cta travel directions

April 28, 2024

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Getting Here

Chicago transit authority.

The Chicago Transit Authority, or CTA, provides train and bus service throughout Chicago and dozens of neighboring communities.

Eight 'L' train lines cross the city providing rapid transit services (known as a "subway" or "metro" system in many cities). 140 local and express bus routes complement this system. Many routes run from early morning through late evening, year-round, and a number run 24/7. Many of CTA's services connect with or compliment other regional travel services, including Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus services.

Nearest CTA TRAINS & BUSES to Union Station

CTA Trains Blue Line (O'Hare-Forest Park via downtown): Walk two blocks south along Clinton St. (on the west side of Great Hall) and enter subway station under the viaduct just south of Van Buren St.

CTA Buses Bus routes 7, 60, 124, 125, 126, 151, 156 and 157 (plus routes 1, 28, 121 and 125 during weekday rush and route 130 mid-May through Labor Day) directly serve Union Station and can be taken from the following locations:

• Union Station Transit Center: 1, 28, 121, 124, 128, 151, 156
• West side of Clinton, north side of block: 125, 130, 192
• West side of Clinton, south side of block: 7, 60, 157.
• Southwest corner of Clinton/Jackson: 126, 754, 755
• Other Stations
• Additional Info

Other CTA Stations

• Red Line (Howard-Dan Ryan): take the 1, 7, 28, 126 or 151 buses east to Dearborn for access to the Blue Lines (and Red Line via pedway).
• Orange, Pink, Brown and Purple Line Express Lines: walk three blocks east on either Jackson or Adams to Wells for Quincy station.
• For accessible entry to the Blue Line: take a 1, 7, 28, 126 or 151 bus east to Dearborn for access to the Blue Lines (and Red Line via pedway).
• For accessible entry to other 'L' lines serving downtown, take bus routes 1, 7, 28 or 126 east to State Street to reach the accessible Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren station to reach the Orange, Pink, Brown or Purple Line Express lines, or a 151 bus to Washington/Wabash for these lines and also the Green Line.

Plan Your Trip

You can use trip planners on CTA's website to get step-by-step directions on CTA, as well as from many popular mapping/travel apps.

You can buy new fare cards and tickets from the Ventra Vending Machine in Union Station (in the Metra ticketing area) or pay a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) fare directly at bus fare readers and 'L' station entry gates using contact-less bankcards or mobile payment apps like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Paying with Cash

Cash is also accepted on buses, though exact change is required and transfers are not available when paying cash directly on a bus.

Additional Information & Resources

• Plan a trip
• Fares/tickets (including how to pay)
• Route info & schedules

Still Have Questions?

For additional information on the CTA, or to view the CTA's trip planning tools and information, visit their website at transitchicago.com .

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Optimizing Your Journey with the CTA Trip Planner

The user’s journey on transit is simplified and rendered more efficient through various accessible tools and resources. With numerous strategies in place, individuals can navigate transit networks with confidence and ease, thereby contributing to a smooth and timely transit experience.

Table of Contents

Utilizing Trip-Planning Tools for Efficient Journeys

Effective trip planning is facilitated by various platforms, among which Google Maps and the RTA (Regional Transit Authority) Travel Information Center stand out for their reliability and user-friendly interfaces. Both entities provide comprehensive tools and resources, optimizing transit routes and ensuring passengers find the most straightforward path to their destinations.

Leveraging Google Maps for Transit and Pedestrian Directions

When exploring through Google Transit, an integrated feature within Google Maps, users can retrieve both transit and walking directions, providing a multi-modal navigation solution. This functionality, accessible through a new browsing window, simplifies trip planning by consolidating different modes of transportation into one coherent route.

Accessing RTA Travel Information Center Services

The RTA Travel Information Center, accessible at +1 (312) 836-7000, avails travel information to passengers, ensuring they navigate through transit networks with ease. It is essential to note that the center operates from 6am to 7pm, from Monday to Saturday, and is equipped to provide information via TTY at (312) 836-4949. Passengers seeking optimized services should be prepared to provide details about their starting points, destinations, and intended travel times.

Making Use of Third-Party Transit Applications

Various third-party applications, which leverage data from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), offer step-by-step trip planners to aid users in seamlessly navigating through cities using transit. While checking your device’s app store for these applications, it’s prudent to select apps that have been recognized and trusted by a broad user base, bearing in mind that downloading and using third-party applications should be performed with due diligence and caution, as the veracity and safety of these apps cannot be assured.

Self-Guided Trip Planning with Available Maps

Published maps, both online and within physical transit locations, serve as invaluable resources for those planning their trips autonomously. In addition, within each railcar and station, maps are conspicuously displayed to assist passengers in crafting their routes while utilizing the ‘L’ transit options, ensuring that even without digital access, passengers can navigate the transit system effectively.

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker 4+

Chicago transit :cta train bus, manish chawla, designed for ipad.

• 4.1 • 9 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker app is an all-in-one CTA transit & transport app. CTA Train Tracker all currently running live lines with Metra Train/ Rail L Map Now it’s easier to travel through Chicago with a simpler & reliable app for Chicago transit - Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker app is an all-in-one CTA transit & transport app that's naturally built around the experience of travels through Chicago, Metra Train time Tracker with all currently running live lines, Metra, CTA Bus Tracker – Departure & Arrival timings: All live routes of Northbound & Southbound. It offers Day & Night modes – Light / Dark modes for your preference to keep your experience personalized. Chicago Metra Trains combined with the CTA Bus network using mass transit with its frequent status changes, delays, and alerts can be a challenge, we have kept it simple enough for regular commuters and tourists alike. Try the simplistic Designed, Most Accurate & Reliable All-In-One Chicago CTA App covering all of Chicago transport networks making it an awesome Chicago travel app for everyday use. Best Quality Transit detailed Metra Train/ Rail L Map (Access Offline even with no network) Having the most useful Rail map handy in your pocket makes it easier when commuting in Chicago, you have all - Chicago Bus Tracker, Metra Train time Tracker, Departure & Arrival timings, Journey planner & Rail L map for your all travel needs. Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker offers Top Features Including: Chicago Travel Map / CTA L Map: Includes High Resolution Chicago Travel Map – CTA Rail L Map able which takes endless zoom. Chicago Trip Planner / Chicago Journey planner - Directions & best Route to take for Point A to Point B (Departure Now & Departure & Arrival on Later date & time) with : Need to reach somewhere? Be it now or at a later time and you just want to check. We’ve got your back, just search the A-to-B destination - the starting point and endpoint of your journey and get Transit directions to anywhere from any place in Chicago for any date! Covers all modes of public transportation! •Get to know the best suggested route. •Get available alternate routes. •Click on your preferred route and get all granular details like minimum walking distance to the nearest transport to pick up point and after drop point to your destination to make it your Chicago travel app complete. Chicago Metra Train Tracker : Keep all Metra train live running status at the current situation in your hands, Always! Ensure your journey stays as smooth as it should be. •All the Lines with Live Rail L running status & Colour coding •Journey Duration •Timings and Inner or Outer Loop Platform indication so you are always sure and saving your time in your commute. Chicago Bus Tracker : Stay in control with all Live Bus transit tracker for Chicago for both Northbound & Southbound buses with Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker. Search by typing or click from the list, get in-depth options such as: •Bus Number •Bus timings •Service Bulletins & updates •From / To Destinations •Journey duration

Version 1.2.99

pace bus tracker bug fixed.

Ratings and Reviews

I have been using the app for a while over a year, fist i noticed the time faded on the iPhone it really blended in with the background which is bad it was hard to see the time, this was fixed it looks a lot better. However i noticed that the estimated time of arrival for the trains to get to the station is completely off sometimes by an extra 10 minutes, in train times that’s a lot, considering trains don’t wait. I have double check it the actual arrival time with the CTAs website and it matches, but when you do the calculation for the expected time it takes to get to the station is off as I explained above. Please fix it , the cta only shows the time the train will be there but it won’t show you the time it will take for the train to get there I know it’s a simple calculation but it is a feature I really like of this app. Please fix.

What Happened

Used this ap for downtown navigation many times. Today it is hangingup on the L tracker. Can’t return to home. Ads stuck and not in my language. And they aren’t even great products. Is it because of latest ios fix this week? Please fix it. Gm

Accurate Schedule

Trip planner does not provide accurate schedule. There is no schedule for cta trains or buses.

App Privacy

The developer, Manish Chawla , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Identifiers

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

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• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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RTA advocates for state reform, seeks funding to fight climate change

Transit is the answer to the State of Illinois meeting its climate goals. RTA's application to the U.S. EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program would transform transit.

Coalition members provide feedback on rider safety, and more

On April 10, over 80 riders, agency staff, advocates, and other stakeholders met virtually with the RTA for the fourth quarterly Transit is the Answer Coalition meeting.

RTA hosts Safety and Security Summit

On February 27, the RTA joined with CTA, Metra, Pace, and other municipal and social service partners to host a cross-sector Public Transit Safety and Security Summit for exploring holistic solutions.

Visit new Transit is the Answer website

The RTA has launched a new website to track progress toward safer, more reliable, more accessible public transportation for the Chicago region.

The RTA is...

A government agency created by the State of Illinois to coordinate the Chicago region’s transit system, oversee its financing with transparency and accountability, and plan for a future with adequate, accessible, and equitable public transportation for the six counties of Northeastern Illinois. Learn more about the work we do...

Learn about regional planning and collaboration, innovative mobility pilots, and how the transit system is performing.

Find out how your community can apply for funding to plan and implement transit-friendly policies.

Plan your trip and learn how we are making the system more affordable and accessible for all.

The RTA in action

Through the Section 5310 program, the RTA will award nearly $14M in federal funding for projects that enhance mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The services funded through this program provided more than 600,000 trips in 2022.

Section 5310

In September, the RTA Board of Directors approved a program of projects that will make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to get to jobs, medical appointments, the grocery store, social activities, and more. The Section 5310 Program is a federal formula grant program that provides assistance to public transportation projects that focus on enhancing mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

View ridership statistics, maps, and find out where we are investing in transit infrastructure near you on RTAMS, the Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics website.

Moscow Bus Network

Moscow's crazy traffic and its excellent metro network mean that the city's buses and trolleybuses aren't the number one option for tourists .

Moscow has hundreds of bus and trolleybus routes , many of which connect the city centre with its otherwise-isolated suburban neighbourhoods. Regular traffic jams mean that the bus network has not always been the most recommendable option , especially as the metro is so efficient. 

Having said that, new bus lanes have opened up recently making it a comfortable alternative for certain routes. The bus can be a good, economical option at night , when 13 routes replace the metro after it shuts down (all starting from Kitay-Gorod metro and taking the main roads out to the edge off the city).

More modern buses have screens indicating the stops along the route, but in older ones you may well struggle knowing where to get off if relying on the Russian-language loudspeaker announcements .

If you do decide to catch the bus, tickets can be purchased from kiosks and metro stops, and the majority of lines operate between 6 am and 1 am.

You may also be interested in

While Moscow has an efficient public transport system, you may sometimes find it more convenient to travel by taxi and prices are usually affordable. Find fares and top tips here!

Tickets & travelcards

Fares for Moscow's public transport network are the same for every mode of transport making it really easy to travel. See all the different tickets here!

FREE public transit serving Moscow, Idaho

SMART Transit offers free rides for everyone in the community. It drives you to all the top destinations in town.

Rider alerts

• No current items

There are no current rider alerts.

• RIDER ALERT! College & Deakin stop is out of service today 3/11 and will re-open mid-day 3/12 due to an emergency road closure March 11, 2024
• RIDER ALERT! Closed Monday, Feb. 19th for President’s Day. January 8, 2024
• RIDER ALERT! Closed Christmas Day (12/25) and New Year’s Day (1/1) December 13, 2023

Great reasons to ride SMART Transit

Avoid paying top dollar for gas. Everyone rides free on the fixed-route buses.

Avoid parking and weather hassles

Tired of wasting time hunting for a parking spot? Uneasy driving in ice and snow?  Take SMART Transit! 

Help the environment

SMART Transit is an environmentally friendly way to get around town. Every vehicle on the road produces on average one pound of CO2 per mile. Taking public transportation can reduce CO2 emissions by 45%, decreasing pollutants in atmosphere and improving air quality.

Schedule & Maps

SMART Transit routes take you locations all around town.

Dial-A-Ride

Dial-A-Ride is an affordable transit option for passengers with special needs. It provides pre-scheduled rides with curb-to-curb service. 

For eligible riders, the cost may be covered by Medicaid.

Covid-19 policy

In accordance with City of Moscow guidelines, SMART Transit does not currently require face coverings aboard buses.

Photo curtesy of Design West

Become a SMART Transit supporter

Thanks to our donors. Your generous support of SMART Transit strengthens the community: 

• Enables Moscow citizens—especially seniors and those with special needs—to live independently.
• Transports middle school, high school, and college students to school.
• Reduces use of fossil fuels to help the environment. 
• Provides an alternative to driving a car in ice and snow.

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