Ravenswood Connector track work to reroute Brown Line trains next two weekends; free bus shuttles will serve affected stations
The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient and affordable transit option for those traveling to events around Chicago this weekend, including the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park and the Taylor Swift concerts at Soldier Field.
In addition, work associated with the Ravenswood Connector Rehabilitation Project resumes this weekend, making it necessary to temporarily reroute Brown Line trains between Armitage and the Loop to the Red Line subway beginning 8 p.m. Friday, July 17 until 4 a.m. Monday, July 20.
The CTA recommends that passengers leaving the Pitchfork Festival traveling north of Fullerton take Green/Pink line trains to State/Lake and transfer to Brown Line trains in the State Street Subway rather than taking the shuttle bus from Clark/Lake.
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.
Customers should allow extra travel time when heading to/from the following events:
RAIL SERVICE:
Red Line
Friday - Sunday: Longer trains will operate until 12 a.m. In addition, longer trains will operate from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Saturday only from Howard for the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll 5K.
Blue Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate until at least 11:30 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 11 a.m. until at least 11:30 p.m.
Green Line
Friday - Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 11 a.m. until at least 11:30 p.m.
Pink Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate from 8 p.m. until at least 11:30 p.m. Trains will operate with increased frequency beginning at 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. from 54th/Cermak.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate from 11 a.m. until at least 11:30 p.m. Trains will operate with increased frequency beginning at 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. from 54th/Cermak.
Pitchfork Music Festival
To accommodate additional ridership for the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park, the CTA will provide extra bus and rail service throughout the weekend. The #9 Ashland will provide additional service from Union Park each night beginning at 8 p.m.
Concertgoers can get to Union Park via the #9, #20 Madison or #50 Damen bus routes, or by taking the Green or Pink lines to the Ashland and Morgan stations.
Riders are advised that the regular #9 Ashland northbound stop at Ashland/Washington will be temporarily out of service due to vendor parking for the festival. Riders should use stops at Ashland/Washington or Ashland/Lake instead.
Passengers leaving Pitchfork traveling north of Fullerton are recommended to take Green/Pink line trains to State/Lake and transfer to Brown or Red Line trains in the State Street Subway rather than taking the shuttle bus from Clark/Lake.
Taylor Swift Concerts
To accommodate ridership for the Taylor Swift concerts at Soldier Field, CTA will operate additional bus service along the #130 Museum Campus and the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. #130 service will begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. and conclude approximately one hour after the concerts end both nights. #146 service will begin at approximately 3:45 p.m. and concludes approximately one hour after the concerts end both nights.
Ravenswood Connector Track Work
The Ravenswood Connector Rehabilitation project will provide smoother, more reliable rides for the more than 40,000 customers who ride Purple Line Express and Brown Line trains each weekday.
On Friday, the last Loop-bound Brown Line train operating on the elevated tracks will depart the Fullerton station at 7:20 p.m., and depart Washington/Wells at 7:35 p.m. for the return trip to Kimball.
The first Brown Line train operating via the subway on Friday will depart Fullerton at 7:29 p.m. to Roosevelt, and the first Kimball-bound train will depart Roosevelt at 7:57 p.m.
Brown Line trains will operate normally between Kimball and Fullerton. Customers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
Service to/from Armitage, Sedgwick, Chicago and Merchandise Mart
For customers who wish to board or exit from the Armitage, Sedgwick, Chicago and Merchandise Mart Brown Line stations this weekend, free shuttle buses will operate in both directions between Fullerton and Clark/Lake, making stops at or near the affected stations. For more information on weekend shuttle service, please visit: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/alert_detail.aspx?AlertId=29225.
Loop Elevated Shuttle Train
For customers in the downtown/Loop area, a shuttle train will operate around the Loop for connections to Brown Line service in the subway and the free shuttle buses at Clark/Lake. Customers can board this shuttle train at any Loop elevated station from the Outer Loop platform, which is normally served by Brown Line trains.
This work will require five additional temporary, weekend-only reroutes of Brown Line trains to the Red Line subway, which are scheduled through fall 2015. Weather permitting, the next weekend reroute of Brown Line trains will occur in July, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday,
July 24 through 4 a.m. Monday, July 27.
For more information about the Ravenswood Connector project, visit http://www.transitchicago.com/ravenswoodconnector.
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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