The Chicago Transit Authority and Metra are increasing service this weekend as city officials warn of heavy traffic amid a number of summer events in the city.
The transit agencies said they would provide additional services for customers going to Spring Awakening, Ribfest, the Chicago Blues Fest and Copa America Centenario.
Metra will add extra trains on the BNSF, Union Pacific North, Northwest and West lines on Friday and Saturday, and extra capacity on Sunday to accommodate riders heading to Blues Fest and Spring Awakening, according to a statement from the transit agency. Other Metra lines will add cars to trains to increase capacity.
Alcohol will be banned from all Metra trains after 7 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, according to the statement.
The CTA is urging customers going to and from events this weekend to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines at rail line and CTA vending machines.
Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications warned that the weekend events are expected to draw large crowds and impact traffic across the area.
Streets closures for the events include:
Copa America Centenario |June 10 |8:30 p.m. at Soldier Field
Local
• Motorists should expect impacts from the I-55 construction project and seek alternate routes.
• Uber/Lyft Drop Off and Pick up: Columbus, between Balbo and 9th Streets
Chicago Blues Fest | June 10 – June 12 | 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily at Grant Park
• Street closures are in place on Columbus from Monroe to Congress and Jackson from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive. All streets will be open to traffic by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2016.
Spring Awakening Music Festival | June 10- June 12 | 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. daily at Addams/Medill Park
• CTA has added extra service for the event
• ADA Paratransit/Uber/Lyft drop off will be 15th Street and pick up location will be in the Costco Parking Lot located at 14th and Ashland
America's Cup Chicago | June 10 – Jun 12 | Race Period: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily at Navy Pier
• Residents, motorists and boaters should anticipate increased pedestrian and boating activity at Navy Pier and along the lakefront
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET CLOSURES:
Old Town Art Fest: Closures go into effect at 9 a.m. on 6/10 until 3 p.m. on 6/13
Wells Street Art Fest: Closures go into effect at 12 a.m. until 10 a.m. on 6/11
Andersonville Sommarfest: Closures go into effect for 5400-5500 N. Clark, Balmoral and Rasher Streets at 9 a.m. on 6/10 and will be back open at 6 a.m. on 6/13
Closures in effect for set-up: 5200-5400 N. Clark, Farragut, Berwyn and Summerdale, 2 a.m. until 11:59 a.m. on 6/11
Ribfest: Closures in effect TODAY, 6/9 and tomorrow 6/10: Belle Plaines, Cuyler and Warner Streets from noon to 5 p.m.
Closures go into effect for 4000 – 4185 N. Lincoln Avenue from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on 6/10
University of Chicago Graduation: University Avenue, from 57th Street to 59th Street, currently closed (as of 6/8) until 5 p.m. on 6/15
Closures go into effect for Ellis Avenue, from 57th Street to 59th Street, from 5 p.m. on 6/12 until 8 p.m. on 6/13
Closures go into effect for 57th Street, from Ellis Avenue to University Avenue, from 4 a.m. until 8 p.m. on 6/13
Printers Row Lit Fest: 600-700 S. Federal Street is currently closed (as of 6 a.m. today) until 5 a.m. on 6/13
Closures go into effect for 500-600 S. Dearborn Street, and 30-80 W. Polk Street, at 6 a.m. on 6/10 until 5 a.m. on 6/13
NOTE: Harrison remains open.
Remix Chicago: Closures go into effect: 2300-2399 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2800-2866 Belden and 2800-2866 Medill at 2 a.m. on 6/11 until 4 a.m. on 6/13
Other events this weekend include Sox homestand against the Kansas City Royals at US Cellular Field, Ribfest Chicago, Printers Row Lit Fest, Old Town Art Fair, Wells Street Art Festival, Andersonville Midsommarfest, Fiesta Back of the Yards, The Cure concert at UIC Pavilion, Remix Chicago and the University of Chicago Convocation Ceremony.
