The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient and affordable transit option for those traveling to events throughout Chicago this weekend. Additional service will be provided to accommodate customers heading to 2015 Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field, the Great Chicago Fire Festival at Northerly Island and the Northwestern vs. Ball State game at Ryan Field.
Also this weekend, work associated with the CTA’s Ravenswood Connector Rehabilitation Project will make it necessary to temporarily reroute Brown Line trains to the Red Line subway between Armitage and the Loop, beginning 8 p.m. Friday, September 25 until 4 a.m. Monday, September 28.
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.
2015 Chicago Football Classic & Great Chicago Fire Festival
The CTA will provide extra bus service on the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express route on Saturday, September 26 for those attending the 2015 Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field and the Great Chicago Fire Festival at Northerly Island. Extra service will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. and conclude approximately one hour after the events end.
Northwestern Football Season
The CTA will provide extra service for the 2015 Northwestern Football Season at Ryan Field including this Saturday’s game versus Ball State at 7 p.m. Extra rail service will be provided on the Purple Line beginning at approximately 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.
In general, for each Northwestern football home game at Ryan Field, the CTA will operate longer trains more frequently beginning three hours prior to kick-off time until approximately two hours following the end of the game.
Ryan Field is located just west of the Purple Line’s Central station in Evanston.
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.
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 Red Line 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 is the final weekend for the temporary Brown Line reroutes related to the Ravenswood Connector project. For more information on the project, please 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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