3/29/07
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 and Red Line Customers Should Allow Extra Travel Time Beginning Thursday Night
Work planned this weekend on the Brown Line will require trains to share the same track with Red Line trains at two stations.
7 p.m. Thursday, March 29 to 4:45 a.m. Friday, March 30 and 7 p.m. Friday, March 30 to 4:45 a.m. Saturday, March 31
At the Fullerton station, northbound Red Line trains will share the same track with northbound Brown Line and Purple Line Express trains. Northbound Red Line customers must board on the same side of the platform (east) as northbound Brown and Purple Line customers.
At the Belmont station, during the same hours, northbound Brown Line and Purple Line Express will share the same track with northbound Red Line trains. Northbound Brown, Purple and Red Line customers must board on the same side of the platform as (west) as northbound Red Line customers.
Normal northbound service will resume at 4:45 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 31
Southbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at the Wellington and Diversey stations. Southbound customers who wish to exit at Wellington and Diversey, should travel to the Fullerton station, board a northbound Brown Line train and ride back to Wellington and Diversey.
Southbound customers who wish to board at Wellington or Diversey should board a northbound train and travel to the Belmont station to board a southbound Brown Line train.
Southport Station on Brown Line Temporarily Closes Monday
Beginning Monday, April 2, the Southport station on the Brown Line will temporarily close for renovation for 12 months while construction crews work to upgrade and extend platforms, rebuild the stationhouse and make the station accessible to customers with disabilities. The adjacent stations ? Paulina and Belmont ? will remain open during the temporary closure of the Southport station so customers may continue to use them to access Brown Line service.
The Southport station is located in an area where existing CTA service is plentiful. In addition to nearby rail stations, there are six existing CTA bus routes that provide service near Southport station on weekdays and weekends, the #9 Ashland, #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick, #22 Clark, #77 Belmont, #152 Addison and the #X9 Ashland Express (weekday service until 7 p.m.)
(See March 21 release for details)
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 Cicero and Austin stations from 11 p.m. Thursday, March 29 until 4 a.m. Friday, March 30. All customers at the Austin station must board on the northbound platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Blue Line O'Hare Branch Over Weekend
A three-phase single track will be in effect between the Jefferson Park and Montrose stations from 11 p.m. Friday, March 30 until 8 a.m. Saturday, March 31.
From 11 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday, all customers at the Montrose station must board on the northbound platform.
From 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Saturday, all customers at the Jefferson Park and Montrose stations must board on the northbound platform. From 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. Saturday, all customers at the Montrose station must board on the northbound platform.
Another three-phase single track will be in effect in the same location from 10 p.m. Saturday, March 31 until 8 a.m. Sunday, April 1. From 10 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday, all customers at the Montrose station must board on the southbound platform. From 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday, all customers at the Jefferson Park and Montrose stations must board on the southbound platform. From 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. Sunday, all customers at the Montrose station must board on the southbound platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Red Line this Weekend
A single track will be in effect between the Sox-35th and 47th stations from 11 p.m. Friday, March 30 until 6 a.m. Saturday, March 31. All customers at the Sox-35th station must board on the west side of the platform.
#10 Museum of Science & Industry Bus Extends Hours for Spring Break Service
To accommodate longer spring break hours at the Museum of Science and Industry, #10 Museum of Science & Industry buses are operating on weekdays every 15 minutes through Friday, April 6. Regular weekday service normally operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Additionally, on weekends there is more frequent and later service on the #10 route with buses operating every 15 minutes through Sunday, April 29.
Oakton Closes in Skokie for Assyrian Parade Sunday
Oakton will be closed between Skokie and Crawford from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday, April 1. #97 Skokie buses will operate in both directions via Oakton, Skokie, Howard, Crawford and Oakton, then resume the regular route. Customers should allow extra travel time.
Van Buren Closes for Helicopter Lift Sunday
Beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 1, the following street closures will be in effect until noon: Van Buren between Clark and Wells, LaSalle between Congress and Jackson, and Financial Place between Congress and Jackson. #145 Wilson/Michigan Express buses will operate via Clark and Congress, then resume the regular route.
Bridge Closure for Maintenance Friday
The Roosevelt bridge will be closed over the Chicago River from 12:01 a.m. until 5 a.m. Friday, March 30. Eastbound #12 Roosevelt buses will operate via Roosevelt, Canal, Harrison, State, back to Roosevelt, then resume the regular route.
Westbound #12 buses will operate via Roosevelt, State, Harrison, Clinton, back to Roosevelt, then resume the regular route.
Northbound #62 Archer buses will operate via Roosevelt, Canal, Harrison to Dearborn, then resume the regular route. Southbound buses will operate via State, 18th, Canal to Roosevelt, then resume the regular route.
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