RED
Cermak- Chinatown
Sox-35th
47th
Garfield
63rd
69th
79th
87th
95th/Dan Ryan
CTA is rebuilding the south Red Line from just north of Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan.
The work will benefit Red Line riders for decades to come—through faster travel times, increased
reliability, and spruced-up stations with a variety of improvements.
This May, the Red Line will be completely closed after Roosevelt Road to 95th Street for five
months. CTA will offer several alternative travel options during this closure to minimize the
impact on customers as much as possible (see other side of this page).
Faster travel times Better reliability Improved stations
Project scope
CTA will replace all of the ties, rails, third rails, drainage system and ballast (the stone
material that holds the ties in place) in the Red Line right-of-way. Additionally, eight stations
along the Dan Ryan Branch will be improved, from basic enhancements like new paint and better
lighting to additional customer amenities, like new benches and bike racks. New elevators will be
installed at the Garfield, 63rd and 87th stations—making the entire south Red Line fully
accessible.
How will this benefit Red Line riders?
New tracks will cut up to 20 minutes off the daily round-trip commute for South Side riders. That
amounts to nearly four days per year!
Additionally, the station improvements will enhance the customer experience, and the new elevators
at Garfield, 63rd and 87th will make those stations fully accessible.
The project has created hundreds of job opportunities, from construction trades and apprentices to
bus drivers and traffic control aides.
The shorter project means better and faster service—and modern trains and stations—nearly four
years ahead of a weekends-only work schedule (the Red Line has the highest weekend
ridership of any line).
Why is this work necessary?
The Dan Ryan Branch opened in 1969, when Richard Nixon was in the White House, a gallon of gas cost
35
cents and Gale Sayers won the NFL rushing title. The original tracks are well beyond their expected
lifespan, and call for a complete replacement. Because of the poor track condition, trains must
travel slower—meaning trips are longer. Without rehabilitation, rail service will become even
slower and the cost for replacement will continue to grow.
Dan Ryan terminal dedication, 1969
2000-series train at 67th, 1971
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redlinesouth.com
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Red Line South Alternative Travel Options
CTA understands that our customers will experience longer-than-normal commuting times during the
Red Line South
reconstruction project. Our goal is to provide a number of convenient travel options, and to
minimize the project’s impact as much as possible.
To help guide you through your travel alternatives, CTA is providing a number of travel options:
Alternate Rail Service
Red Line service on Green Line tracks — Roosevelt to
Ashland/63rd: After the Roosevelt subway station, Red Line trains will continue along the South
Side elevated structure normally used by the Green Line. Trains will make all stops along the South
Side elevated to the Ashland/63rd stop and return to Howard the same way.
Green Line service — Harlem to Loop and Cottage Grove: Green Line trains will operate between
Harlem and Cottage Grove. During weekday rush periods, alternating trains from Harlem will
terminate downtown (at Roosevelt in the AM; counterclockwise around the Loop in the PM) and return
to Harlem; all others will continue to Cottage Grove. Green Line customers needing to travel
to/from Ashland/63rd should transfer between Red Line trains serving Ashland/63rd and Green Line
trains at Garfield.
Free Rail Entry at Garfield Elevated Station
Customers at 69th, 79th, 87th and 95th Streets will be able
to board Red and Green line trains for free at the Garfield elevated station.
Shuttle Bus Service Plan
Free Bus Shuttle Service
CTA will provide free shuttle bus service south of 63rd to connect
customers with Red and Green Line service, and to provide service for local trips between 95th and
63rd. There will be five bus shuttle routes: four express shuttles and one local shuttle.
Express Bus Shuttles: CTA will provide five express bus shuttles (approximately 4am until 1am) for
the duration of the Red Line South project.
Four shuttles will provide non-stop service between the Garfield elevated station and stops at
closed Red Line stations between 95th/Dan Ryan and 69th. Most of these shuttles will operate via
the Dan Ryan Expressway. The four express shuttles are:
• #R95: 95th-Garfield Express shuttle (via Dan Ryan)
• #R87: 87th-Garfield Express shuttle (via Dan Ryan)
• #R79: 79th-Garfield Express shuttle (via Dan Ryan)
• #R69: 69th-Garfield Express shuttle (via State Street)
A fifth non-stop shuttle will provide express service between the Roosevelt and Cermak-Chinatown
stations – the #R22 Cermak-Roosevelt Express.
North
Red Line to Howard via
State Street Subway
Local shuttle extended to Garfield during Owl hours (1am-4am) only
Green Line to Harlem via Loop ‘L’
Local Bus Shuttle: From approximately 4am until 1am, a local bus shuttle – the #R63 Dan Ryan Local
Shuttle – will operate between 63rd and 95th streets, with stops at 69th, 79th and 87th streets.
Garfield Garfield
R55
From approximately 1am to 4am, it will extend to the Garfield elevated station as the #R55 Dan Ryan
Owl Shuttle to connect to Red Line trains.
63rd
R69
Supplemental Bus Service
CTA will provide expanded service to north-south streets, including:
69th
79th
R79
R87
Legend
Green Line service: Harlem-Cottage Grove
• #3 King Drive
• #4 Cottage Grove
• #8 Halsted
• #8A South Halsted
• #9 Ashland
Other Bus Service
• #J14 Jeffery Jump
• #24 Wentworth
• #29 State
• #44 Wallace/Racine
• #48 South Damen
87th
95th/Dan Ryan
R63
R55
R95
via Loop elevated
Red Line service: Howard-Ashland/63rd via subway
Dan Ryan branch: temporarily out of service
R63 Dan Ryan shuttle bus, with route name
Shuttle stop
Rerouted Bus Service: CTA will extend these routes to help facilitate customer travel. They
include:
• Extensions or reroutes of these bus services to connect with
the South Side elevated stations: #N5, #8A, #44, #48, #51, #59,
#71, and #169.
Discount Bus Rides
CTA will offer a 50-cent discount on bus rides along all bus routes
redlinesouth.com
@redlinesouth
south of 63rd Street.
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