Northwestern University Parking and Transportation Services

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I-Go

I-GO Car Sharing is a not for profit organization with a program for university employees and students to have the convenience, affordability and reliability of transportation without owning a car. Members are billed a low hourly rate that includes gas, insurance, maintenance and reserved parking on campus. NU faculty, staff and students can join for only $25.

Public Transportation

**Brown Line Construction Project**
As you are probably aware, the CTA has undertaken a capitol improvement project to expand the Brown Line's capacity and make the rail stations accessible to customers with disabilities. The current phase of construction requires the CTA to run the Brown, Purple and Red Line trains on only three tracks, resulting in a decreased service capacity. As this may adversely affect your commute, below are several alternatives for people commuting from Chicago to Evanston.

CTA
Some of the CTA busses and routes mentioned below may be affected by the CTA's proposed "Doomsday" cuts. For information on these routes, please check the CTA's website.

Evanston employees and students who commute on the CTA Purple Line Express, Red Line, or Brown Line will be impacted by construction that began April 2. Initially, the reduction from four tracks to three tracks is likely to result in only minor delays for those who travel on the Purple Line Express or Red Line north to Evanston in the morning and south to Chicago in the afternoon/evening. However, those who use the southbound Brown Line to Belmont in the morning or the northbound Brown Line from Belmont in the afternoon/evening are expected to experience substantial delays. Additionally, the Southport, Addison, and Montrose Brown Line Stations are now closed for at least one year. Please consult the CTA's website for updates and alternatives. Also, check out the the CTA Brown Line page for specific updates on the Brown Line and other routes. Finally, you may consult the RTA trip planner, which acknowledges the construction delays and offers suggestions for your commute.

Commuters traveling to Evanston who currently use the Red or Purple Line trains, may consider utilizing CTA busses. The #36 bus runs from downtown along Clark until Diversey where it continues on Broadway to Loyola University, where WildCARD holders may transfer to the Intercampus shuttle for free.

The #147 bus runs express from Michigan Avenue to Foster Street in Chicago and then along Sheridan to Howard Street Station. The #22 bus also runs to the Howard Street Station from the Loop on Clark Street. From the Howard Street Station, the #201 bus operates along Ridge Avenue to Davis Street and then continues north on Sheridan Road to Evanston Hospital and Ryan Field.

METRA
To the benefit of Evanston employees and students, Metra has increased frequencies in the morning from Chicago north to Evanston and in the afternoon/evening south from Evanston to Chicago. Weekday morning service to Evanston leaves Chicago Ogilvie Station at: 5:40, 6:29, 6:35, 6:45, 6:58, 7:25, 7:55, and 8:35. Those trains arrive, respectively, at Evanston Davis St. Station at: 6:05, 6:48, 6:59, 7:08, 7:17, 7:49, 8:19, and 8:58. All of these trains stop at the Clybourn Station, all, but the 6:29 train stops at the Ravenswood Station, and all trains except the 6:29 and 6:58 stop at the Rogers Park Station.

In the afternoon/evening, service to Chicago leaves Evanston Davis St. Station at: 4:00, 4:27, 5:00, 5:43, 6:00, 6:09, and 7:02. These trains arrive respectively at Chicago Olgilvie Station at: 4:25, 4:54, 5:28, 6:09, 6:25, 6:35, and 7:27. All of these trains stop at Clybourn Station, Ravenswood Station and Rogers Park Station. Please see the Metra website for more complete schedule and fare information.

CTA/METRA COMBINATION
For residents of Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Ravenswood, and other nearby neighborhoods commuting north to Evanston in the morning, the Evanston Chamber recommends the following transit alternative. Take the Brown Line north to Damen Ave. Station. Walk four short blocks east to Metra Ravenswood Station. Alternatively, the Clyborn Metra station may be closer for some commuters and is accessible via the #8 Ashland bus. Take Metra north to Evanston (10 minutes to Davis St. Station). Trains leave Clyborn and travel north in the morning at 6:43, 6:53, 7:06, 7:33, 8:03, and 8:43. Trains leave Ravenswood north in the morning at: 6:48, 6:58, 7:11, 7:38, 8:09, and 8:48. Reverse the route south in the afternoon/evening. The Ravenswood Metra Station can also be easily reached via the CTA #50 Damen Ave. bus or the #8 Ashland Ave. bus. For many commuters, this combination alternative is faster than the Purple Line Express because of the outstanding on-time reliability of the Metra trains.

Transit Benefit Program
Want to save money? Did you know you can save on the cost of your Transit Cards by having the cost deducted right out of your paycheck on a pre-tax basis? Find out more about the payroll deduction for CTA Transit Cards or RTA Transit Checks. (The transit benefit program is only available for eligible faculty and staff.)

By utilizing public transportation, you can increase free time, reduce car costs (gas, wear & tear, mileage, etc.) and have a positive impact on the environment.

The RTA System
The combined operations of the RTA's three Service Boards -- the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, constitutes the second-largest rapid transit and rail system in North America and the nation's third-largest bus system.

The RTA is focused on creating a world-class public transportation system that is convenient, affordable, reliable, and safe, and that is the keystone of the region's growing business opportunities, thriving job market, clean air and livable communities. For more details, please read RTA's Vision and Goals and RTA's Strategic Plan Information.

RTA Transit Information Center - (312) 836-7000
RTA Transit Information (TIC) is a free telephone service that will provide you with transit times, directions and connections to anywhere in the six-county service area by dialing direct to 312/836-7000, city or suburbs (TTY 312-836-4949).

Note: For the fastest and most efficient service, contact the TIC before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. if possible. The TIC operates daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

New: You can try the RTA's online trip planning service that promises to produce customized travel itineraries based on your starting point and destination addresses. Go to http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com