As the academic year gets underway, the University has made several changes to its bus services, including new stops and times, and a new shuttle route to 53rd Street.
The changes are part of an ongoing effort to tailor the University’s transportation system to the changing needs and habits of the UChicago community, and incorporate recent survey results and other feedback from the past year.
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Two changes have been made to the NightRide routes. The changes, which took effect Sept. 15, will help ease congestion and address pedestrian safety concerns, as well as provide added service to Arley Cathey Dining Commons.
- The East route shuttle staging area has been relocated a block north to the accessible loading zone area on the south side of 56th Street east of Greenwood Avenue. The shuttle will continue its normal route from this location. Passengers can access the new loading and unloading area from the current transportation hub by walking northbound along the pedestrian pathway between the Regenstein Library and Bartlett Dining Commons, on through Max Palevsky Residential Commons.
- The Central route has been extended further south, with a new stop located at the southwest corner of Ellis Avenue and 60th Street. This service enhancement will help Broadview residents get to Cathey Dining Commons for meals.
To ride any University shuttle, a valid UChicago ID card must be presented when boarding the shuttles. All University students, faculty, staff and University of Chicago Medicine staff are required to display their UChicago ID as part of the University’s shuttle policy.
Beginning, Friday, Oct. 4, the South Loop shuttle will depart campus at 6 p.m., three hours earlier than last year. This shuttle will still leave from University Avenue at 57th Street every hour, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to midnight. The last shuttle will leave from the area near the main entrance of Roosevelt station on the half-hour from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. This service continues to operate on Fridays and Saturdays only.
The CTA’s route 192 southbound morning bus now exits Lake Shore Drive at 53rd Street and makes an additional stop at 53rd Street and Lake Park Avenue, before continuing to 59th Street and continuing to stop at 59th and Kimbark Avenue, 59th Street and Ellis Avenue, and the Goldblatt Pavilion. Another stop has been added at the end of the route at Cottage Grove Avenue and 57th Street for both the morning and evening rush periods.
To provide transportation options to and from University offices on 53rd Street, as well as a growing number of dining, retail and hotel options, the University is launching a 53rd Street pilot shuttle. The shuttle will operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and is free of charge to all University students, faculty and staff, and University of Chicago Medicine staff. A valid UChicago ID must be tapped when boarding the shuttle to help the Transportation and Parking Office gather important ridership information that will determine exact shuttle routes and intervals. The shuttle is expected to begin in early November, to coincide with the opening of the Harper Court building.
The CTA’s Red Line reconstruction project, which completely shut down the Red Line south of Roosevelt station to the 95th Street station, is scheduled to be completed in mid-October. For the most up-to-date information on the CTA project, visit transitchicago.com.
For the most up-to-date information on all transportation and parking initiatives or services, visit safety-security.uchicago.edu/transportation.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
