CTA Adjusts Express Routes to Streamline Service

CTA eliminates Stratford stop on three express routes starting April 16, 2026

CTA Cuts Stop on Routes 135, 146, 151

Chicago Transit Authority riders on three express routes along Lake Shore Drive will lose access to a stop at Stratford starting April 16. The CTA announced it'll eliminate the Inner Lake Shore Drive/Stratford stop in both directions for routes 135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express, 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express, and 151 Sheridan. The change affects commuters traveling through the lakefront corridor between the North Side and downtown.

Context

The Stratford stop serves a residential area along Chicago's lakefront, where express routes provide faster connections to downtown than local alternatives. Transit agencies typically eliminate stops to improve travel times and reduce operational costs, though officials haven't specified the reason for this particular change. The three affected routes carry commuters from North Side neighborhoods to the Loop during peak hours. The CTA didn't provide ridership data for the Stratford stop or explain how many passengers will need to use alternative locations.

Alternative Stops

Southbound riders who previously used the Stratford stop should board at Inner Lake Shore Drive/Cornelia or Inner Lake Shore Drive/Roscoe instead, according to the transit agency. Northbound passengers can use stops at Inner Lake Shore Drive/Cornelia or Inner Lake Shore Drive/Hawthorne. Officials didn't specify the walking distance between the eliminated stop and the alternatives. The CTA also hasn't said whether the change will affect scheduled travel times for the three routes or if buses will maintain current frequency levels.

Implementation Timeline

The stop elimination takes effect Thursday, April 16, 2026, with no end date specified by the CTA. Officials didn't announce whether advance signage will be posted at the Stratford location to alert riders before the change. The agency typically updates its printed schedules and online trip planners when stop configurations change, though a timeline for those updates wasn't provided.

Rider Impact

Passengers who regularly use the Stratford stop will need to walk to nearby alternatives starting mid-April. The change may add several minutes to trips for riders who live or work closest to the eliminated location. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and stop information for CTA routes 135, 146, and 151, helping riders plan trips using the updated stop configurations along Inner Lake Shore Drive.