CTA Will Increase Train and Bus Service for July 4th Holiday

Heading to the Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy or this weekend’s Dave Matthews Band concerts at Northerly Island?

The Chicago Transit Authority will be providing more frequent train service on the Red, Blue, Brown and Orange lines Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5.

In addition, the CTA will increase bus service on routes serving Navy Pier, downtown Loop and lakefront areas.

The CTA recommends that customers load up their Ventra farecards at rail stations, online or at more than 1,300 retailers ahead of time, or purchase a 1-day unlimited ride Ventra ticket to help you decrease your travel time and reduce lines at rail stations on the return trip.

RAIL SERVICE

Red Line (Friday and Saturday): longer trains will operate until 1 a.m. and more frequent service will be provided between 7 p.m. and midnight.

Blue Line:

• Friday: Longer trains will operate in both directions beginning late afternoon until at least midnight. Northbound (to O’Hare) trains will operate more frequently beginning 6:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.
• Saturday: Longer trains will operate beginning late afternoon until at least midnight.

Brown Line:

• Friday: Brown Line service hours (from Kimball to the Loop) will be extended until 1 a.m.More frequent service will be provided between 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.  Longer trains will operate to the Loop beginning at 6 p.m. until the end of service.

• Saturday: Longer trains will operate from 7 p.m. until end of service.

Green Line (Friday and Saturday): Longer trains will operate beginning late afternoon until the end of service.

Orange Line:

• Friday: Longer trains will operate beginning at 5 p.m. until the end of service. More frequent service will be provided between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

• Saturday: Longer trains will operate beginning at 4 p.m. until the end of service.

Pink Line (Friday and Saturday): Longer trains will operate beginning late afternoon until the end of service.

BUS SERVICE

In anticipation of increased crowds heading downtown this weekend, additional service will be provided along the following 10 routes:  #3 King, #4 Cottage Grove, #12 Roosevelt, #J14 Jeffery Jump, #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier, #130 Museum Campus, and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express.

EVENTS

In general, additional bus service will be provided for the following events beginning approximately 2.5 hours prior to the event beginning. Additional service also will be provided at the end of each event.

The following routes that regularly serve Navy Pier will provide extra service on both Friday and Saturday night for one hour after fireworks end or as crowds warrant: #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier.

Additional bus service also will be provided on the following routes serving the downtown lakefront area: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #12 Roosevelt and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express.

To avoid overcrowding and traffic congestion, police may close streets leading to/from Navy Pier for safety reasons. These closures could result in reroutes for CTA bus routes operating the vicinity of Navy Pier. Customers are advised to allow extra travel time.

Following the fireworks, CTA customers at Navy Pier will be directed to buses awaiting them at the circular drive at the Pier.  Having a dedicated space for buses will help CTA to board customers quickly and help mitigate congestion.

Dave Matthews Band Concert @ Northerly Island

Extra service will be provided along the #130 Museum Campus and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes for concert goers heading to Northerly Island for the Dave Matthews Band concerts on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the show beginning at approximately 7 p.m. each day.

Cruz Azul vs. Pumas @ Soldier Field

Extra service will be provided along the #130 Museum Campus and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express routes for fans heading to Soldier Field for the Cruz Azul vs. Pumas exhibition soccer match on Sunday, July 6. Gates open at noon and kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

FARE INFORMATION

Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2 to ride. The fare for rail customers and for customers who choose to pay cash on the bus is $2.25. Customers who use CTA fare media may transfer for a 25-cent fee within two hours of the start of their trip. A second transfer within that period is free. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.

New Ventra Fare Payment System

Effective July 1, the CTA fully transitioned to the new Ventra fare payment system. Customers are no longer able to purchase or use Transit Cards (i.e. magnetic stripe and Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus cards) on buses or at CTA rail stations.

Ventra allows CTA customers to pay-per-ride or use unlimited-ride passes from the same reusable Ventra transit fare card. Customers can add value or passes to their Ventra cards at rail station vending machines, online (including from mobile phones) or at more than 1,300 retailers (including drugstores and currency exchanges).

To learn more about CTA fare payment options, including use of contactless personal bank cards, or if you wish to add value or passes to your Ventra card in advance, visit VentraChicago. 

*New cards cost $5 at machines, which can be refunded as transit value upon registration within 90 days online at the VentraChicago website or by phone at (877) NOW VENTRA (877) 669-8368. New Ventra cards are available free with minimum $1 load at retailers through Sunday, July 6. Visit VentraChicago for a full list of retailers selling Ventra farecards.

STAY IN THE LOOP ON CTA SERVICE

Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebookor Twitter (@CTA) for system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website.

Source Chicago Transit Authority