12/7/06
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.
Brown Line Customers Should Allow Extra Travel Time This Weekend
Construction work planned for this weekend at the Chicago and Sedgwick stations on the Brown Line will require reroutes of Brown Line trains. This 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.
8 p.m. Friday, December 8 to 1 a.m. Saturday, December 9 ? Chicago Station
Northbound Brown Line trains will not stop at the Chicago Avenue station. Northbound customers wanting to board at Chicago should take a southbound Brown Line train to the Merchandise Mart and transfer to a northbound Brown Line train. Northbound customers wanting to exit at Chicago must travel to the Sedgwick station and transfer to a southbound train to ride back to Chicago.
5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 9 ? Chicago and Sedgwick Stations
Northbound Brown Line trains will share the track with southbound Brown Line trains at the elevated Chicago and Sedgwick stations. Both north and southbound customers will board trains on the west platform.
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 9 ? Belmont Station
Northbound Brown Line trains will share the track with northbound Red Line trains at the Belmont station. Northbound Brown and Red Line customers will board trains on the west side of the northbound platform.
6 p.m. Saturday, December 9 to 1 a.m. Sunday, December 10 ? Chicago Station
Northbound Brown Line trains will not stop at the Chicago Avenue station. Northbound customers wanting to board at Chicago should take a southbound Brown Line train to the Merchandise Mart and transfer to a northbound Brown Line train. Northbound customers wanting to exit at Chicago must travel to the Sedgwick station and transfer to a southbound train to ride back to Chicago.
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, December 10 ? Chicago and Sedgwick Stations
Northbound Brown Line trains will share the track with southbound Brown Line trains at the elevated Chicago and Sedgwick stations. Both north and southbound customers will board trains on the west platform.
6 p.m. Sunday, December 10 to 12:30 a.m. Monday, December 11 ? Chicago Station
Northbound Brown Line trains will not stop at the Chicago Avenue station. Northbound customers wanting to board at Chicago should take a southbound Brown Line train to the Merchandise Mart and transfer to a northbound Brown Line train. Northbound customers wanting to exit at Chicago must travel to the Sedgwick station and transfer to a southbound train to ride back to Chicago.
Southbound Brown Line service is not affected. Normal Brown Line service will resume Monday morning, December 11 at 4:30 a.m.
Holiday Train Brightens Green, Brown and Orange Line Travel
The festive Holiday Train is brightening the Green Line through Saturday, December 9 and the Brown and Orange lines on Wednesday, December 13 through Saturday, December 16. The train will make stops at all stations running between approximately 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.
For more specific information on dates and times for the Holiday Train, customers should call 836-7000 (any local area code) or visit CTA's web site at www.transitchicago.com.
(See separate press release)
#19 Express Buses Serve NCAA Basketball Games at United Center
The CTA will operate its #19 United Center Express service for the NCAA Lexus December to Remember Classic featuring the University of Illinois (U of I) at the United Center Saturday, December 9.
The U of I versus University of Rhode Island women's game begins at 10 a.m. and the U of I versus the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) men's game begins at 1 p.m.
Buses will operate from Michigan and Superior between 8 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. After the games, #19 buses will operate every 15 minutes for one hour.
#19 buses will make stops on Michigan from Superior to Washington, and on Madison from Wabash to Clinton. From Clinton, #19 buses run express to the United Center.
After the games, #19 buses will await customers on the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3.
On return trips, #19 buses operate through downtown east on Washington, making all stops from Jefferson to Michigan before turning north on Michigan and making all stops from Randolph to Chicago.
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 Saturday
A single track will be in effect between the Garfield and 47th stations from 1 a.m. Saturday, December 9 until 6 a.m. Sunday, December 10. North and southbound customers boarding at the 47th station must board on the east side of the platform.
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 Thursday
A single track will be in effect between the Forest Park and Harlem stations from 11 p.m. Thursday, December 7 until 4 a.m. Friday, December 8. North and southbound customers boarding at the Forest Park and Harlem stations must board on the southbound side of the platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect in Blue Line Subway Over Weekend
A single track will be in effect between the Racine and LaSalle stations from 11 p.m. Friday, December 8 until 8 a.m. Saturday, December 9 and again in the same location, during the same hours Saturday night.
During the Friday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the UIC-Halsted, Clinton and LaSalle stations must board on the southbound side of the platform. During the Saturday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the Forest Park and Harlem stations must board on the northbound side of the platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Blue Line Forest Park Branch Next Week
A single track will be in effect between Forest Park and Lathrop from midnight Monday, December 11 until 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 12. North and southbound customers boarding at the Forest Park station must board on the southbound side of the platform.
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