CTA (city trains & buses, the EL), Chicago

I do not about you, but I quite often have to look for a bus/train route.. So, I was glad when I found this website where you can quickly find all the stops where every CTA bus/train stops and time when it does so.

Here is a website where you can find any CTA bus route map and timetable.

Here is CTA train schedule and map.

And here are 6 systems maps (Northwest, North, Dowtown, West, Southwest, Far South).

You can take a tour of Chicago sights using public transport, which is very affordable and fun. The best way to do it is using CTA buses, but you can also use the 'L' especially if you are staying away from the downtown. Staying close to the 'L' line, but not in downtown area can be cheaper. You can take the 'L' into downtown and then visit the sights using buses. If you buy one of the CTA passes, you can use public transport all day for one low price. There is a website that shows all the main sightseeing sites and the bus routes that can take you there. Its address is http://www.greeenurbantours.com/ChiDtown.html

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this is the Subway Part of the Chicago Transport Authority (which manages trains and buses and the L) otherwise known as the "L" It is the second longest rapid transit system in total mileage in the United States, after the New York City Subway, and is the third busiest rail mass transit system in the United States, after New York City and Washington, DC's Metrorail. The 'L' consists of eight rapid transit lines laid out in a spoke-hub distribution paradigm focusing transit toward a central loop. Although the 'L' gained its nickname because large parts of the system are elevated, only 56.4 miles (90.8 km) of the 106.1-mile (170.8 km) system are elevated. Of the remainder, 35 miles (56.3 km) of it are at grade, and 11.4 miles (18.3 km) are underground. Rapid transit trains run every five to fifteen minutes during the day and every fifteen to sixty minutes all night. Lines are color-coded and denoted by route rather than destination. The Howard-Dan Ryan is the Red Line; Lake Englewood-Jackson Park is the Green Line; the O'Hare-Congress-Douglas is the Blue Line; the Ravenswood is the Brown Line (whose trains circle the Loop, giving the area its name); the Evanston Express is the Purple Line; and the Skokie Swift is the Yellow Line.

Fares depend upon the method of purchase. You can pay CTA fares with Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus, Transit Cards, or 30-Day, 7-Day or Visitor Passes, or cash. Purchase CTA fare media at more than 600 sales outlets throughout the Chicagoland area and at 144 rail stations. A single ride costs $ 2.25 so better to do 1 day pass at $ 5.75 or 3 day pass at $ 14 or 7 day pass at $ 23 and it includes rides to the buses and trolleys too.

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the public buses offer very cheap and convenient travelling to the different tourist destinations around chicago and the best deal is that you wont need to find parking and pay for parking but still the best mode of transport here is having friends to drive for you hehehe. Pick up a CTA System Map, available at most subway stations and visitor centers or from the CTA office on the seventh floor of the Merchandise Mart. Buses run every five to fifteen minutes during rush hours and every eight to twenty minutes at most other times and the bus stops are color coded and bus fare for Single Ride: $2.25 per ride for either bus or train (bus is $2 if using transit card) and it is better to get a day pass if you plan to use the bus for a few days and the prices are: 1-day: $5.75, 3-day: $14, 7-day: $23 (incuded also are the subways and train fares!). you can buy them at many locations around the city.

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The easiest way to get around is on the "L" or commuter trains. Costs are continually going up, and has more than doubled in last 15-20 years. Naperville commuter to downtown is now $10 round trip, and a bus locally about $1.50-2.00 a trip.

You can purchase a daily, 2 day, 4 day or 7 day subway pass. It's much cheaper than buying single rides as long as you use it 3/day. 1 ride is $2.25. A $5.50 daily pass pays for itself after 3 rides. 2-day is $10???

Now the hard part, finding somewhere to buy it. I was told Jewel sells it, but when you visit a city do you really want to run around (probably using a subway ride at $2.25 a pop) finding a grocery store? No, of course not, what are they thinking? There are a few very select places that sell it. Cumberland train station on the blue line sells it, though the machine was broke when I wanted to purchase it. You can pick one up supposedly at O'Hare airport. I know you can buy one at the huge hostel downtown on Congress Parkway--though it didn't accept cash or my atm, only my credit card when I was there. It's a separate machine than the ones you use to buy the single cards from.

Chicago is a great city to ride the metro, it's easy and it's near just about every major attraction... the ride are $2.50 per ride or you can buy a pass that you can add whatever amount you wish too....From the airport it takes 40 minutes to reach downtown.

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The CTA is a great way to get to the city from Midway Airport and around the city. The system includes both the 'EL' and city buses. They run frequently and get you to where you want to go. The trains were clean and even smelled good. :-)

To save some money, you can buy 1, 3 and 7 day passes. Our 3 day passes cost $14 each and allowed us to ride the subway and buses without having to pay anything additional. Over the three days we easily got our money's worth. A regular full fare single ride is $2.25.