CTA Cuts Blue Line Track Between Jefferson Park and Harlem for Weekend Repairs

The Chicago Transit Authority will replace Blue Line train service with shuttle buses on a key segment of the O’Hare branch this weekend. The disruption is designed to facilitate track maintenance on the Northwest Side of the city.

The service change begins at 10 p.m. on Friday and continues until 4 a.m. on Monday. During this window, trains will not run between the Jefferson Park and Harlem stations. Passengers traveling through this specific stretch must exit their trains and board buses to complete their journeys. The CTA stated the work is intended to provide a “safer, smoother commute” and is funded through the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act.

Trains will continue to operate on the rest of the line. Service remains intact between O’Hare International Airport and Harlem. Additionally, regular train service will continue between Jefferson Park, Downtown, and Forest Park. Riders whose trips span the closed section will need to transfer to the shuttle service to reach their final destinations.

The transit authority has designated specific pickup points for the replacement buses. At the western end of the closure, shuttles will board passengers at the Jefferson Park bus terminal, specifically at stop A. On the eastern side, buses will depart from the south bays of the Harlem terminal, located near Harlem Avenue. These designated stops aim to streamline the transfer process for commuters.

The CTA advises riders to add extra time to their travel schedules. Standard train tracker estimates will not accurately reflect the longer duration of bus service during the outage. This is particularly relevant for passengers heading to O’Hare for flights. Regular Blue Line train service is scheduled to resume on Monday morning following the completion of the track work.