CTA

Events Affecting CTA Service Beginning the Weekend of December 4-6

December 4, 2009

Blue Line – Slow Zone Work

Rail Service Temporarily Suspended in Blue Line’s Dearborn Subway This Weekend

Rail service between the Blue Line’s Clark/Lake and UIC-Halsted stations temporarily will be suspended from 10 p.m. Friday, December 4 until 4 a.m. Monday, December 7, as work to replace track in the south end of the Dearborn subway continues this weekend.
 
Bus shuttles will operate as a substitute for rail service making stops adjacent to the Clark/Lake, Washington, Monroe, Jackson, LaSalle, Clinton and UIC-Halsted stations. Southbound buses will travel along Clark and Van Buren and northbound buses will operate via Harrison and Dearborn.
 
Due to the temporary closure of the northbound lanes along Halsted, northbound and southbound shuttle buses will be rerouted from Halsted at the Halsted entrance of the UIC-Halsted station. Customers can board northbound shuttle buses at a near side service stop on Harrison at Halsted and southbound shuttle buses at the near side stop on Van Buren at Halsted.
 
Both the Clark/Lake and UIC-Halsted stations are accessible to customers with disabilities.
 
Trains will operate normally from Forest Park to UIC-Halsted and from O’Hare to Clark/Lake. Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. 
 

Monday Night: Two-Phase Single Track between Kedzie-Homan and Racine

Eastbound Blue Line trains will undergo a two-phase late night single track between the Kedzie-Homan and Racine stations on the Forest Park branch beginning Monday night.
 
Phase I – Western to Racine
From 9 p.m. Monday, December 7 until 1 a.m. the following morning, eastbound Blue Line customers at the Illinois-Medical District and Racine stations must board and exit trains from the westbound side of the platform.
 
Phase II – Kedzie-Homan to Racine
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Tuesday morning, December 8, eastbound Blue Line customers at the Western, Illinois-Medical District and Racine stations must board and exit trains from the westbound side of the platform.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 

Tuesday Night: Two-Phase Single Track between Racine and Kedzie-Homan

Westbound Blue Line trains will undergo a two-phase late night single track between the Racine and Kedzie-Homan stations on the Forest Park branch beginning Tuesday night.
 
Phase I – Racine to Western
From 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 8 until 1 a.m. the following morning, westbound Blue Line customers at the Racine and Illinois-Medical District stations must board and exit trains from the eastbound side of the platform.
 
Phase II – Racine to Kedzie-Homan
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, December 9, westbound Blue Line customers at the Racine, Illinois-Medical District and Western stations must board and exit trains from the eastbound side of the platform.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 

Wednesday Night: Two-Phase Single Track between Kedzie-Homan and Western

Eastbound Blue Line trains will undergo a two-phase late night single track between the Kedzie-Homan and Western stations on the Forest Park branch beginning Wednesday night.
 
Phase I – at Western
From 9 p.m. Wednesday, December 9 until 1 a.m. the following morning, eastbound Blue Line customers at the Western station must board and exit trains from the westbound side of the platform.
 
Phase II – Kedzie-Homan and Western
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Thursday morning, December 10, eastbound Blue Line customers at the Kedzie-Homan and Western stations must board and exit trains from the westbound side of the platform.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 

Thursday Night: Two-Phase Single Track between Western and Kedzie-Homan

Westbound Blue Line trains will undergo a late night two-phase single track between the Western and Kedzie-Homan stations on the Forest Park branch beginning Thursday night.
 
Phase I – at Western
From 9 p.m. Thursday, December 10 until 1 a.m. the following morning, westbound Blue Line customers at the Western station must board and exit trains from the eastbound side of the platform.
 
Phase II – Western and Kedzie-Homan
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Friday morning, December 11, westbound Blue Line customers at the Western and Kedzie-Homan stations must board and exit trains from the eastbound side of the platform.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 

Green Line – Slow Zone Work

Shuttle Trains to Serve Stations on the Ashland Branch of the Green Line

Due to track renewal work on the Ashland/63rd Street branch of the Green Line, a shuttle train will operate between the Ashland/63rd and Garfield stations from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, December 5.
 
Southbound customers traveling to the Harlem and Ashland/63rd stations must transfer at the Garfield station and switch platforms to board and exit the shuttle train from the northbound platform. Customers traveling from the Halsted and Ashland/63rd stations must transfer at the Garfield station to board a regular northbound (Harlem/Lake-bound) train towards downtown.
 
Northbound and southbound Green Line trains will operate normally between the Harlem/Lake and the East 63rd/Cottage Grove stations.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 
Next Week – Tuesday through Friday
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day beginning Tuesday, December 8 through Friday, December 11, a daytime shuttle will operate between the Ashland/63rd and Garfield stations as track renewal work continues.
 
During these times, southbound customers traveling to the Harlem and Ashland/63rd stations must transfer at the Garfield station and switch platforms to board and exit the shuttle train from the northbound platform. Customers traveling from the Halsted and Ashland/63rd stations must transfer at the Garfield station to board a regular northbound (Harlem/Lake-bound) train towards downtown.
 
Northbound and southbound Green Line trains will operate normally between the Harlem/Lake and the East 63rd/Cottage Grove stations.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.
 

Red Line – Slow Zone Work

Trains Rerouted at the Sheridan Station This Saturday and Next Week

Northbound and southbound Red Line trains will be rerouted at the Sheridan station from 6 a.m. Saturday, December 5 until 6 p.m. Sunday, December 6, while crews replace deteriorated rail ties, tie plates and spikes.
 
During this time, northbound and southbound Red Line trains will operate on the Purple Express tracks. Customers at the Sheridan station must board and exit trains from the outer platforms instead of the inner platforms.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time.
 
Next Week
Work to reduce slow zones near the Sheridan Red Line station continues next week resulting in a reroute of northbound and southbound trains from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. each day beginning Tuesday, December 8 through Friday, December 11.
 
During these times, northbound and southbound Red Line trains will operate on the Purple Express tracks. Customers at the Sheridan station must board and exit trains from the outer platforms instead of the inner platforms.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time.
 

Additional Service for Special Events

#19 United Center Express Serves Upcoming Events

CTA will operate its #19 United Center Express buses for the following events at the United Center:
 
  • Saturday, December 5 at 7 p.m. – Toronto Raptors versus Bulls
  • Tuesday, December 8 at 7 p.m. – New Jersey Nets versus Bulls
  • Wednesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. – New York Rangers versus Blackhawks
  • Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m. – Golden State Warriors versus Bulls
 
Buses will leave every 10 minutes from Michigan and Randolph beginning 90 minutes before the start of each event until the event begins.  When the event ends, #19 buses will depart the United Center approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
 
#19 buses no longer make stops along Michigan Avenue north of Randolph, but continue to make all stops on Madison from Wabash to Clinton.  From Clinton, #19 buses run express to the United Center.
 
After each game, #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.
 

Post-Event Service Provided on #19 United Center Express for Star Wars Concerts This Weekend

CTA will operate #19 United Center Express buses for concert attendees leaving the two Star Wars concerts this Sunday, December 6. Service to the United Center prior to the start of the concerts will not be provided along the #19 route. The first concert will begin at 1 p.m. and is expected to conclude at approximately 3 p.m. and the second concert will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at approximately 8 p.m.
 
At the end of each concert, #19 buses will depart the United Center approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
 
Following the concerts, customers can board #19 buses from the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3.  From the United Center #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.
 

CTA Provides Service for Bears Game

The #128 Soldier Field Express and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express are convenient travel options for fans heading to the Bears game on Sunday, December 6, versus the St. Louis Rams. Kickoff is at noon.  
 
The #128 Soldier Field Express operates non-stop between the Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and Soldier Field. Service will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. After the game, buses will leave Soldier Field every few minutes for approximately one hour.
 
The fare for #128 buses is $1 for full-fare customers. The exact cash fare is required to receive the special rate.
 
In addition, Red, Orange and Green line trains serve customers traveling to and from Soldier Field via the Roosevelt station a few blocks west of the stadium.
 
Buses Rerouted
In anticipation of heavy traffic along Roosevelt and Lake Shore Drive due to the football game at Soldier Field, four CTA bus routes will be detoured from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 6.
 
Southbound #6 Jackson Park Express and #10 Museum of Science & Industry buses will travel over their regular routes along Balbo to Michigan then will operate via Michigan, Cermak, King Drive, 31st Street to Lake Shore Drive and then resume their regular routes. Northbound #6 and #10 buses will travel the reverse route.
 
Southbound #14 Jeffery Express buses will operate over the regular route along Michigan past Balbo to Cermak then will operate via Cermak, King Drive, 31st Street to Lake Shore Drive and then resume the regular route. Northbound #14 buses will travel the reverse route.
 
Southbound #146 buses will travel over the regular route along Columbus to Lake Shore Drive then will operate via Lake Shore Drive, 18th Street to Museum Campus Drive and then resume the regular route.
 
Northbound #146 buses will travel over the regular route along Museum Campus Drive to Waldron then will operate via Waldron, Lake Shore Drive to Columbus and then resume the regular route.
 

Holiday Hours in Effect on #10 Museum of Science & Industry Bus Route

With the exception of December 25, hours of operation along the #10 Museum of Science & Industry route will be extended through Thursday, December 31, 2009. 
 
Service on the #10 will begin operating from Chestnut/Lake Shore Drive each morning approximately 30 minutes prior to the Museum of Science & Industry opening and the last bus will depart from the museum approximately 40 minutes after closing.
 
Also during this time, the Museum of Science & Industry will offer extended hours – open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Sundays – on the following dates:
 
  • Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6
  • Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13
  • Saturday, December 19 through Thursday, December 24
  • Saturday, December 26 through Thursday, December 31
 
The museum is closed on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25.
 

New/Updated Changes in Bus Service

Temporary Bus Stop Changes Due to Work Associated with Jackson Viaduct Project This Weekend

From 7 p.m. Friday, December 4 until 6 a.m. Monday, December 7, the three east lanes of Canal Street between Adams and Jackson will be closed to all traffic and the east sidewalk of Canal Street between Jackson and Van Buren also will be closed due to work associated with the Jackson Viaduct project. As a result of these closures, the following temporary changes will be made to the subsequent bus stops:
 
#1 Indiana/Hyde Park
  • Canal/Van Buren: the southbound far side stop served by #1 buses temporarily will be removed from service.
  • Canal/Jackson: the southbound far side stop served by #1 buses temporarily will be relocated to a near side stop at Canal/Adams.
 
#7 Harrison
  • Canal/Van Buren: the eastbound far side stop served by #7 buses temporarily will be removed from service.
  • Canal/Jackson: the eastbound far side stop served by #7 buses temporarily will be relocated to a near side stop at Canal/Adams.
 
#60 Blue Island/26th and #157 Streeterville/Taylor
The eastbound far side stop at Canal/Van Buren served by #60 and #157 buses temporarily will be removed from service.
 
#126 Jackson
The eastbound far side stop at Canal/Jackson served by #126 buses temporarily will be relocated a near side stop at Canal/Adams.
 
#156 LaSalle
The northbound far side stop at Canal/Jackson served by #156 buses temporarily will be relocated to a near side stop at Canal/Adams.

 

Temporary Changes to #8 Halsted Bus Stops This Weekend

From 10 p.m. Friday, December 4 until 4 a.m. Monday, December 7, the northbound lanes of Halsted Street between Harrison and Van Buren will be closed to all traffic due to work associated with the Dearborn Blue Line Subway project. As a result, the two southbound lanes temporarily will be reconfigured to allow for southbound and northbound traffic.
 
During this time, the following changes will be made to bus stops along the #8 Halsted route:
 
  • Halsted/Harrison: the northbound far side stop temporarily will be relocated to a near side stop.
  • Halsted/Van Buren: the near side stop temporarily will be removed from service.
 

Toys for Tots Parade May Cause Delays in Bus Service Along Western Avenue

The annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade will take place on Sunday, December 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The procession will depart from Western/83rd Street and travel northbound along Western Avenue to Lane Tech High School at Western/Addison.
 
During this time, all CTA buses will travel over their regular routes; however, delays can occur for all eastbound and westbound CTA buses that must cross Western Avenue between 83rd and Addison, as well as northbound #49 Western buses.
 
Customers are advised to allow extra travel time.
 

Temporary Changes to Bus Stops Near Sheridan/Foster

Effective at the start of service on Sunday, December 6 until Wednesday, March 17, the northbound near side stop at Sheridan/Foster temporarily will be removed from service due to the demolition and reconstruction of a nearby building. This stop is served by #136 Sheridan/LaSalle Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan buses.
 

Construction at 75th Street/South Shore Detours Five Routes

Effective from 7 a.m. Monday, December 7 until 4 p.m. Friday, December 11, the intersection of 75th Street/South Shore will be closed to all traffic due to construction.
 
Northbound #N5 South Shore Night Bus buses will travel over the regular route along South Shore Drive to 76th Street then will operate via 76th Street, Coles to 75th Street and then resume the regular route. Southbound #N5 buses will travel the reverse route.
 
Northbound #6 Jackson Park Express and #26 South Shore Express buses will operate over their regular routes along South Shore to 76th Street then will travel via 76th Street, Coles, 74th Street to South Shore and then resume their regular routes. Southbound #6 and #26 buses will travel the reverse route.
 
Southbound #71 71st/South Shore buses traveling to 112th/Torrence will operate over the regular route along 75th Street to Coles then will travel via Coles, 76th Street to South Shore and then resume the regular route. Northbound #71 buses will travel the reverse route.
 
Eastbound #75 74th/75th buses will operate over the regular route along 75th Street to Exchange then will travel via Exchange, 76th Street, Coles to 75th Street before turning to begin westbound service. Westbound #75 buses will depart from 75th Street/Coles and travel west along 75th Street over the regular route.
 

Ongoing Bus Reroutes

Street and Sewer Repairs Detour #96 Lunt Buses

Lunt Avenue between California and Western is closed to all traffic until 7 a.m. Monday, December 14, due to a sewer repair and street resurfacing project.
 
Westbound #96 Lunt buses will travel over the regular route along Lunt to Western then will operate via Western, Touhy past California and then resume the regular route along Touhy. Eastbound #96 buses will travel the reverse route.

 

Northbound #24 Wentworth Buses Detoured Due to LaSalle Street Bridge Work

LaSalle Street between 28th and 26th streets is closed to all traffic until early-January 2010, due to the reconstruction of the LaSalle Street Bridge. Northbound #24 Wentworth buses will operate over the regular route along LaSalle to 31st Street then will travel via 31st Street, State, 26th Street to Wentworth and then resume the regular route. Southbound #24 buses will travel over the regular route.
 
Changes to #24 Wentworth Bus Stops
Due to the reconstruction of the LaSalle Street Bridge, the following changes have been made to bus stops served by #24 Wentworth buses:
 
  • LaSalle/31st Street: the northbound far side stop has been relocated to a near side stop.
  • Wentworth/26th Street: the northbound near side stop has been relocated to a westbound near side stop at 26th Street/Wentworth.
 

Southbound #36 Broadway and #145 Wilson/Michigan Express Buses Detoured at Van Buren/Wells

Until 10 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 2010, southbound #36 Broadway and #145 Wilson/Michigan Express buses are being rerouted from the area of Van Buren/Wells due to work associated with the Wacker Drive Reconstruction project.
 
Southbound #36 and #145 buses will travel over their regular routes along Van Buren Street to Clark then will operate via Clark, Congress, Wells to Harrison before turning to begin northbound service. Northbound #36 and #145 buses will travel east along Harrison over the regular route.
 

Lane Restrictions near State and Grand Detour #29 State and #65 Grand Buses

Due to lane restrictions associated with the Grand/State Red Line rehabilitation project at the northwest corner of State Street and Grand Avenue, #29 State and #36 Broadway buses are being detoured to adjacent streets. These changes in service are expected to remain in place until April 2010.
 
Southbound #29 State buses will operate over the regular route along Grand past State to Clark then will travel via Clark, Illinois to State and then resume the regular route.
 
Northbound #29 buses are able to travel on the remaining open lane along State and will operate over its regular route.
 
Southbound #36 Broadway buses will travel over the regular route along State to Ontario then will operate via Ontario, Clark, Illinois to State and then resume the regular route. Northbound #36 buses will operate over the regular route along Dearborn past Illinois to Ohio then will travel via Ohio to State and then resume the regular route.
 

Temporary Removal of #66 Chicago Bus Stop

Currently in effect, the eastbound near side stop at Chicago/Clark served by #66 Chicago buses temporarily has been removed from service until Friday, April 30, 2010, due to construction.
 

14 CTA Bus Routes Affected Due to Jackson Viaduct Work

Due to the reconstruction of the Jackson Boulevard viaduct between Canal and Wacker, changes in service along 14 CTA bus routes are expected to remain in place until April 2010. The following CTA bus routes are being rerouted to adjacent streets:
 
#1 Indiana/Hyde Park
#126 Jackson
#7 Harrison
#129 West Loop/South Loop
#X28 Stony Island Express
#130 Museum Campus
#38 Ogden/Taylor
#132 Goose Island Express
#60 Blue Island/26th
#151 Sheridan
#121 Union/Wacker Express
#156 LaSalle
#123 Illinois Center/Union Express
#157 Streeterville
 
(see separate release  for details)

 

Temporary Relocation of #93 California/Dodge Bus Stop

Currently in effect until Thursday, May 27, 2010, the southbound curb-side lane of California Avenue at Granville is closed to all traffic due to construction. As a result of this lane closure, the southbound near side stop at California/Granville served by #93 California/Dodge buses temporarily has been relocated approximately 175 feet north.
 

Temporary Removal of #29 State Bus Stop at State/Pershing

Due to an underground construction project, the southbound far side stop at State/Pershing served by #29 State buses has been removed from service until Sunday, May 1, 2011.
 
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