Free rides and extra service planned on CTA and Metra for NU vs. Penn State
Northwestern football fans will finally be able to enjoy the new Ryan Field when the Wildcats take on Penn State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and the secret to a stress-free game experience is taking public transportation.
Longtime fans know that traffic and limited parking are among the least enjoyable parts of the experience. Why endure that aggravation when the CTA Purple Line and the Metra UP North Line, with connecting Pace buses, can deliver you to stations on Central Street, steps away from the new field?
Thanks to a partnership with The Ryan Field Foundation, riders who show their game tickets can ride for free on the Metra UP Metra North Line to and from the game. And
Metra will have an additional inbound train making all stops to Ogilvie and an extra outbound train making all stops to Waukegan waiting after the game at its Central Street Station, just west of the field. The trains will depart from Central Street about 30 minutes after the game ends. Metra plans to offer extra service following the team’s remaining home games at Ryan Field this season.
CTA will provide Purple Line Express service to Ryan Field to get fans to the game PLUS CTA will also provide Purple Line Express trips at the end of the game. After the game, fans boarding the Purple Line Express at Central Station will get a free ride funded by The Ryan Field Foundation for approximately one-hour post-game or roughly 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Fans can use Pace local service to connect with Metra and CTA and reach Ryan Field from throughout the region. Routes 208, 213 and 250, along with the Pulse Dempster Line, connect riders with downtown Evanston at the Davis Street CTA Purple Line and Metra UP North stations. From Davis Street, riders can transfer to the CTA Purple Line and exit at Central Street, a short walk from the stadium, or take CTA Route 201, which directly serves both downtown Evanston and Ryan Field. Fans can also take the UP North Line from Davis St. to Central Street. Pace Route 213 provides another option, with service along Green Bay Road and a stop at Central Street near Ryan Field.
“Metra’s UP North Line can get you to and from the new Ryan Field without all the stress and cost of driving,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “They’re comfortable, affordable, and with our extra service, convenient. Using public transportation to get there is the right choice.”
“A world-class stadium deserves world-class access to public transportation, and the CTA is proud to join Metra and Pace in playing a central role in connecting fans to this historic new chapter in Northwestern’s history,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “Every train and bus arriving at or near the new stadium represents an important connection between the whole Chicago region and this great university.”
“Major events like these are a great opportunity to leave the driving to someone else and take advantage of the region’s connected transit network,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “Pace is proud to join CTA and Metra in helping fans travel to Ryan Field safely, conveniently and affordably.”
“This level of coordination to get fans to Ryan Field and home again safely and seamlessly is a big win for the region,” said NITA Interim Executive Director Jamie Rhee. “This is the kind of collaboration and convenience riders can expect in this new era for Chicago public transportation.”
Don’t forget to save money with Metra’s Day Pass, good for unlimited rides all day, which can be purchased from vending machines or on the Ventra app (download it from the App Store or Google Play). Ventra app users can save even more money by purchasing the Regional Day Pass option that allows Metra Day Pass buyers to add unlimited travel on CTA and Pace for an additional $2.50.
By working together on service, the region’s three transit providers are embodying the mission of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act to provide a coordinated transit system that improves service for public transit riders and all residents of Northeast Illinois.
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