Festival Attendees are Encouraged to Plan Ahead to Avoid Longer Waits
CTA bus and rail service is a convenient and affordable option for customers traveling to this weekend’s events, including the annual Chicago Blues Fest in Grant Park, the 2015 Spring Awakening music festival at Soldier Field, Ribfest along Lincoln Avenue, as well as next week’s Mumford & Sons Concert at Montrose Harbor and the Stanley Cup Final 2015: Lightning vs. Blackhawks game at the United Center.
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 hours. Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards.
To accommodate larger crowds traveling to and from events throughout the city this weekend, the CTA will operate longer trains along the Red, Blue, Brown and Orange lines during the following times:
Friday, June 12: beginning at evening rush period until at least 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 13: beginning at 11 a.m. until at least 11:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14: beginning at 11 a.m. until at least 11:30 p.m.
Customers should allow extra travel time when heading to/from the following events:
WEEKEND EVENTS
Chicago Blues Festival
To accommodate those heading to and from the Chicago Blues Fest at Grant Park this weekend, longer trains will operate along the Red, Blue, Brown and Orange lines. Festival-goers traveling along the Red or Blue lines should exit at Jackson and customers taking the elevated lines (Brown, Green, Orange and Pink) should exit at Adams/Wabash.
2015 Spring Awakening
For those attending the 2015 Spring Awakening music festival at Soldier Field, additional bus service will be provided on the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #130 Museum Campus bus routes. CTA’s Red, Orange and Green line trains provide a convenient connection to Soldier Field via the Roosevelt station (located at Roosevelt and State), a few blocks west of the stadium.
Ribfest Chicago
Longer trains will operate on the Red and Brown lines to help accommodate those traveling to the annual Ribfest on Lincoln Avenue this weekend. Attendees can get there by exiting at the Irving Park Brown Line station, which is approximately one block east of the event, or exiting at the Sheridan Red Line station and taking a westbound #80 Irving Park bus.
NEXT WEEK
Stanley Cup Final 2015: Lightning vs. Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center on Monday, June 17, for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final 2015. Fans can get to the “Madhouse on Madison” directly by bus or a short walk from either the Blue or Green/Pink lines. Game time is 7 p.m.
Bus Service: The #19 United Center Express, #20 Madison and #50 Damen bus routes provide direct service to the United Center. #19 buses will leave approximately every 15 minutes from Michigan and Randolph beginning 90 minutes before the start of the game. Following the game, customers can board #19 buses from the north side of the United Center near Gate 3 (eastbound on Madison), which will depart approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
Rail Service: CTA’s Ashland/Lake station served by Green and Pink lines is just a few blocks northeast of the United Center. Fans exiting at the station can transfer to #9 Ashland buses or simply walk a few blocks to the stadium. Fans taking the Blue Line can get to the United Center by exiting at the Illinois Medical District station and walking a few blocks north to the United Center.
Mumford & Sons Concert
The CTA will also provide additional service on its trains and buses for next week’s Mumford & Sons concert at Cricket Hill in Montrose Harbor Wednesday, June 17. Additional bus service will be provided along the #78 Montrose, #81 Lawrence and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes beginning at approximately 4 p.m. until one hour after the concert ends. Extra rail service will also be provided on the Red Line. The lakefront park is roughly two blocks east of the Wilson Red Line station.
PLAN AHEAD
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for timely system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
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