Chicago CTA Reroutes Buses for Canal Street Work

CTA reroutes eastbound Route 7 and northbound Route 37 buses for Canal Street work

CTA Reroutes Routes 7, 37 for Canal Street Work

Chicago's CTA is rerouting eastbound Route 7 Harrison and northbound Route 37 Sedgwick buses due to the Canal Street Reconstruction Project, transit officials said. The temporary changes affect buses traveling through the West Loop, with new boarding locations designated at Jefferson and Jackson streets. Westbound Route 7 and southbound Route 37 buses continue operating on their regular routes.

Context & Background

The Chicago Department of Transportation's Canal Street Reconstruction Project requires temporary street closures that make the regular bus routes impassable, according to the transit agency. CTA typically reroutes buses during major infrastructure projects to maintain service while construction crews work on roadway improvements. Officials didn't specify when the Canal Street project began or how long the reconstruction work will continue. Transit agencies generally coordinate with city departments to minimize service disruptions during construction periods.

Key Details

Eastbound Route 7 buses now travel via Harrison, Jefferson, and Jackson to Canal before resuming normal service on Jackson, officials said. Northbound Route 37 buses operate via Van Buren, Clinton, Harrison, Jefferson, and Jackson to Canal, then continue their regular route on Jackson. The agency designated three temporary boarding locations for affected passengers: the northeast corner of Jefferson and Harrison, the northeast corner of Jefferson and Van Buren, and the southwest corner of Jackson and Clinton. Officials advised riders to allow extra travel time during the reroute period.

Timeline & Implementation

The reroute is currently in effect, though officials haven't announced when service will return to normal routing. The timeline depends on completion of CDOT's Canal Street reconstruction work, but the agency didn't provide an estimated finish date for the project. Transit officials said they'll restore regular routing once street work is completed and roadways reopen.

Rider Impact & Moovit

Passengers traveling eastbound on Route 7 or northbound on Route 37 should plan for slightly longer trip times and use the designated temporary boarding locations, officials said. Riders on westbound Route 7 and southbound Route 37 aren't affected by the changes. The CTA reported normal service on most rail lines, with planned work on the Brown Line and added service on Purple and Yellow lines. Moovit provides real-time CTA bus tracking and alerts for route changes throughout Chicago.