How to navigate public transit in Chicago, a college student’s guide
The public transportation system is one of the best things about the city of Chicago. Despite what some people may say, it’s set up in a very effective way and consistently provides reliable transportation options to everyone in the city. Once you get a hang of the navigation, it becomes an irreplaceable asset to your Chicago experience.
The light rail system, commonly referred to as the “L” due to its elevated infrastructure, is my personal favorite and is arguably the most useful. You can get to the northern, southern, eastern, and western most neighborhoods of the city all by riding the L. Additionally, the central track system, the loop, is a perfect way to transfer to different lines and get to different parts of the city. There are eight lines, all corresponding to different colors. All except the yellow line go from some part of the city into the loop and then back out again. Using common navigation apps like Apple Maps or Google Maps can show you what line you need to take as well as any transfers you need to make along the way. Figuring out which train to get on is as easy as matching a color and word, walking to the correct platform, and waiting for your train to arrive.
For DePaul students, there are usually two main train lines we use: the red line and the brown line. The red line runs almost perfectly straight for its entire duration and goes from the far north to far south end of the city. The brown line starts on the north-west side of the city and runs south all the way to the loop, where it turns around and comes back on the exact same track. Both of these lines have a stop at the Fullerton station, which is right next to DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus. Additionally, both the Jackson red line and Harold Washington Library brown line stops in the loop are right next to the DePaul buildings that are downtown. In general, I usually recommend taking the brown line as it’s both safer and above ground. It has great views of a ton of the city and I always enjoy that when I am on the way to my loop campus classes.
The other amazing aspect of public transit in Chicago is the bus system. I grew up in a pretty rural area in Michigan and never used public transit. Coming to Chicago for college, I was a little apprehensive at the prospect of having to use it to get to my classes and get around a big city. With that in mind, I pretty much only stuck to the L and the lines I knew for my first year at DePaul. After I moved into an off-campus apartment for my sophomore year I started taking advantage of the bus system. The L is awesome, but it eventually becomes limited. Getting to more specific areas around the city is tough, and buses make it so much easier. They are convenient, easy to use, and are consistent throughout the city. I would highly recommend taking advantage of them in any context if you’re in Chicago, and definitely not being afraid to use them if you’re a DePaul student.
The final option to consider is the commuter rail, namely the Metra. Many DePaul students are from the suburbs of Chicago and use the Metra on a very regular basis to get home. It is the primary choice for commuter students as it runs to all of the major cities on the outer edges of Chicago. I have ridden it a handful of times and can say it is probably the most consistent and dependable transit option out of the three I’ve brought up so far. It is also incredibly affordable and makes commuting to and from on a regular basis very enticing for people who do not have the ability or desire to move all the way into the city.
Public transit in Chicago is an incredible resource that cannot be taken for granted. The L, the bus system, and the commuter rail options are all effectively put together in a way that makes getting around the city easy and affordable. There is a slight learning curve that can be daunting for newcomers, but with a little effort you can become a complete natural with the CTA and totally revolutionize how you get around the city.
~Jeff