The Chicago Transit Authority will provide additional service and extend the hours of select bus and rail routes serving the Loop until 2 a.m. or later if needed for individuals attending election night events downtown – including the Obama Grant Park rally – on Tuesday, November 4. The service plan will be similar to that used for the annual July 3 fireworks show, with longer trains, additional bus service and later service to accommodate attendees. Temporary street closures in the vicinity of Grant Park may necessitate reroutes so customers should allow extra travel time.
The CTA will begin rush hour service levels earlier in the day on Tuesday afternoon to accommodate those who leave work early.
Due to parking restrictions downtown, CTA strongly recommends that visitors driving to Chicago from out of town consider parking at the remote lots at O’Hare and Midway airports and taking CTA’s Blue and Orange line trains to access the rally. There are approximately 5,000 parking spots at Midway and 8,400 available at O’Hare.
Parking for approximately 7,000 cars is also available at facilities adjacent to 18 CTA rail stations. Rates are $3 at Rosemont and Forest Park and $2 at all other locations. Park & Ride locations are listed on CTA’s system map and on the CTA web site, www.transitchicago.com. (A list of locations and prices is attached.) Customers also may obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.
Fare Information
To speed travel and reduce lines, customers are encouraged to buy farecards in advance with sufficient value or to add enough value to their existing farecards (either the Chicago Card or magnetic strip Transit Card) for their return trips.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $1.75 to ride and may transfer for 25 cents. Rail customers who use Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus pay $1.75 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. For rail customers who use a magnetic strip transit card, or for customers who pay cash on either the bus or rail system, the fare is $2. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
Bus and Rail service for Monday and Tuesday is as follows:
Bus Service
Beginning Monday evening, November 3 through Tuesday, portions of Columbus Drive will be closed. Buses on the #2 Hyde Park Express, #6 Jackson Park Express, #14 Jeffery Express, #26 South Shore Express, #X28 Stony Island Express and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express buses will be rerouted to adjacent streets.
If additional street or bridge closures are implemented Tuesday evening, CTA buses traveling in the vicinity of Grant Park may be impacted with intermittent delays or temporary reroutes to adjacent streets.
In addition to the 19 routes that already offer late night “Owl” service, later service (until 2 a.m. or later) leaving downtown will be provided on the following 14 bus routes on Tuesday:
- #3 King Drive
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #6 Jackson Park Express
- #12 Roosevelt
- #14 Jeffery Express
- #28 Stony Island
- #36 Broadway
- #56 Milwaukee
- #65 Grand
- #66 Chicago
- #124 Navy Pier
- #126 Jackson
- #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
- #147 Outer Drive Express
Following the rally, northbound customers between Van Buren and Randolph will board buses on LaSalle Street.
Southbound buses will board and exit customers on Clark between Van Buren and Randolph.
Westbound buses will be located on Madison between Dearborn and Clark.
Rail Service – Tuesday, November 4
The CTA will provide rush-hour levels of service immediately following the rally.
Service on the Brown, Pink, Green and Orange Line trains will be extended to serve the Loop until 2 a.m. or later. In addition, the Blue, Red, Orange and Brown Lines will continue to run eight-car trains throughout the evening. The Purple and Yellow Lines will operate from Howard until 2 a.m. or later.
Bicycles will not be allowed on the rail system after 4 p.m. Tuesday until 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.
For details about all CTA service call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA web site at www.transitchicago.com to use the travel planner feature.