8/25/06
Additional Service Provided for Bears Pre-Season Game Friday Night
CTA will provide additional and later service on the #12 Roosevelt, #128 Soldier Field Express and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express for the Chicago Bears pre-season game Friday, August 25 against the Arizona Cardinals. The game begins at 7 p.m.
#12 Roosevelt will operate additional buses between State Street and Soldier Field.
#128 Soldier Field Express will operate non-stop between the Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and Soldier Field for the convenience of Bears fans. Service begins two hours before the game and continues for 30 minutes after kickoff. After the game, buses leave Soldier Field every few minutes for one hour.
The special fare for #128 buses is $1 for full-fare customers and 50 cents for reduced- fare customers. The exact cash fare is required to receive the special rate.
#146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express will operate additional buses to Soldier Field every few minutes for two hours before the game starts and one hour after the game ends.
In addition to the extra bus service, CTA will operate longer Red, Orange and Green Line trains for customers traveling to and from Soldier Field. The stations are at Roosevelt and State, a few blocks west of the stadium. CTA will operate longer trains and provide additional Customer Assistants at the Roosevelt Green and Orange Line elevated and the Red Line subway stations to assist customers.
Bus Service Improvements Take Effect Sunday and Monday
CTA will implement a new bus route and enhance 11 bus routes beginning this weekend as part of efforts to improve service for CTA customers.
CTA will enhance service on the #29 State, #34 South Michigan, #108 Halsted/95th, #134 Stockton/LaSalle Express, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #147 Outer Drive Express.
In addition, CTA is establishing a new route and enhancing existing bus routes in the Hyde Park neighborhood this weekend.
The new #174 U of C/Garfield route will be implemented Monday to provide direct rail station connections between the University and the Hospital and the Garfield Green Line and Garfield Red Line stations. CTA will also enhance service on the #170 U of C/Midway, #171 U of C/Hyde Park, #172 U of C/Kenwood and #173 U of C/Lakeview Express.
(See August 9 press release for details.)
Clark Junction Track and Signal Renewal:
CTA is currently working to upgrade crossover tracks and signals throughout the Clark Junction corridor, the busy location where Brown, Red and Purple Line trains converge just north of Belmont on the City's North Side. The upgrade to the 100-year-old junction will bring new signals and additional connections between tracks to allow trains to cross over to adjacent tracks.
Brown and Red Line Customers Should Allow Extra Travel Time This Weekend
Construction work planned for this weekend will require reroutes of northbound Brown Line and Red Line trains beginning early Saturday morning. Southbound service will not be affected. The construction work could cause delays in service so customers are advised to allow extra travel time. Several major construction projects are currently underway on the rail system and CTA is working to minimize the impact on customers while coordinating efforts to accommodate multiple construction crews.
Brown Line Service
1 a.m. Saturday, August 26 to 2 a.m. Sunday, August 27 ? At Belmont, northbound Brown Line trains will share the track with southbound Brown Line trains. Customers will board northbound Brown Line trains on the same platform (far west) as southbound Brown Line customers.
Northbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at the Wellington and Diversey station platforms during these hours. Customers who wish to exit at these stations will need to travel to the Belmont station and transfer to a southbound Brown Line train to travel back to these stations.
2 a.m. Sunday, August 27 to 4 a.m., Monday, August 28 ? At Belmont, northbound Brown Line trains will share the track with northbound Red Line trains. Customers will board northbound Brown Line trains on the same side of the platform (west) as northbound Red Line customers.
Red Line Service
1 a.m. Saturday, August 26 to 2 a.m. Sunday, August 27 ? At Belmont, northbound Red Line trains will operate on northbound Brown Line tracks.
Customers will board northbound Red Line trains on the east side of the platform where northbound Brown Line customers normally board. (See separate release.)
Blue Line Signal Upgrade:
CTA is working to upgrade approximately 20 miles of the existing 40-year-old train control system and power supply equipment from the Forest Park terminal of the Blue Line Forest Park branch through the Dearborn subway to the Jefferson Park station of the Blue Line O'Hare branch.
These systems ensure the safe operation and movement of trains and the appropriate speed and distance between trains as well as help CTA personnel manage rail service in the event of an emergency. The upgraded signal system will result in improved reliability of service for Blue Line customers, and also includes upgrades to the power cables and communication system needed to connect the Red Line State Street subway and Blue Line Dearborn Street subway.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Blue Line Forest Park Branch This Weekend
A three-phase single track will be in effect between the Pulaski and Austin stations Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26.
From 11 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday, the single track will be in effect between the Cicero and Austin stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Austin station must board on the south side of the platform.
From 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Saturday, the single track will be in effect between the Pulaski and Austin stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Pulaski, Cicero and Austin stations must board on the south side of the platform.
From 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday, the single track will be in effect between the Cicero and Austin stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Austin station will board on the south side of the platform.
There will also be a three-phase single track between the Pulaski and Austin stations Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27.
From 11 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday, the single track will be in effect between the Pulaski and Cicero stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Pulaski and Cicero stations must board on the north side of the platform.
From 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday, the single track will be in effect between the Pulaski and Austin stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Pulaski, Cicero and Austin stations must board on the north side of the platform.
From 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Sunday, the single track will be in effect between the Pulaski and Cicero stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Pulaski and Cicero stations must board on the north side of the platform.
Customers should allow extra travel time.
Red Line - Dan Ryan Branch Rehabilitation:
CTA is working to replace track, power and signal systems and upgrade stations along the branch. When the work is completed, customers will experience more reliable service and modern station amenities.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Red Line This Weekend
A single track will be in effect between 33rd and Garfield from 11 p.m. Friday, August 25 until 8 a.m. Saturday, August 26. North and southbound customers boarding at the Sox-35th and 47th stations must board on the east side of the platform.
A single track will be in effect between Garfield and 69th from 11 p.m. Saturday, August 26 until noon Sunday, August 27. North and southbound customers boarding at the Garfield and 63rd stations must board on the east side of the platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Red Line Next Week
A single track will be in effect between 33rd and 45th from 11 p.m. Monday, August 28 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, August 29. North and southbound customers boarding at the Sox-35th station must board on the east side of the platform.
A single track will be in effect between Garfield and 63rd from 11 p.m. Tuesday, August 29 until 4 a.m. Wednesday, August 30 and again in the same location, during the same hours Wednesday and Thursday nights, August 30 and August 31. On Wednesday, north and southbound customers boarding at the Garfield station must board on the west side of the platform. On Thursday, customers must board on the east side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect on Orange Line Thursday and Friday
A single track will be in effect between Western and Kedzie from 9 p.m. Friday, August 25 until 4 a.m. Saturday, August 26. There will be no changes to boarding locations. Customers should allow extra travel time.
CTA Enhances #78 Montrose Bus Service
The northbound portion of the #78 Montrose bus route is now operating northbound on Broadway instead of operating on Clarendon between Montrose and Wilson to tailor service to customer travel patterns. The change will better serve customers shopping at major retailers on Montrose.
The #78 operates seven days a week between the western city limits at Harlem and Forest Preserve, and Marine Drive on the east. On weekends and holidays from mid-May through Labor Day, eastbound service is extended to Montrose beach.
Dearborn Bridge Temporarily Closes for Maintenance Friday
The Dearborn bridge will close from 11 p.m. Friday, August 25 until 6 a.m. Saturday, August 26. Northbound #22 Clark and #36 Broadway buses will operate via Dearborn, Wacker, State, Hubbard, back to Dearborn, then resume the regular route. Northbound #62 Archer buses will operate via Dearborn, Wacker, LaSalle, Kinzie, State, then resume the regular route.
Columbus Drive Closes for Triathlon Beginning Saturday
Columbus will be closed between Roosevelt and Balbo from 2 p.m. Saturday, August 26 until 7 p.m. Sunday, August 27 for the Accenture Chicago Triathlon.
Beginning Saturday, northbound #6 Jackson Park Express, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #14 Jeffery Express, #130 Grant Park Treasures and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express buses will operate via Columbus, Roosevelt to Michigan, then resume the regular route. Southbound buses will operate via Michigan, Roosevelt to Columbus, then resume the regular route.
Sunday's triathlon activities will begin at 6 a.m. During the running and biking portions of the race, there may be intermittent service delays or temporary reroutes of the above listed routes.
Columbus Bridge Temporarily Closes for Kid's Triathlon Saturday
The Columbus bridge will close from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. Saturday, August 26. Southbound #124 Navy Pier buses will operate via Grand, Lake Shore Drive, Lower Wacker to Columbus, then resume the regular route.
Northbound buses will operate via Lower Columbus to Lower Wacker, Lake Shore Drive to Illinois, then resume the regular route.
State Street Closes for Helicopter Lift Sunday Morning
State Street will be closed between Adams and Washington from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Sunday, August 27. Buses on the #6 Jackson Park Express, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #14 Jeffery Express, #20 Madison, #29 State, #36 Broadway, #56 Milwaukee,#60 Blue Island, #62 Archer, #124 Navy Pier, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan routes will be rerouted to adjacent streets.
Madison Bridge Temporarily Closes for Maintenance Next Week
The Madison bridge will close from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 30. Westbound #20 Madison and northbound #56 Milwaukee buses will be operate via Madison to Wacker, Randolph, Clinton, back to Madison, then resume the regular route.
Westbound #60 Blue Island/26th buses will operate via Madison to Wacker, Randolph, Clinton, Madison, then resume the regular route.
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