University of Chicago Public Transportation Options

The University of Chicago, one of the world's most elite academic institutions, is located at the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Specifically, 55th Street, Cottage Grove Avenue, University, and E. 61st Street border the campus. The Midway Plaisance greenery between 59th and 60th streets bisects the University of Chicago.

Although Hyde Park is an eclectic area, the surrounding South Side leaves little to be desired for the typical U. of C. student. Ironically, this immediate neighborhood offers a dearth of late-night food and entertainment options outside of Woodlawn Tap, McDonalds, and Bar Louie.

Hence, University of Chicago students are most interested in locating available transportation to the Chicago Loop, North Side, and of course, Midway Airport to visit Mommy and Daddy. The most critical links between these requisite areas are the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) #6 and #55 buses. Blue CTA Bus flag-post signage mark the stops.

The CTA Red, Green, and Metrarail Electric lines also service the vicinity.

CTA buses and trains cost $2.25 per one - way, or $2.50 for two train to bus transfers at the time of this writing. The Metra charges by zone and one ride into downtown costs $2.35 ($1.15). Of course, Metrarail is a commuter service into Chicago from exurbia and cars typically run hourly. Students must check Metra scheduling prior to making the trip to ensure that trains are indeed, available.

The Metra stops at 51^st - Lake Park, 55^th - Lake Park, and 59^th and Harper in Hyde Park.

This guide details how to take public transportation to and from the University of Chicago.

Taking Public Transportation to and From the University of Chicago and Midway Airport

Midway Airport is located directly to the west of UC at 55^th Street and IL 50 Cicero Avenue.

The eponymous CTA 55 - Garfield bus regularly connects the University of Chicago with Midway and stops all along 55^th Street. Remember, 55^th Street is also referred to as Garfield Boulevard west of Washington Park. Newcomers into the area will note that Washington Park and Cottage Grove Avenue are distinct borders separating the Hyde Park neighborhood from the abject poverty between the Dan Ryan and King Drive at Chicago's South Side.

First time students flying into Midway Airport will locate the CTA 55 - Garfield at the extensive bus depot outside of the Midway terminals. Eastbound buses to the University of Chicago will flash "Museum of Science and Industry." Students, parents, and visitors will de board these buses at 55^th and Ellis, which abuts the campus. The trip between Midway and Chicago takes approximately 50 minutes.

This route also provides access to the CTA Red and Green Lines at the I-90 / 94 Dan Ryan Expressway and King Drive (Prairie), respectively. Riders may transfer here to enter trains towards the downtown Loop, or deeper into the South Side.

CTA 55 provides OWL, or 24-hour service. Of course, the X55 Garfield Express is also available to shave 10 minutes off of the commute. These 55 buses run approximately every 5 minutes during regular business hours. The Express route does shut down after 7 p.m. and on the weekends.

55 - Garfield buses leaving Hyde Park and going to the airport will flash "Midway." Again, the CTA 55 can be hailed at the northern border of campus at 55^th Street and Ellis Avenue.

The 55 is not to be confused with the CTA 170 U. of Chicago / Midway. The 170 encircles the Midway Plaisance and is free of charge for Chicago affiliates presenting a valid UChicago ID card on weekdays.

Taking Public Transportation to and From the University of Chicago and the Loop

The CTA #6 - Jackson Park Express is the most critical link between Hyde Park and downtown.

From the south, the 6 enters Hyde Park via Stony Island Avenue, which is east of the South Shore Line viaduct. The bus turns east at 57^th street and traces S. Hyde Park Boulevard to E. Hyde Park (51^st Street) underneath the viaduct, before cutting north at Lake Park Boulevard.

The 6 is an express bus from E. 47^th and Lake Park into downtown. This bus will stop at the Museum Campus off Columbus Drive and trace Balbo to Michigan Avenue, before terminating at Wacker Drive.

CTA 6 - Jackson Park Express buses into downtown will flash "Wacker - Columbus."

Chicago students will walk directly east via the Midway to Stony Island for the 6.

The Loop is Chicago's primary commercial district and is of particular importance because all public transportation systems converge downtown. Students may transfer to CTA trains headed even further north from the Loop for O'Hare Airport, Chicago nightlife, and Magnificent Mile shopping.

The 24-hour Red Line barrels beneath State Street at the Loop. De board the 6 at Jackson and Michigan and walk west across Michigan Avenue into downtown for the Red Line. State Street is two blocks to the west of Michigan at DePaul's Loop campus. Northbound Red Line trains highlighting "Howard" will run past River North entertainment and the Magnificent Mile, prior to the North Side.

Grand, Chicago, Clark - Division, Fullerton, Belmont, and Addison are key stops along the CTA Red Line for shopping, trendy clubbing, and Wrigley Field. The CTA 173 U. of Chicago / Lakeview Express is another alternative for students and employees to head north during times of the year when school is actually in session. The 173 cuts directly through campus and is one-directional from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The CTA 6 headed back towards campus is to be met at State Street downtown. These Jackson Park Express buses will flash "South Shore - 79^th" and can be picked up in front of Chicago's iconic Garrett's Popcorn at State and Jackson.

#6 service does end at approximately 1 a.m. The walk to and from campus to Lake Park or Stony Island may also be too lengthy for older parents.

Night owls and families will use combinations of the CTA #55 Garfield bus and the Red (Green) Lines into downtown.

Again, the 55 bus is to be met at Chicago's northern fringe, which is 55^th Street and Ellis. Buses headed towards these CTA lines will flash "Midway." The CTA driver and / or automatic computer voice directive will call out the CTA Green and Red Lines, which meet Garfield Boulevard at King Drive (Prairie - Calumet) and the Dan Ryan.

The Green Line is a faster cutoff and trains into the city will flash "Harlem." 24-hour Red Line trains from the Ryan into the Loop will don "Howard" nameplates. Both of these lines intersect at Roosevelt, with the Red Line emerging as the State Street subway and the Green Line remaining elevated over Wabash Avenue and Lake Street around the Loop.

Cermak - Chinatown and SOX - 35^th may be the only stops along the Red Line before downtown that are of any interest to U. of C. students.

Red and Green Line trains headed back to the South Side will flash "95 - Dan Ryan," "Cottage Grove," or "Ashland / 63." The University of Chicago crowd will exit at Garfield from either line and cross this wide boulevard to take CTA 55 - Garfield (Museum of Science and Industry) buses going east towards the campus. Exit the bus at 55^th and Ellis for the UC campus.

Ahh. The CTA Green, Red, and 55 bus, where wide eyed U of C students, working class locals, fashionable Hyde Parkers, and shocked Helicopter parents meet crack heads, junkies, and various weirdos mumbling to themselves about the '78 County Fair and grabbing your leg for change.

Good Times!

University of Chicago Public Transportation Options, Sources:

Kofi Bofah, Chicago Street Guide and Grid, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1718194/chicago_street_guide_and_grid.html?cat=16

The University of Chicago, http://www.uchicago.edu/

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), http://www.transitchicago.com/

The City of Chicago, http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do