The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient and affordable transit option for people traveling to events around Chicago, including Taste of Chicago at Grant Park.
The CTA encourages customers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. The CTA also 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 via the free Ventra app, at rail stations, online or at nearly 1,300 local retailers (for locations available or to download the free app, visit: 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 customers traveling to Taste of Chicago and other events throughout the city, the CTA will provide additional rail and bus service beginning Wednesday, July 6 and continuing through Sunday, July 10:
Rail Service
Red Line
Weekdays: longer trains will operate until midnight and more frequent service from 6 p.m. to
10 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: more frequent service from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Blue Line**
Weekdays/Saturday/Sunday: longer trains will operate until midnight.
Brown Line
Weekdays: longer trains will operate from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: longer trains will operate from 9 a.m. until midnight.
Orange Line
Weekdays: longer trains will operate from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: longer trains will operate from 9 a.m. until midnight.
Green Line
Weekdays: longer trains will operate from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
**Reminder: Forest Park-bound Blue Line trains will not be stopping at Irving Park due to ongoing construction. More info here: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/alert_detail.aspx?AlertId=34956</a>.
Bus Service
The following routes will provide extra bus service from approximately 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 6-8 and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 9-10:
#3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #J14 Jeffery Jump, #29 State, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #151 Sheridan.
Separately, buses will continue to be rerouted due to street closures associated with Taste of Chicago until approximately 4 p.m. Monday, July 11.
Northbound buses operating along the following routes will operate via Columbus, Roosevelt, and Michigan to Balbo: #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. The buses will operate southbound via Michigan and Roosevelt to Columbus.
More information here: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/alert_detail.aspx?AlertId=35272.
United Center Events
The CTA will operate the #19 United Center Express for customers attending upcoming concerts at the United Center.
- Saturday, July 9 at 8 p.m. – Sting and Peter Gabriel concert
- Sunday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. – Adele concert
- Monday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. – Adele concert
- Wednesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Adele concert
#19 United Center Express buses will leave from Michigan and Randolph beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. until approximately one hour after the event ends. Buses will await customers on the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3.
Rail Service:
CTA’s Ashland/Lake station, served by the Green and Pink lines, is located a few blocks northeast of the United Center. Customers exiting at the station can transfer to #9 Ashland buses or simply walk a few blocks to the stadium. Customers 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.
U.S. Women's National Team vs. South Africa soccer match at Soldier Field
To accommodate fans attending the U.S. Women’s National Team vs. South Africa soccer match at Soldier Field on Saturday July 9, CTA will provide additional bus service on the #130 Museum Campus and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes.
For both events, the extra service on #130 and #146 will run until approximately one hour after the events 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.
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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