NOTE: All CTA bus and rail service will operate on a regular weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve – Friday, December 31 – and on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on New Year’s Day – Saturday, January 1.
Blue Line – Other Events Affecting Service
Late Night Trains to Operate on the Same Tracks at Addison and Belmont
All late night Blue Line trains will be routed to operate on the northbound (to O’Hare) tracks at the Addison and Belmont stations from 11 p.m. each night until 4 a.m. the following morning beginning Sunday, January 2 through Friday morning, January 7, due to sewer cleaning in the subway.
Blue Line customers at the Addison and Belmont stations traveling southbound (to Forest Park) must board and exit trains from the northbound (to O’Hare) side of the platform.
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
Service for Upcoming Events
It’s Common Cents! Take CTA to Your New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Those headed out to holiday celebrations on New Year’s Eve are encouraged to take advantage of the convenience of CTA service. The agency once again will provide rides on all CTA buses and trains for one penny, beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 31 until 6 a.m. Saturday, January 1.
Later service hours also will be in effect on several bus and rail routes making CTA a convenient, safe and affordable travel alternative for those out celebrating the New Year.
CTA Service to Events at the United Center
CTA will operate its #19 United Center Express for those attending these upcoming events at the United Center:
- Thursday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m. – San Jose Sharks versus Blackhawks
- Friday, December 31 at 2 p.m. – New Jersey Nets versus Bulls
- Saturday, January 1 at 6 p.m. – Cleveland Cavaliers versus Bulls
- Tuesday, January 4 at 7 p.m. – Toronto Raptors versus Bulls
- Wednesday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. – Dallas Stars versus Blackhawks
Buses will leave every 12-15 minutes from Michigan and Randolph beginning 90 minutes before the start of each event. When the event ends, #19 buses will depart the United Center approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
#19 buses make all stops on Madison from Wabash to Clinton. From Clinton, #19 buses run express to the United Center.
After each event, #19 buses will await customers on the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3. On the return trip, #19 buses will operate east on Washington to Wacker, then head south to Monroe and east to Michigan, making all stops from Jefferson to Michigan before turning north on Michigan and making the final stop at Randolph.
Holiday Hours in Effect on #10 Museum of Science & Industry Bus Route
Hours of operation along the #10 Museum of Science & Industry route will be extended through Friday, December 31, 2010 to accommodate extended hours at the Museum of Science & Industry, which will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Service on the #10 will begin operating from Chestnut/Mies van der Rohe each morning approximately 30 minutes prior to the Museum of Science & Industry opening and the last bus will depart from the museum approximately 30 minutes after closing.
New/Updated Changes in Bus Service
UPDATE: Water Main Construction Project to Detour #56A North Milwaukee Buses
Currently in effect until Friday, January 7, short-run #56A North Milwaukee buses will not operate to Devon/Avondale due to the closure of Devon Avenue between Newcastle and Oak Park for a water main construction project. All buses will operate to the Milwaukee/Imlay terminal.
Service Changes for 13 CTA Bus Routes due to Wacker Drive Construction
Thirteen CTA bus routes that operate on or near Wacker Drive will undergo service changes at the start of service on Monday, January 3.
Construction on Wacker Drive will result in a number of street closures that affect service on the #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick, #19 United Center Express, #20 Madison, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th, #120 Ogilvie/Wacker Express, #121 Union/Wacker Express, #122 Illinois Center/Ogilvie Express, #123 Illinois Center/Union Express, #124 Navy Pier, #125 Water Tower Express, #129 West Loop/South Loop and the #157 Streeterville/Taylor.
Ongoing Bus Service Changes
Bridge Work Detours #26 South Shore Express and #30 South Chicago buses
Currently in effect until Friday, December 31, #26 South Shore Express and #30 South Chicago buses are being rerouted due to the closure of the Ewing Street Bridge over the Calumet River for repair work.
Northbound #26 and #30 buses are traveling over the regular route along Ewing to 95th Street then are operating via 95th Street, South Chicago, Harbor, Mackinaw to 91st Street and continuing west on 91st Street over the regular route.
Southbound #26 and #30 buses are traveling over the regular route along 91st Street to Mackinaw then are operating via Mackinaw, Harbor, South Chicago, 95th Street to Ewing and continuing south on Ewing over the regular route.
#94 South California Buses Detoured Due to a Viaduct Construction Project
Currently in effect until approximately 4 p.m. Friday, December 31, #94 South California buses are being detoured due to the temporary closure of California Avenue between Taylor and Fillmore for construction work on a nearby viaduct.
Northbound #94 buses are traveling over the regular route along California to Roosevelt then are operating via Roosevelt, Sacramento, Harrison to California and resuming the regular route. Southbound #94 buses are traveling the reverse route.
Temporary Relocation of #76 Diversey Bus Stop at Diversey/Seminary
Currently in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday, January 13, the eastbound near side stop at Diversey/Seminary will be temporarily removed from service due to the demolition of a nearby building. This stop is served by #76 Diversey buses.
Temporary Removal of Bus Stop Near the Wilson Red Line Station
Currently in effect until further notice, the eastbound far side bus stop at Wilson/Racine has been temporarily removed from service due to a sidewalk replacement project. The temporary removal of this bus stop affects customers who board and alight eastbound #78 Montrose and southbound #145 Wilson/Michigan Express and #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express buses.
#52A South Kedzie Buses Detoured at Kedzie/67th Street
Currently in effect until further notice, #52A South Kedzie buses are being detoured due to weight restrictions on the Kedzie Avenue Bridge at 67th Street.
Southbound #52A buses are traveling over the regular route along Kedzie to 67th Street then are operating via 67th Street, California, 71st Street to Kedzie and then resuming the regular route. Northbound #52A buses are traveling the reverse route.
Lane Restrictions near State and Grand Detour #29 State and #36 Broadway Buses
Due to lane restrictions associated with the Grand/State Red Line rehabilitation project at the northwest corner of State and Grand, #29 State and #36 Broadway buses are being detoured to adjacent streets until further notice.
Southbound #29 buses are operating over the regular route along Grand past State to Clark then traveling via Clark, Illinois to State and resuming the regular route.
Northbound #29 buses are traveling along the remaining open lane along State and over the regular route.
Southbound #36 buses are traveling over the regular route along State to Ontario then are operating via Ontario, Clark, Illinois to State and resuming the regular route. Northbound #36 buses are operating over the regular route along Dearborn past Illinois to Ohio then traveling via Ohio to State and resuming the regular route.
Temporary Changes in Service for #21 Cermak and #62 Archer Buses Serving the Cermak-Chinatown Station
Currently in effect, customers at the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line station must use the new entrance located on Archer Avenue approximately one block north of Cermak. This entrance is serving as the primary access point for customers while the main entrance to the station on the north side of Cermak is reconstructed and made accessible.
As a result of these changes, and to accommodate customers transferring between bus and rail services, the following changes have been made to buses serving the station:
#21 Cermak
Eastbound #21 Cermak buses are traveling over the regular route along Cermak to Wentworth then operating via Wentworth, Archer, Clark to Cermak and resuming the regular route. Westbound #21 buses are traveling the reverse route.
- Cermak/Wentworth: the near side stop at Cermak/Wentworth served by eastbound #21 buses has been temporarily removed from service.
- Wentworth/Cermak: new temporary stops have been added at Wentworth/Cermak for eastbound and westbound #21 buses. Eastbound customers must board and exit buses from the far side stop; westbound customers must board and exit buses from the near side stop.
- Cermak/Red Line Station: the mid-block stop near the Cermak Road entrance of the Cermak-Chinatown station has been temporarily removed from service.
- Archer/Red Line Station: eastbound #21 buses are serving the new temporary mid-block stop near the Archer Avenue entrance of the Cermak-Chinatown station.
- Wentworth/Archer: westbound #21 buses are serving the new temporary far side stop at Wentworth/Archer.
#62 Archer
- Archer/Wentworth: the northbound near side stop at Archer/Wentworth served by #62 buses has been removed from service.
- Archer/Red Line Station: northbound #62 buses are serving the new mid-block stop near the Archer Avenue entrance of the Cermak-Chinatown station.
Changes in Service along #8 Halsted Route for Bridge Reconstruction Project
Currently in effect until late-December 2011, Halsted Street between Division and the north branch of the Chicago River is closed due to a bridge reconstruction project.
Northbound #8 Halsted buses are traveling over the regular route along Halsted past Chicago to North Branch then are operating via North Branch, Cherry, Division to Halsted and then resuming the regular route. Southbound #8 buses are traveling the reverse route.
Changes to Bus Stops
- Halsted/North Branch: the northbound far side stop has been temporarily relocated to a far side stop on North Branch at Halsted.
- Halsted/Division: the southbound far side stop has been temporarily relocated to a near side stop.
Service Adjustments Due to the Congress/Wacker Construction Project
Due to the Congress/Wacker Construction Project, Franklin Street between Harrison and Van Buren and Lower Wacker Drive between Randolph and Harrison are closed until May 2012. As a result of these closures and other street reconfigurations, the following changes in bus service currently are in effect:
#11 Lincoln/Sedgwick
Northbound #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick buses are traveling over the regular route along Harrison to Canal then are operating via Canal, Jackson to Franklin and resuming the regular route. Southbound #11 buses are not affected and are traveling over the regular route.
The following temporary changes also have been made to bus stops served by northbound #11 buses:
- Canal/Harrison: a far side stop has been added to service.
- Canal/Jackson: a near side stop has been added to service.
- Jackson at the Chicago River: a near side stop has been added to service.
- 404 W. Harrison: the mid-block stop has been removed from service.
- Franklin/Van Buren: the far side stop has been removed from service.
#121 Union/Wacker Express
Northbound #121 Union/Wacker Express buses are operating over the regular route along Jackson past Wacker to Franklin then are traveling via Franklin, Lake, Post Place to Lower Wacker and then resuming the regular route.
Southbound #121 buses are operating over the regular route along Lower Wacker to the exit ramp for Upper Wacker and then traveling via Upper Wacker to Adams and resuming the regular route west on Adams.
From Union Station, northbound #135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express buses are traveling south on Wacker to Jackson then are traveling east on Jackson past Franklin and resuming the regular route.
The following temporary changes have been made to bus stops served by northbound #135 buses:
From Union Station, northbound #136 Sheridan/LaSalle buses are operating south on Wacker to Van Buren then are traveling via Van Buren, Canal to Jackson and resuming the regular route.
The following temporary changes have been made to bus stops served by northbound #136 buses:
During the evening rush period only, northbound #156 LaSalle buses departing from Union Station are traveling west on Van Buren to Wacker then are operating via Wacker to Jackson and resuming the regular route.
The following temporary bus stop change has been made and is in effect for northbound #156 buses during the evening rush period only: