aka the purple line of the EL (or is it just the CTA? I never know).
I need to know all about the purple line, please. I have several questions. Be kind to me–I’ve never ridden the EL in my life. I’m a suburban girl who is only familiar with the 151 (all the shops on Michigan Ave!), and Metra (the museums!). For everything else, we tend to drive downtown.
How much is it to ride? I am assuming it is the same as bus fare.
Exactly where does the purple line let me off–I need to get to Sheridan and Diversy. I think the purple line goes straight up LaSalle(?), so is that about 6 blocks? I need to Duffy’s (close enough landmark). Is it comparable in time to the bus or is it faster? (the bus can take almost 40 minutes some evenings).
Do I pick up the purple line on Lake and Randolph?
Sure, I go wander around the CTA site, but I want the skinny. With the CTA decreasing frequency on the 151 and 156, I’m looking for another way to get to Randolph St station* and my work.
thank you in advance.
*It is still called that, but it’s also called Millennium Station.
The Purple Line downtown is an express that only runs at rush hour - it goes to Evanston. For the location you’re talking about, you’d be more likely to take the Brown Line, which makes the same stops (mostly). However, see below.
Yes, $2.25. If you make the return trip within the time allowed for transfers (I think it’s two hours), you only pay an additional 25 cents.
As you can see, both the Brown and Purple lines stop at Diversey, but they’re considerably west of Sheridan - the nearest cross street is Sheffield, which is 1000 West. (You’re allowed to say either “one thousand west” or “ten hunnert west.”) Duffy’s Tavern is 420 W. Diversey, almost three-quarters of a mile away. You could transfer from the Brown or Purple line to the eastbound #76 Diversey bus, but frankly it’d be easier to take the good old #151, which stops at Diversey and Sheridan. I don’t know how frequency will be affected by the service cuts, but the #151 is one of the backbone bus routes, so I doubt they’ll cut it much. And “L” service is subject to cuts too.
You’d get either the Brown or Purple lines at the Randolph and Wabash stop on the Loop “L.” They circle the Loop in opposite directions (or anyway they used to), then head north via the same route. The Brown Line gets out of the Loop faster from Randolph and Wabash, but as I say I think the #151 bus is still your best bet.
I’m not clear on your destination points. When you asked a year ago about getting to St. Joseph’s Hospital from Randolph St. station I assumed you were coming in from Indiana, but maybe I was jumping to conclusions. Where’s work (intersection)?
Work IS St Joe’s! And I don’t live in IN; I live in the southern suburbs, where the living is nice, and housing prices aren’t insane (but that’s another thread).
It looks like the purple line is too far west, but then so would be the brown line. Damn. I do take the 151 and it’s a PITA. It stops every 10 feet, the tourists love it (in summer) and I keep missing my train home. :mad:
I don’t mind about a mile walk–I usually walk down Michigan to just north of Watertower to catch the 151. They DID cut service on it, btw–I ended up taking a cab to Randolph tonight because I got tired of waiting for the damned bus.
I was thinking of using the Purple line in the morning (which would be rush–I am traveling in the 07- 0800 hour), but I also might try it (in summer) to go back home. It’s gotta be quicker, no? :dubious:
(the 156 is quicker, but I eat up that time walking the 6 blocks east to the Metra–it looks like the Purple Line would be the same…)
I really, REALLY don’t want to drive to work. I like being “green” and I like zoning out on the train. Damn.
Have you thought about the 143 bus? It runs up Michigan, then takes LSD to Fullerton, then up Stockton Drive to Diversey - many fewer stops than the 151 or 156. The 134 is similar except it heads down Wacker south of the river; I think you’d have to get it at Michigan and Wacker, a bit of a hike from Randolph. Not sure about service frequency with the cutbacks, and you’re also riding “reverse rush” (opposite the direction most riders are going). Worth trying, though.
If the weather were decent, the walk up Diversey from Sheridan to the Brown/Purple Line has its points - many shops, bustling neighborhood, etc. Sure wouldn’t try it today, though. Taking the Brown or Purple Line plus the 76 Diversey seems too slow. I think a one-bus method would work best. Good luck.
I never heard of the 143 until now! That is something to look into. I wonder if it runs the opposite way (for the way home). I will look into it. Thanks, Ed! I
I may still do the purple line upon occasion, in the spring when I won’t mind the walk. I do like to walk in Chicago–always something to see.
If you have any sort of smart-phone device, bookmark the CTA’s mobile version of their Bustracker software. It is very easy to use and surprisingly accurate. Now, when I have choices of several bus stops to walk to, I can easily see which one will get me on a bus the quickest.
Re: the 151; When I’m taking it south (from Lincoln Park) to the loop, I always hop off at Oak Street. After that, you can *walk *faster than the bus’s progress!
