Rail service is best option for Loop-bound commuters; multiple bus routes will be affected at various times beginning early morning through midday Thursday
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will offer additional train and bus service in conjunction with the City of Chicago’s celebration of the Blackhawks’ 2015 Stanley Cup victory beginning Thursday morning, June 18.
The parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Washington Boulevard and Racine Avenue and continues east on Washington to Des Plaines, then south on Des Plaines Street to Monroe Street and follows Monroe east to Michigan Avenue. The celebration then continues at Soldier Field where a free rally will be held (ticket required for entry).
Customers traveling into the Loop on Thursday 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, Purple, 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 rail lines following the morning rush period through midday.
Multiple CTA bus routes 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 decrease travel times and avoid long lines at rail station vending machines, the CTA recommends that customers 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 more than 1,300 local retailers (locations available at ventrachicago.com). Other ways to pay fares including purchase from CTA vending machines 1-day unlimited ride tickets ($10) or single-ride tickets ($3) that include up to two transfers in two hour. Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards.
NOTE: Please fold strollers and carts; they must be folded before boarding buses and trains on Thursday, June 18.
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.)
Downtown Street Closures
Effective at approximately 8 a.m. the following road closures will be in effect:
- Washington Boulevard from Racine Avenue to Des Plaines Avenue
- Des Plaines Avenue from Washington Boulevard to Monroe Street
- Monroe Street from Halsted Street to Lake Shore Drive.
Additional street closures may also be implemented as needed.
Bus Reroutes
Due to street closures associated with parade and rally, the following 34 CTA bus routes will be detoured to adjacent streets beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday until approximately 3 p.m. (click on route name for more details):
In general, buses being detoured from operating north on Michigan Avenue will instead travel on State Street, and buses being detoured from traveling south on Michigan Avenue will operate along Clark Street.
Buses traveling to the Loop along the #2, #3, #4, #6, #7, #10, #20, #24, #26, #60, #62 and #126 routes will operate as far north as Adams before turning to begin traveling their reverse routes.
Other bus routes being detoured and offering convenient connections to rail service include:
- Southbound #22 and #37 buses will only operate as far south as Randolph before turning to begin northbound service. Customers wanting to continue traveling south can transfer at Clark/Lake and board either the Red or Blue lines (subway) or Loop Elevated lines (Brown, Green, Pink or Orange) for the remainder of their trips.
- Northbound #29 buses will travel as far north as Roosevelt/State before turning to begin southbound service. Customers wanting to continue traveling north can transfer at the Roosevelt station and board either a Red Line (subway) or Loop Elevated Lines (Green or Orange) for the remainder of their trips.
- Southbound #36 buses will only operate as far south as State/Randolph before turning to begin northbound service. Customers wanting to continue traveling south can transfer at State/Lake and board either the Red Line (subway) or Loop Elevated lines (Brown, Green, Pink or Orange) for the remainder of their trips.
- Southbound #56 and #132 buses will travel along the regular route along Desplaines to Fulton then will operate via Fulton to Clinton/Lake before beginning northbound service. Customers can transfer to Green or Pink line trains at the Clinton/Lake elevated station. From Clinton/Lake, northbound #56 and #132 buses will travel via Clinton, Randolph to Jefferson.
Stay in the Loop on CTA Service
For timely system travel updates and alerts, check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA). For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
More info
See official information from the City of Chicago regarding the parade and rally, policies and restrictions, access to facilities and more:
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