Save Money on Gas—Take CTA to the Taste of Chicago

06/26/08

Extra Bus and Rail Service Available for Customers Heading to Grant Park

CTA is encouraging visitors to the 2008 Taste of Chicago at Grant Park to save money on gas by taking public transportation to the event beginning Friday, June 27 through Sunday, July 6. CTA provides convenient and affordable service and will have extensive bus and rail service available to accommodate the crowds expected to attend the festival. Longer trains will operate into the Loop until late every night, and extra buses will be available toward the close of each evening's activities.

On Thursday evening, July 3 and Friday evening, July 4, more service will be available for spectators going to Grant Park or Navy Pier for the fireworks displays. 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 later in the day.

Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $1.75 to ride and may transfer for a 25 cent fee. 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.

• Additional CTA personnel will be on duty at Loop rail stations to help customers and to provide travel information.

   

• A mobile CTA sales facility will be set up on Jackson just east of Michigan to allow customers to purchase fare media. Visitor Pass vending machines accept credit cards, in addition to cash, and will offer: 1-Day Fun Pass; 2 and 3-Day Visitor Passes; and 7-Day Passes. Customers also can purchase or add value to Transit Cards or Chicago Cards at vending machines or use a credit card at two Express Vending Machines.

Rail Service
Blue/Brown/Green/Orange/Pink/Red Lines
 

• Longer trains will operate on all six of these lines each evening until approximately 10:30 p.m. from downtown daily.

Purple Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
 

• Longer Purple Line trains will run until midnight from Howard to Linden daily.

Yellow Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
 

• Trains will operate later than usual on weekdays, with the last train leaving Howard at 12:05 a.m. Trains operate on Saturday and Sunday from 6:10 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. at 15-minute intervals.

Park & Ride Facilities
 

• Parking is available for approximately 6,800 cars at facilities adjacent to 18 CTA rail stations, mainly at terminals, throughout the CTA system. 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. Customers also may obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.

Bus Service
As Taste activities wind down each evening, additional service will be available for trips out of the downtown area at the following locations:

• #3 King Drive and #4 Cottage Grove buses can be boarded at regular stops southbound on Michigan starting at Washington.

   

• #6 Jackson Park Express buses can be boarded at all regular stops southbound on State starting at Lake.

   

• #20 Madison, #56 Milwaukee and #60 Blue Island/26th buses can be boarded at regular stops westbound on Madison starting at State.

   

• #151 Sheridan buses can be boarded at regular stops northbound on State starting at Adams.

   

• Additional service on the #126 Jackson will be provided on weekends only. During the week, customers can use the #7 Harrison for later service.

Rail Service (Bicycles are not allowed on trains July 3)
Blue Line
 

• Longer trains and more frequent service between O'Hare and Forest Park.

Pink Line
 

• Longer trains and more frequent service between 54th/Cermak and the Loop.

Red Line
 

• Longer trains and more frequent service between 95th and Howard.

Green Line
 

• Longer trains and more frequent service between Harlem, East 63rd and Ashland/63rd.

Brown Line
 

• Longer trains, more frequent service and extended hours until 1:38 a.m. from the Loop to Kimball.

Orange Line
 

• Longer trains and more frequent service between Midway and the Loop.

Yellow Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
 

• More frequent service and extended hours until 2 a.m. from Howard.

Purple Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
 

• Longer trains, more frequent service and extended hours until 2:05 a.m. from Howard to Linden.

Bus Service
 

• State Street will be closed between Congress and Kinzie, and Michigan will be closed between Roosevelt and Wacker at approximately 6 p.m.

   

• Northbound Lake Shore Drive will be closed at Roosevelt from 6 p.m. to midnight.

   

• The following bus routes will be affected: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #12 Roosevelt, #14 Jeffery Express, #20 Madison, #29 State, #36 Broadway, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th, #62 Archer, #124 Navy Pier, #126 Jackson, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan.

   

• The following rush period buses will be rerouted to adjacent streets: #1 Indiana/ Hyde Park, #2 Hyde Park Express, #X3 King Drive Express, #X4 Cottage Grove Express, #7 Harrison, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #X20 Washington/ Madison Express, #26 South Shore Express, #X28 Stony Island Express, #143 Stockton/Michigan Express, #144 Marine/ Michigan Express, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express and #157 Streeterville.

South Side Bus Service

• South Side buses that normally operate on State or Michigan in the downtown area will be rerouted southbound on Clark to Roosevelt: #1 Indiana/ Hyde Park, #2 Hyde Park Express, #3 King Drive, #X3 King Drive Express, #4 Cottage Grove, #X4 Cottage Grove Express, #6 Jackson Park Express, #14 Jeffery Express, #26 South Shore Express, #X28 Stony Island Express, #29 State and #62 Archer.

   

• Other southbound buses that normally operate in the downtown area also will be rerouted on Clark: #36 Broadway, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan.

   

• The southbound #22 Clark and #24 Wentworth will continue to operate on Clark over the regular routes.

North Side Bus Service

• North of the Loop, the following north side bus routes, #3 King Drive, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #143 Stockton/Michigan Express, #144 Marine/ Michigan Express, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express, #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express and #157 Streeterville, will be rerouted on Dearborn to Ohio where they will return to Michigan Avenue, then resume their regular routes. Southbound #3 King Drive, #X3 King Drive Express, #X4 Cottage Grove Express, #26 South Shore Express, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express, #151 Sheridan and #157 Streeterville buses will operate on Ontario and Clark.

   

• Other northbound buses that normally operate on State or Michigan in the downtown area will be rerouted on Dearborn: #1 Indiana/ Hyde Park, #2 Hyde Park Express, #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #29 State and #157 Streeterville.

   

• Northbound #151 Sheridan buses will operate via Jackson, Wacker, Dearborn, Ohio and Michigan.