blue Island/26th
- #62 Archer
- #124 Navy Pier
- #130 Museum Campus
- #143 Stockton/Michigan Express
- #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
- #147 Outer Drive Express
- #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
- #151 Sheridan
- #156 LaSalle
- #157 Streeterville/Taylor
*IMPORTANT NOTE: During this time, southbound #22 Clark, #36 Broadway and #37 Sedgwick buses will not travel south of Randolph. Customers should transfer to trains at the Clark/Lake station to continue their trips south of Randolph.
In general, eastbound buses that normally travel on Washington will be rerouted to travel on either Monroe or Randolph.
Added 'L' (Rail) Service
Red Line
More frequent service will be provided with trains operating approximately every 5 minutes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
NOTE: To accommodate the anticipated increase in customers, one out of every three Red Line trains toward from Howard toward Ashland/63rd will terminate their trips at Roosevelt. After changing direction, these trains will then operate back to Howard, in service. These trains, in either direction, will make all regular Red Line stops.
Blue Line
Trains will operate every 6 minutes from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
NOTE: To accommodate the anticipated increase in customers, from approximately 9:25 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. every other train from O’Hare toward Forest Park will operate terminate at UIC-Halsted. After changing direction, these trains will then operate back to O'Hare, in service. These trains, in either direction, will make all regular Blue Line stops.
Brown Line
Longer trains will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Green Line
Longer trains will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Orange Line
Longer trains will operate approximately every 8 minutes from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Purple Line Express
Service will be extended through midday. From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Purple Line Express trains will operate every 15 minutes. During this time:
- Purple Line trains to the Loop will run express from Howard to Addison, and make a local stop at Addison. They'll then continue to Belmont and make regular Purple Line Express stops into and around the Loop.
- Purple Line Express trains to Linden (from the Loop) will operate normally through Belmont, then make a local stop at Addison (Red Line), then express to Howard and make regular stops through Linden.
Pink Line
Longer trains will operate from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yellow Line
Trains will operate every 10 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Fare Information
Vending machines are available at every 'L' station, and many have Express Vending Machines that accept credit cards. Customers can also buy pre-loaded cards and passes at hundreds of retail locations throughout the city.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2 to ride. For rail customers or customers who pay cash on the bus, the fare is $2.25. Customers who use CTA fare media may transfer for a 25 cent fee. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
Stay in the Loop on CTA Service
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner and see Customer Alerts for reroutes that will have an effect on service.
Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@cta) for system travel updates and alerts.
For details about all CTA service, call 1-312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
More info
See official info from the City of Chicago for information on the parade and rally, policies and restrictions, access to facilities and more.
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