Brown, Green and Pink line riders encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time due to weekend work affecting portions of service
The Chicago Transit Authority encourages customers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time when heading to events around Chicago this weekend. Additional bus and rail service will be provided to accommodate those heading to the Billy Joel concert and the Foo Fighters concert at Wrigley Field, as well as those affected by the weekend-long closure of I-290 and overnight closures on I-90/I-94 for Jane Byrne Interchange construction work by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Also, work on two separate projects is scheduled for this weekend, requiring the temporarily reroute of Brown Line trains between Armitage and the Loop to the Red Line subway, and the temporary suspension of early morning Green and Pink line service between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stations Saturday morning.
The CTA strongly recommends that customers traveling to and from events around Chicago this weekend 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.
Jane Byrne Flyover Work
In anticipation of increased ridership due to weekend closures affecting I-290 and I-90/I-94 for work associated with the Jane Byrne Interchange overhaul, the CTA will add additional rail service. Beginning the evening of Friday, August 28, the CTA will operate longer trains on the Red, Blue, Brown, Green and Pink lines.
Red Line: Longer trains will operate beginning at evening rush on Friday through morning rush on Monday.
Blue Line: Longer trains will operate beginning at evening rush on Friday through morning rush on Monday.
Brown Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate beginning at evening rush on Friday until approximately 2 a.m.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate throughout normal service hours.
Green Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate beginning at evening rush on Friday until approximately 1 a.m.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate throughout normal service hours.
Pink Line
Friday: Longer trains will operate from 9 p.m. until approximately 1 a.m.
Saturday/Sunday: Longer trains will operate throughout normal service hours.
CTA buses will follow normal routes though customers should expect delays due to added congestion. Passengers are encouraged to use CTA rail service when traveling downtown or to allow extra travel time.
For details on specific road closures, visit: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/.
Wrigley Field Concerts
To accommodate concert-goers heading to Wrigley Field for the Billy Joel concert at 8 p.m. Thursday and the Foo Fighters concert at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the CTA will provide additional service. On Thursday, the Red Line will operate with increased frequency from approximately 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. to assist with rush hour.
For both concerts the CTA will also provide additional service on the #80 Irving Park and the #152 Addison routes. On Thursday, extra service on the #80 begins at approximately 6 p.m. and on the #152 at approximately 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, extra service on the #80 begins at approximately 3 p.m. and on the #152 at approximately 2 p.m. For both nights, the extra service on the #80 and #152 will conclude approximately one hour after the concerts end.
Additional CTA bus routes also provide convenient service directly to Wrigley Field including the #8 Halsted and the #22 Clark.
Saturday AM: Green/Pink Lake Street Bridge Line Cut
On Saturday, beginning with the start of service (approx. 5 a.m.) until 10 a.m., Green and Pink line service between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stations will be temporarily suspended due to work on the Lake Street Bridge by the Chicago Department of Transportation.
During this time, CTA will provide a free bus shuttle service that will supplement Green/Pink Line service between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stations Harlem/Lake-bound customers at Clark/Lake can board the free bus shuttle from the northeast corner of LaSalle/Lake. Loop-bound customers at Clinton can board the free bus shuttle on the west side of Clinton Street south of Lake Street.
Green Line Service: Green Line trains will continue to operate in both directions, but in two sections: between Harlem/Lake and Clinton, and also between Ashland/63rd-Cottage Grove and the Loop. In the Loop, Green Line trains will follow Orange Line trains clockwise, first stopping at Harold Washington Library before continuing on to Ashland/63rd and Cottage Grove.
Pink Line Service: Pink Line trains will also continue to operate in both directions between 54th/Cermak and Clinton; however, there will be no Pink Line service in the Loop during the temporary line cut.
Service in the Loop: a shuttle train will be operating counterclockwise around the Loop, making all stops.
Regular Green and Pink line service will resume at approximately 10 a.m. For more information visit, transitchicago.com/alerts.
Ravenswood Connector Track Work
Work on the Ravenswood Connector Rehabilitation Project continues this weekend. 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.
Once completed, the rehabilitation will provide smoother, more reliable rides for the more than 40,000 customers who ride Purple Line Express and Brown Line trains each weekday.
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=29863.
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.
The Ravenswood Loop Connector work will require three 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 begin at 8 p.m. Friday, September 11 through 4 a.m. Monday, September 14.
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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