NOTE: CTA will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Friday, July 3; Bus reroutes will begin this Thursday for Taste of Chicago Set-Up
The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient and affordable transit option for those traveling to events downtown during the holiday weekend, including the Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier and the Grateful Dead concerts at Soldier Field.
To accommodate customers who are traveling to events throughout the city, the CTA will provide additional rail service beginning early morning Friday and continuing through the weekend. In addition, increased bus service will be provided along routes serving Navy Pier, downtown Loop and lakefront areas.
Customers are reminded that buses and trains will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Friday, July 3, 2015, when Independence Day is observed. Service will operate on a normal Saturday schedule on Saturday, July 4, 2015 with some additional service.
The CTA strongly recommends that customers purchase fares in advance to 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). 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.
NOTE: In anticipation of heavier-than-normal crowds on Saturday, July 4, the CTA will require that all strollers and carts be folded prior to boarding buses and trains.
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.)
Customers should allow extra travel time when heading to/from the following events:
RAIL SERVICE
Red Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate until 1 a.m.
Saturday: Longer trains will operate beginning with the start of service until 1 a.m.; more frequent service will be provided from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Sunday: Longer trains will operate until 1 a.m.
Blue Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate beginning 5 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Saturday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. In addition, trains will run more frequently from approximately 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.
Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until midnight.
Brown Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate during all service hours.
Saturday: Longer trains will operate beginning at 4 p.m. until end of service; more frequent service will be provided from 6:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Sunday: Longer trains will operate beginning at 4 p.m. until end of service.
Green Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate during all service hours.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until end of service.
Orange Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate during all service hours.
Saturday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until the end of service. In addition, trains will run more frequently from 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until end of service.
Pink Line
Saturday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until end of service.
Purple Line
Saturday: Longer trains will operate from 4 p.m. until end of service.
Navy Pier Fireworks
The following routes that regularly serve Navy Pier will provide extra service on Saturday night for one hour after the fireworks end or as crowds warrant: #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier.
Additional bus service also will be provided on the following routes serving the downtown lakefront area: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #12 Roosevelt and the J14 Jeffery Jump.
In addition, the Navy Pier Terminal will be closed Saturday, July 4, from 7:45 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. to regularly scheduled bus service due to the Navy Pier Fireworks Event. As a result, the following reroutes will be in effect:
#29 State
Northbound buses will operate the regular route to Streeter/Grand then turn west on Grand to Peshtigo. Southbound buses will operate on their regular route from Grand/Peshtigo.
#65 Grand/#66 Chicago/#124 Navy Pier
Eastbound buses will operate regular route to Streeter/Grand then turn west on Grand to Peshtigo. Westbound buses will operate on their regular route from Grand/Peshtigo.
Additional reroutes may be implemented due to heavy pedestrian and traffic congestion. Following the fireworks, CTA customers at Navy Pier will be directed to buses awaiting them at the circular drive at the Pier. Having a dedicated space for buses will help CTA to board customers quickly and help mitigate congestion.
Grateful Dead Concerts
The following routes that regularly serve Soldier Field will provide extra service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Grateful Dead concerts: #130 and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express. The additional service will run until approximately one hour after the concerts end.
Customers also can travel to Soldier Field via Red, Orange or Green line trains. The Roosevelt station is located at Roosevelt and State, a few blocks west of the stadium.
This year customers departing the concert at Soldier Field will board extras service on routes #130 and #146 on Columbus between Balbo and Roosevelt due to street closures at Museum Campus Drive. The rerouting will begin at approximately 3 p.m.
Regular scheduled #130 and #146 service will terminate at Roosevelt and State.
Taste of Chicago 2015 Reroutes
From approximately 7 a.m. Thursday, July 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, six CTA bus routes will be detoured due to the closure of Columbus Drive between Roosevelt and Monroe; Monroe Drive between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive; Jackson Drive between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive; and Congress Parkway between Michigan and Columbus in preparation for the Taste of Chicago.
Buses operating along the following routes will be rerouted to adjacent streets to maintain service: #2 Hyde Park Express, #6 Jackson Park Express, #10 Museum of Science and Industry, #J14 Jeffery Express, #26 South Shore Express and #28 Stony Island.
#2 Hyde Park Express/#10 Museum of Science and Industry
Southbound #2 and #10 buses will travel over their regular routes to Balbo/Michigan then right on Michigan to Roosevelt, left on Roosevelt, and right on Columbus to continue regular route. Northbound #2 and #10 buses will travel the reverse route.
#6 Jackson Park Express
Northbound #6 buses will operate over the regular route to Columbus/Roosevelt then left on Roosevelt to Michigan, right on Michigan to Balbo to continue regular route. Southbound #6 buses will travel the reverse route.
#J14 Jeffery Jump/#26 South Shore Express/#28 Stony Island
Northbound #J14, #26 and #28 buses will travel over the regular route to Columbus/Roosevelt and then turn left on Roosevelt to Michigan, then North on Michigan to Balbo to continue regular route. Southbound #J14, #26 and #28 buses will travel the reverse route.
Taste of Chicago 2015 runs from July 8 to July 12 at Grant Park. Stay tuned for more information on getting to and from the festival using the CTA next week.
Stay in the Loop on CTA service
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. 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 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
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