Events Affecting CTA Service Beginning the Weekend of May 12 - 14

Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project:
CTA is working to expand capacity on the Brown Line. When the work is completed, customers will benefit from longer trains during rush hour and accessible, modern stations and platforms.

Throughout the Brown Line construction project, slow zones and single track operation are periodically necessary near construction activity so, as a general rule, rail customers should allow extra travel time.

Kimball and Francisco Station to Temporarily Close Saturday, May 13
The Kimball and Francisco stations on the Brown Line will temporarily close from 3 a.m. Saturday, May 13 until 5 a.m. Sunday, May 14.

During the Saturday closure of Kimball and Francisco, Brown Line trains will operate between the Loop and Western station. Bus shuttle service is provided to customers free of charge from Western station to Kimball station during regular Brown Line hours as a substitute for rail service. The bus shuttle makes stops at the Western station, Rockwell and Lawrence, Sacramento and Lawrence, Kedzie and Lawrence, Kedzie and Wilson, and at the Kimball station. (See separate release.)

Wells Street Bridge Closure Impacts Brown Line Service Sunday Morning
For three hours Sunday morning, maintenance on the Wells Street Bridge will close the bridge to Brown Line service from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 14. CTA will provide a bus shuttle between the Merchandise Mart and Clark/Lake station in the Loop during those hours.

A Brown Line shuttle train will serve all Loop elevated stations from 7:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Brown Line trains will continue to operate from Kimball to the Merchandise Mart. Normal Brown Line service will resume at 10 a.m.

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. While the majority of work underway takes place on weekends and during non-rush periods, there are periodic slow zones due to the presence of construction crews in the area. As a general rule, customers should allow extra travel time.

Northbound Brown Line Trains to Share Red Line Tracks at Fullerton, Belmont, Diversey and Wellington Stations
From 1 a.m. Saturday, May 13 until 4 a.m. Monday, May 15 northbound Brown Line trains will share tracks with northbound Red Line trains.

Northbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at Wellington and Diversey platforms during these hours.

Northbound Brown Line customers who wish to exit at these stations will need to travel to the Belmont station and transfer to a southbound Brown Line train back to these stations.

Northbound customers who wish to board at the Wellington or Diversey station will need to board a southbound train and exit at Fullerton to board a northbound Brown Line train.

Northbound Brown Line trains will stop on the Red Line (west) side of the platform at the Belmont and Fullerton stations during these hours.

Northbound Red Line trains will make normal stops.

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 as part of the Block 37 project.

Single Track in Effect on Blue Line O'Hare Branch Over Weekend

A three-phase single track will be in effect between Jefferson Park and Addison stations over the weekend for O'Hare branch Blue Line trains.

A single track will be in effect between Montrose and Addison from 10 p.m. Friday, May 12 until 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13 and from Jefferson Park to Addison from 10 p.m. Saturday, May 13 to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 14. 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.

Single Track in Effect Thursday
Single track service will be in effect between Garfield and 45th from 11 p.m. Thursday, May 11 until 4 a.m. Friday, May 12.

Single Track in Effect Over Weekend
Single track service will be in effect between 63rd and 45th from 8 p.m. Friday, May 12 until 8 a.m. Saturday, May 13 and again from 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13 until noon Sunday, May 14.

Single Track in Effect Next Week
Single track service will be in effect between 87th and 79th from 11 p.m. Monday, May 15 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 16 and again in the same location, during the same hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Customers should allow extra travel time.

Summer Service to Museum Campus Begins Saturday
The #130 Grant Park Treasures bus route will begin its summer service Saturday, May 13. The #130 operates in both directions between the Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station to the Museum Campus through Labor Day.

Y-Me Race Closes Downtown Streets
The Y-Me Race Against Breast Cancer will close several downtown streets from 4 a.m. until noon Sunday, May 14. The closures are: Columbus between Congress and Roosevelt; Balbo between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive; westbound Roosevelt from Columbus to Michigan; northbound Michigan from Roosevelt to Balbo; Jackson between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive; Monroe between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive and Randolph between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.

Buses on the #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #12 Roosevelt, #14 Jeffery Express, #126 Jackson, #130 Grant Park Treasures, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #147 Outer Drive Express routes may experience intermittent service delays and may be rerouted to adjacent streets during the race.

Lawrence to Close for Crane Operation Saturday
The 1000 block of West Lawrence will be closed from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Eastbound #81 Lawrence buses will operate via Lawrence to Broadway, Wilson, Sheridan, back to Lawrence, then resume the regular route.

Helicopter Lift Closes Michigan Avenue Sunday
The 600 block of North Michigan Avenue will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. for a helicopter lift. As a result, buses on the #3 King Drive, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan routes will be affected.

Northbound #3 King Drive buses will operate via Michigan to Ohio, Fairbanks, Erie, and to the terminal. Southbound buses will operate from the terminal to Ontario to Michigan, then resume the regular route.

Southbound #146, #147 and #151 buses will operate via Michigan to Pearson, Mies Van Der Rohe, Chicago, Fairbanks, Ontario, back to Michigan, then resume the regular route. Northbound buses will operate via Michigan to Ohio, Fairbanks, Chicago, back to Michigan, then resume the regular route.

Cortland Bridge over Chicago River Closes Next Week
Due to a scheduled closure of the Cortland Bridge beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, #73 Armitage buses will operate in both directions via Elston, Ashland, Webster, Clybourn, Racine, then resume the regular route.

Pulaski to Close for Construction Work Next Week Through May 25
Pulaski will be closed at 87th Street from 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 17 until 6 a.m. Thursday, May 25 for construction work. #87 87th buses will operate in both directions via Lawndale, Columbus, 87th, then resume the regular route. #53A South Pulaski buses will be rerouted in both directions via Southwest Highway to Cicero, 95th, Pulaski, then resume the regular route.