All Aboard!
Buses
Trains
Fares
Quick Ride Guide
This guide will show you how to use Chicago Transit
Authority (CTA) buses and trains to see Downtown Chicago,
North Michigan Avenue, and a few places beyond.
Riding CTA Buses
Riding CTA Trains
CTA Passes
From the Loop
CTA buses stop at bus shelters or signs
that look like this. Signs list the service
days/general hours, route number, name
and destinations, and the direction
of travel.
Each rail line has a color name. All trains operate Downtown daily
until at least midnight, except the Purple Line Express (see map
for hours). Trains run every 5 to 10 minutes during the day and
early evening, and every 10 to 15 minutes in later evening.
Here’s a quick guide to boarding in the Downtown area:
Passes offer unlimited rides on CTA buses
and trains when activated with first use —
1-day: $5.75; 3-day: $14; 7-day: $23.
Cannot be shared or recharged.
Attraction
Art Institute, Chicago Cultural Ctr.
Charter One Pavilion at
Northerly Island Park
Chinatown
The CTA runs buses and elevated/subway trains (the ‘L’)
that serve Chicago and 40 nearby suburbs. From
Downtown, travel to most attractions on one bus or train.
We Have Answers
Get travel information and questions answered about
CTA buses and trains, Metra commuter trains, and Pace
suburban buses by calling 836-7000 from any local
area code, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily (TTY: 312-836-4949
(for hearing and speech impaired)). Or, visit the RTA
Trip Planner at rtachicago.org.
Maps, train and bus schedules, and brochures can also
be ordered through the RTA Travel Information Center.
CTA Bus & Rail Maps and this brochure are also
available at CTA rail stations.
We Are Listening
Comment, commendation or inquiry?
Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282) weekdays
(excluding holidays) 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., or leave a voice
mail message at other times. TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY1
(1-888-282-8891).
Write us at CTA Customer Service, P.O. Box 7566,
Chicago, IL 60680-7566. Or, e-mail us at
[email protected].
Visit Us Online
CTA’s web site is transitchicago.com. You can get
information, see our map, purchase CTA-themed gift
items, and even buy your fare in advance! Metra’s web
site is metrarail.com. Pace’s web site is pacebus.com.
When a bus approaches, look at the sign
above the windshield. It will first show
the route number and route name, then
change to show the destination.
First: 151 SHERIDAN Then: UNION STATION
If it’s the bus you want, flag it down.
22 Clark 
24 Wentworth 
36 Broadway 
62 Archer 
Blue Line
Dearborn Street subway
Brown Line
Loop elevated
Green Line
Loop elevated (along Wabash & Lake)
Orange Line
Loop elevated
Pink Line
Loop elevated
How They Operate
Purple Line Express
Loop elevated
Bus routes shown on the map operate every day, including all
holidays, unless the route number is indicated below. Buses run
every 10 to 15 minutes, except route 10 (see below).
Routes that operate every day do so from early morning
until at least 10 p.m., with some exceptions:
124 Navy Pier until midnight daily in summer between Union,
Ogilvie, and Millennium stations and Navy Pier.
146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express until 12:20 a.m. daily from
Museum Campus and Downtown.
147 Outer Drive Express until 9:20 p.m. Sundays.
Red Line
State Street subway
Routes that do not operate every day have service as follows:
10 Museum of Science & Industry weekends/holidays
year-round; daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and Thanksgiving
to New Year’s Day. Hours from about 9 a.m., Monday-Saturday
(10:25 a.m., Sundays/holidays) to 4:40 p.m. every 30 minutes.
No service on Christmas Day.
X28 Stony Island Express weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
and 2:50 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.
130 Museum Campus operates mid-May to Labor Day, weekends
and holidays, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
157 Streeterville/Taylor weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Accessibility
All CTA buses are accessible to people with disabilities.
At the Station
There are Customer Assistants or Security Guards at rail stations
to help you.
Accessibility
Over sixty (60) percent of rail stations are accessible and every
train has at least two cars that are accessible to customers with
disabilities. For information on current accessible rail stations,
visit transitchicago.com (click on “Accessibility”), see CTA’s
Bus & Rail Map or call 836-7000 from any local area code.
Taking a Ride
Entering the Station –
Signs list station name
and route.
On the Platform –
Signs overhead and
on the columns tell
you which trains stop there and destinations.
When the Train Arrives –
Train destination appears
on front and sides of train.
On the Train – Rail maps are above the doorways. Stops and
connections are announced. Watch and listen for your stop.
Trains to Planes
Take the Blue Line between O’Hare and Downtown.
From the airport, follow the “Trains to City” signs. From
Downtown, board in the Dearborn Street subway.
Take the Orange Line between Midway and Downtown.
From the airport, follow the “Trains to City” signs. From
Downtown, board at any Loop elevated station.
Passes are sold at select Currency Exchanges,
Jewel and Dominick’s stores, CVS Pharmacies,
and Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). Visit
transitchicago.com to order CTA Passes in advance.
Transit Card
Deducts full fares and transfers on CTA and Pace. Can pay for up
to 7 full-fare rides at once.
Full
Reduced*
First ride
$2 bus; $2.25 rail 85¢
1st transfer within 2 hours
25¢
15¢
2nd transfer within 2 hours
FREE
FREE
Purchase full-fare Transit Cards ($2 to $100)
at rail station farecard machines. Or, buy
pre-valued, full-fare Transit Cards ($10 or $20)
at select Currency Exchanges, Jewel and
Dominick’s stores, CVS Pharmacies, and online
at transitchicago.com.
Cash Fare
Accepted on CTA buses only. No cash transfers
available. Exact fare (coins and bills accepted).
Full Fare: $2.25; Reduced Fare*: $1
Connections are free between CTA rail lines at stations marked
with a . Exceptions: Customers must use a Transit Card or pass
for free connections between State/Lake (elevated) and Lake 
(Red Line subway) stations; and between Library-State/Van Buren 
(elevated) and Jackson  (Blue and Red subway) stations. No transfer
charge or use is deducted.
* Reduced Fares are for children ages 7-11, and for seniors 65+ and customers with
disabilities with a valid RTA Reduced Fare Card. For more information, call 836-7000
from any local area code.
Eligible to Ride Free on CTA
Seniors 65+ with RTA Seniors Ride Free Smart Card Permits.
Active duty military personnel in full uniform and qualifying
disabled military veterans with a CTA Military Service Pass.
Customers enrolled in RTA’s People with Disabilities Ride Free
Program with a valid RTA issued Circuit Permit.
Children under age 7 with a fare-paying customer.
Take Bus or Train:
Short walk from most buses and all rail lines
146 south on State or 130 (summer
weekends) east on Jackson
Red Line train (to 95th/Dan Ryan) in the State
Street subway south to Cermak-Chinatown
DuSable Museum
4 south on Michigan (starts at Randolph)
Garfield Park Conservatory
Green Line train (to Harlem/Lake) on the Loop ‘L’
west to Conservatory-Central Park Drive 
John Hancock Observatory
10, 145, 146, 147 or 151 north on State
Lincoln Park Zoo
151 north on State
McCormick Place
3 south on Michigan
Museum Campus**
146 south on State, or 130 (summer
weekends) east on Jackson
Museum of Science & Industry 6 or 10 south on State or X28 (weekday
rush hours) east on Jackson.
See “Buses” panel for 10 & X28 hours.
Navy Pier
29 north on State or 124 east on Wacker
North Michigan Avenue
10, 145, 146, 147 or 151 north
on State, or 3 north on Michigan
River North & Old Town areas 22 or 36 north on Dearborn
Willis (Sears) Tower/Union Station Any bus west on Adams
Soldier Field (Bears)
146 south on State
United Center (Bulls, Blackhawks) 19 or 20 west on Madison
U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox) Red Line train (to 95th/Dan Ryan) in the
State Street subway south to Sox-35th ;
or Green Line train (to Cottage Grove or
Ashland/63rd) to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT 
Wrigley Field (Cubs)
Red Line train (to Howard) in the State Street
subway north to Addison 
Chicago Transit Authority
Downtown
Transit
Sightseeing Guide
September 2009
From North Michigan Avenue
Attraction
Art Institute, Chicago Cultural Ctr.
Lincoln Park Zoo
McCormick Place
Museum Campus**
Museum of Science & Industry
Navy Pier
Willis (Sears) Tower/Union Station
State Street Shopping
Soldier Field (Bears)
U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox)
Wrigley Field (Cubs)
Take Bus or Train:
3*, 145, 147 or 151 south on Michigan
151 north on Michigan
3* south on Michigan
146 south on Michigan
10 south on Michigan. See “Buses” panel
for days/hours. Otherwise, 6 west on
Wacker at Michigan.
66 east on Chicago or 29, 65 east on Illinois
151 south on Michigan
10, 145, 146, 151 or 157 south on Michigan
146 south on Michigan
Red Line train (to 95th/Dan Ryan) in the
State Street subway south to Sox-35th 
Red Line train (to Howard) in the State Street
subway north to Addison 
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
* starts at Superior
** Adler Planetarium/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium/Soldier Field
transitchicago.com
Visitor Info. Centers: Chicago Cultural Center (Michigan/Randolph) and Chicago Water Works (Michigan/Pearson). Open daily (except
Thanksgiving/Christmas Day). Special Events Hot Line: (312) 744-3370.
Chicagoland Trips Info. Kiosks: Located at CTA Hdqtrs., Chicago Cultural Center, Metra Millennium Station, Palmer House Hilton, Shedd
Aquarium, Union Station and Westfield Northbridge Shopping Center.
Downtown Attractions
F-11
Adler
Planetarium
A-6
Civic Opera House
C-6
James R. Thompson
(State of Illinois)
Center
A-7
Chicago Mercantile
Exchange Tours
D-7
Art Institute
of Chicago
D-2
John Hancock
Observatory
C-6
City Hall/
County Bldg.
E-8
Buckingham
Fountain
F-11
Charter One Pavilion
Northerly Island Park
D-2
Hot Tix Booth
C-11
Chinatown
D-7
Chicago
Architecture
Foundation
Tours
E-11
Field Museum
D-6
Gallery 37
Center for the Arts
D-6
Chicago Cultural Center
· Loop Tour Train
Visitor Info. Center
C-4, C-6, C-7, D-4, D-6, E-6, F-4
Chicagoland Trips Kiosk
E-11
Soldier Field
ag
o
Ch
ic
ag
o
Ch
ic
nd
ra
G
e
at
St
ph
ol
nd
Ra
on
is
ad
M
s
m
da
A
lle
Sa
La
on
ar
ris
H
4
11th
4
3
lt
os
ev
e
t
o
Ro
12
Red Line to
CermakChinatown
station
1200 S.
Solidarity
130 146
McFetridge
130 146
29
12
Bus 3
8 blocks
4
3
Solidarity
10
Roosevelt
Bus
3
4 blocks
14th
800 S.
130*, 146 -direct service
6, 10*, 14, X28* - exit
bus at 11th/Columbus
*10, X28, 130 - run
part-time
GREEN LINE
Daily until 1:20 AM 13th
to 63rd or Harlem /Lake
9
Buses to Museum Campus
146 130
12 130 146
el
v
se
600 S.
1000 S.
Walkway
Museum Campus/
11th Street Station
130
12
Hutchinson
Field
44
12
10
6
14 X28
mpus Dri
ve
Museum Campus Dr.
6
10
14
X28
Museum
Ca
Michigan
3
Weekdays and
Saturdays
until 1:20 AM;
Sundays until
11:50 PM to Midway
Daily at all
times north
to Howard or
south to 95th
Ro
Michigan
Wells
Balbo
27
Lake Michigan
State
Harbor
Canal
rive
re D
Sho
Wacker
an
Lake
Clinton
ig
Mich
McFetridge
147
126
ORANGE LINE
RED LINE
8
Congress
3
4
6
6 X28
8th
19
9th
400 S.
Lake Shore Drive
Roosevelt
Field
Jackson
Van Buren
Street Station
Columbus
Union
Station
Columbus
Adams
Jackson
Indiana
Stop near Metra station
CTA rail station
Bus route terminal
200 S.
Michigan
Operates daily Memorial Day weekend
through Labor Day every 15 minutes,
from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monroe
0 N/S
7
6 10
Wabash
N
6
60
Monroe
14
State
Lake
Plymouth
te
h
as
ab
W
Sta
#130 Museum Campus
Ogilvie
Station
y
ar
br
Li
Millennium
Station
11
68
29
130
146
Polk
Randolph
Madison
60
60
Millennium Station
at Randolph Street
147
29
130
146
22
Federal
Stop near Metra station
CTA rail station
Bus route terminal
Illinois
n
to
in
Cl
Union Station
36
Dearborn
Ogilvie
Ogilvie Trans. Ctr.
Transportation
Center
Not Shown on Map
N
37
22
Clark
For Bulls & Blackhawks games
and concerts. Service every
10 minutes starting 90 minutes
before event; after event every
few minutes for up to one hour.
Randolph
X28
126
147
34
6
10
22
36 145
LaSalle
Financial Pl.
#19 United Center Express Bus
200 N.
•
3
6
14
lle
157
One block
21
Millennium
Grant
Park
Park
126 130
145
Sa
La
Harrison
Wells
Greyhound
Bus Station
LaSalle
Street
Station
145
Stetson
X28
Jackson
36
124
30
lower level
130
X28 126 130
Eisenhower Expressway
157
5
4
3
4
6
14
145
147
151
145
60
n
Lake
Michigan
22
36
Van Buren
to
New
Wabash
State
State Street Subway
22
Quincy
cy
in
Qu
4 124
3
6
124
147
151
157
400 N.
Wacker
66
126
X28 151
X28 126 130 151
157
3 blocks
Express
36
145
146
147
62
N. Water
S. Water
4
15
71
X28 126 130
Jackson
60
157
25
6
10
29
151
124
6
157
151
52
X28 126 130
X28
130
Dearborn Street Subway
Union/
Amtrak
Station
Franklin
Wacker
124
United
Center
Dearborn
Clark
LaSalle
Wells
ns
lea
Canal
126
26
29 65 66 124
43
146 35
10
4
Chicago River
•
147
Monroe
14 151
Illinois
Park
t
ar
M
Or
n
to
Adams
•
124
14 151
126
126
20 X20 56 60 124 157
38
146
147
151
157
600 N.
29 65 66 124
Cityfront
Plaza
se
di
an
ch
er
M
ry
bu
in
126
157
60
22
20 X20 56 60 124 157
Monroe
126
130
151
20 X20 56
n
to
ng
hi
Lake
gs
Cl
Clinton
60
14
157 3 blocks
14
124
Washington
Washington
Madison
36
145
146
36
as
W
10
145 146
124
46
6
40
Lake
60 124 157
124
6
10
29
58
Daily until 1:20 AM
to 54th/Cermak
60
124
in
Cl
41
124
PINK LINE
14
130
60
36
Lake
Ogilvie Transportation
Center
126
29
36
70
66
3
10
145
13
22 3
Cl
3
18
29 65
k
ar
130
1400 S.
11
rev. 08/09
Alphabetical List of Downtown Hotels
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Affinia Chicago Hotel, E-3
Allerton Hotel, D-3
Amalfi Hotel, C-5
Best Western Grant Park Hotel, D-10
Best Western River North Hotel, C-4
The Blackstone, A Renaissance Hotel, D-9
Chicago Marriott Downtown Hotel, D-4
The Claridge Hotel, C-1
Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown, C-4
Conrad Chicago, D-4
Congress Plaza Hotel, D-8
Courtyard by Marriott Mag. Mile, D-3
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
River North, C-4
Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, A-6
Crowne Plaza – Silversmith Hotel, D-7
The Drake Hotel, D-1
Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown, C-4
Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront, E-4
Essex Inn, D-9
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Fairfield Inn Suites Chicago – Downtown, E-3
The Fairmont Chicago, E-6
Four Points by Sheraton, C-3
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, D-2
Hampton Inn & Suites, C-4
Hampton Majestic, C-7
Hard Rock Hotel, D-5
Hilton Chicago, D-9
Hilton Suites Chicago-Mag. Mile, D-2
Hilton Garden Inn, C-4
Holiday Inn & Suites, A-9
Holiday Inn Chicago City Centre, E-4
Holiday Inn – Mart Plaza, A-5
Homewood Suites by Hilton, C-4
Hostelling International, C-8
Hotel 71, D-5
Hotel Allegro Chicago, B-6
Hotel Blake, C-8
Hotel Burnham, C-6
Hotel Cass - A Holiday Inn Express, C-3
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
Hotel Monaco, D-5
Hotel Sax, C-5
Howard Johnson Inn – Chicago, B-3
Hyatt Regency Chicago, D-5
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, E-11
Inn of Chicago, D-4
Inter Continental Chicago, D-4
The James Hotel Chicago, D-4
Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago
Hotel, D-2
Ohio House Motel, B-4
Omni Ambassador East, D-1
Omni Chicago Hotel, D-3
Palmer House Hilton, D-7
Park Hyatt Chicago Hotel, D-2
The Peninsula Chicago, D-3
Radisson Hotel & Suites Chicago, D-3
The Raphael Hotel, D-2
Red Roof Inn Chicago, D-3
Renaissance Chicago Hotel, C-5
59 Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago –
Downtown Mag. Mile, E-2
60 The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, D-2
61 The Seneca Hotel & Suites, E-2
62 Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, E-4
63 Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, C-2
64 Springhill Suites Marriott Chicago –
Downtown , C-5
65 The Sutton Place Hotel, D-1
66 Swissotel Chicago, E-5
67 The Talbott Hotel, C-2
68 Travelodge Downtown Hotel, D-9
69 The Tremont Hotel, D-2
70 Trump International Hotel & Tower
Chicago, D-5
71 W Chicago City Center, B-7
72 W Chicago Lake Shore, F-3
73 The Westin Michigan Avenue, D-2
74 The Westin River North, C-5
75 Whitehall Hotel, D-2
76 Wyndham Chicago, D-3
09JD031
126
10
24
124 NAVY PIER
Direct from Union,
Ogilvie and Millennium
Metra stations daily.
Grand
29 65
124
14 20 X20 56
7
65
Wacker
McClurg
65
74
Daily until 1:20 AM
to Harlem/Lake or 63rd
Fairbanks
157
Kinzie
800 N.
72
31
45
29 33
64
3
12 57 76 20
47
9
5
Hubbard
GREEN LINE
One block
22
3
66
157
2 55
2
157
17
32
Daily at all times
to O'Hare
or Forest Park
CTA
Hdqtrs.
39
49
Ohio
Illinois
BLUE LINE
Fulton
51
36
22
Grand
65
157
St. Clair
Wells
Franklin
Ontario
Kin
65 GRAND
Connects to Blue &
Red lines daily at
the Grand stations
until 9:40 PM EB
(to Navy Pier); until
10:05 PM WB
(from Navy Pier).
Orleans
Kennedy/Dan Ryan
Expressway
Feeder Ramp
157
1
3
10
145
146
147
151
Michigan
22
Rush
Dearborn
Erie
Clark
6:05 AM to 10:15 AM
3:15 PM to 7:15 PM to
Linden (Weekdays only)
Wabash
State
Huron
56
61
3 10 66
54
42
LaSalle
Hudson
Kingsbury
PURPLE LINE
EXPRESS
60
59
53
66
BROWN LINE
Superior
400 E.
Pearson
Weekdays and Saturdays
until 1:00AM; Sundays
until 12:15 AM to Kimball
10
Michigan
22
48
28
73
145
146
147
151
75
69
63
Chestnut
Chicago
66
23
Chestnut
200 W.
Sedgwick
400 W.
Place
16
Dewitt
36
1
1000 N.
East Lake Shore Drive
67
Delaware
22
Institute
Oak
Walton
Walton
300 E.
Daily at all times
north to Howard
or south to 95th
F
N
O
R
T
H
Mies van der Rohe
Hotels
36
(see list below)
200 E.
Visitor Information
Centers
Bellevue
RED LINE
E
te
Downtown
Attractions
(see list above)
Metra commuter
train stations
Bus stop near
Metra station
(to Downtown)
Accessible station
D-9
Spertus Museum
of Judaica
145 r
D riv
146
e
151 147
65
Rush
Free connection
with farecard
(walk between stations)
Maple
E-11
Prairie Avenue Historic District:
· Clarke House Museum
· Glessner House Museum
· Vietnam Veterans
Art Museum
· Women’s Park and Gardens
Ou
36
Free connection
50
Nature Museum
& Zoo
1.5 miles
Bus 151
100 E.
rive
er D
Inn
CTA rail station
8
3 blocks
Chicago History
Museum
.5 miles
Bus 22
One way street
This bus route
is one way only
No stops
Bus route terminal
0 E/W
100 W.
10
F-10
Shedd Aquarium
D
3 blocks
Theatres (Live):
D-8 Auditorium
B-6 Cadillac Palace
C-6 Chicago
F-4 Chicago Shakespeare
(Navy Pier)
C-6 Goodman
E-6 Harris Music and Dance
D-2 Lookingglass
C-6 Oriental
D-9 Merle Reskin
C-7 LaSalle Bank
B-7
Willis (Sears) Tower
Skydeck
D-2
Old Water Tower &
Pumping Station
(Chicago Water Works;
Visitor Info. Center)
C
E-8
Taste of Chicago
(late June-early July)
C-3
River North Restaurants
& Nightlife
D-5, F-4, F-10
Sightseeing Boats
Bus runs daily
Bus runs part-time
36
D-7
Symphony Center
E-1
Oak Street Beach
Chicagoland Trips Kiosk
Direction of
travel around
Loop elevated
D-6
Pritzker Pavillion
· Grant Park
Music Festival
D-5
McCormick Tribune
Freedom Museum
B
CTA trains
D-9
Museum of Contemporary
Photography
D-2
North Michigan Avenue
Shopping
E-2
Museum of
Contemporary Art
A
C-6, C-7
State Street Shopping
E-11
McCormick Place
B-5
Merchandise Mart
A-8
Greektown
E-7
Petrillo Music Shell
F-4
Navy Pier:
· Skyline Stage
· Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
· Chicago Children’s Museum
· Smith Museum of Stained
Glass Windows
C-8
Harold Washington
Library Center
C-6
Daley Center
& Picasso
D-1
Nature Museum and Zoo