CTA’s trains and buses are the best ways to get to various sporting events, concerts, the Windy City Smoke Out at United Center and the Gospel Musical Festival at Millennium Park; Weekend construction work to temporarily impact the Red and Brown Lines
Let CTA be your designated driver to the coolest events happening around town this weekend. Customers can save money by purchasing an unlimited rides pass, either the 1-Day ($5) – far more economical and convenient than the price of gas and parking - or the 3-Day ($15) pass – a real budget-saving move.
Service for Upcoming Events
Windy City Smoke Out
United Center – Thu. 7/10 and Fri. 7/11 at 2 p.m., Sat. 7/12 and Sun. 7/13 at 1 p.m.
Service:
- Rail: Take the Green Line and exit at the new Damen station or exit at the Ashland station from either a Green or Pink line train. Take the Blue Line and exit at the Illinois Medical District station (Damen entry/exit).
- Bus: Several CTA routes will provide the closest service to the event including the following:
- #9 Ashland
- #19 United Center Express
- #20 Madison
- #50 Damen
*Please note that the boarding location for the #19 United Center Express bus route will be at Madison and Paulina.
Some bus routes in the area will be rerouted during the event. Check out our website for more information: https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
Square Roots Fest
Lincoln Square, Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson – Fri. 7/11 at 5 p.m., Sat. 7/12 and Sun. 7/13 at 12 p.m.
Service:
- Rail: Take the Brown Line and exit at the Western station.
- Bus: Several CTA routes will provide the closest service to the festival including the following:
- #11 Lincoln
- #49 Western
- #49B North Western
- #81 Lawrence
For additional route information check our website: https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
The Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic
Jackson Park – Sat. 7/12 at 7 a.m.
Service:
- Bus: Several CTA routes will provide the closest service to the event including the following:
- #6 Jackson Park Express
- #15 Jeffery Local
- #28 Stony Island
- #63 63rd
The #63 63rd bus will be rerouted in the area. For additional route information check our website: https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Millennium Park – Sat. 7/12 at Noon
Service:
- Rail: All rail lines downtown will get you access to the festival.
- Loop Elevated: Exit at either Washington/Wabash or Adams/Wabash
- Red and Blue Lines: Exit at Jackson and walk a couple blocks east
- Bus: Several bus routes in the area will be rerouted. For additional route information check our website: https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
Soldier Field
- San Diego FC vs. Chicago Fire FC – Sat. 7/12 at 7:30 p.m.
Service:
- Rail: The Red, Orange and Green lines provide the closest access to Soldier Field. Exit at the Roosevelt station.
- Bus: Service on the #146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express route.
For additional route information riders should check our website: https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
Navy Pier Fireworks
Service on the #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago and #124 Navy Pier routes.
- Sat. 7/12 at 10 p.m.
- Wed. 7/16 at 9 p.m.
Rate Field:
- Cleveland Guardians vs. White Sox – Thu. 7/10 at 6:40 p.m., Fri. 7/11 at 7:10 p.m., Sat. 7/12 at 3:10 p.m., Sun. 7/13 at 1:10 p.m.
Service:
- Red Line: Rate Field is just one block west of the Sox-35th station.
- Green Line: The 35th-Bronzeville-IIT station is just three blocks east of the ballpark.
- #35 31st/35th: The #35 route (which connects with Orange and Green lines) is the main bus route providing service to the stadium and operates during all game times.
- Adjacent bus routes: Several CTA bus routes serve the ballpark area, including:
- #1 Bronzeville/Union Station (during Monday – Friday rush periods only)
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #24 Wentworth (which runs Monday – Friday to 8:30 p.m.)
- #29 State
- #31 31st (which runs Monday – Friday to 7 p.m.)
- #39 Pershing (which connects with Orange and Green lines)
- #44 Wallace/Racine
There is a possibility that service can be rerouted.
Beach Service
Now through mid-August, service to the lakefront has been expanded to weekdays and
will operate directly to Chicago’s beaches on the following bus routes:
Buses will operate to/from beaches between approximately 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Weekend Work to Temporarily Impact Red Line and Brown Line Service
- Between 10 p.m. on Fri. 7/11 and 4 a.m., Mon. 7/14, customers will board/exit Kimball-bound Brown Line trains on the Red Line side of the Howard-, Kimball- and Linden-bound platform at the Belmont station. (More details)
- Brown Line trains to Kimball will share the inside track with Red Line trains to Howard through Belmont station, which may result in minor delays.
- This service change is due to construction on the Kimball-bound Brown Line track north of Belmont station as part of the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) project.
Added Service on Five Bus Routes
CTA has expanded the hours of service and overnight routing on the following routes:
- #4 Cottage Grove
- More service on Sundays
- Overnight “Owl” service is also extended south from 63rd to 95th / Dyan Ryan Red Line Station
- #18 16th/18th Street
- Expanding service to 10:30pm daily
- #66 Chicago
- More service weekdays
- Overnight “Owl” service extended west from Pulaski to Austin
- #147 Outer DuSable Lakeshore Express
- Expanding to 11:30pm daily
- #157 Streeterville/Taylor
- Expanding service until 9:30pm on weekdays
Know before you go!
The CTA strongly recommends customers allow extra travel time and plan ahead by downloading the Ventra app, which allows you to manage your Ventra account, and also features a new trip planning tool powered by Google Maps.
Fare payment options: We offer a variety of convenient payment options—from smart devices to contactless credit cards. Learn more about payment options and ways you can maximize your dollars with our lower-priced unlimited-ride passes by visiting: transitchicago.com/fares/
Service updates: Stay in the loop on CTA service changes and alerts by subscribing to CTA Updates. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
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