Transportation Options for Students at The University of Chicago
The University offers a variety of transportation resources to assist students with getting around Hyde Park and the larger Chicago area. For a general overview, please watch the video below. Other resources are detailed below.
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Shuttles
UGo DayTime Shuttles - track on TransLoc
UGo shuttles are free for students. Students should present their UCID to use the shuttles.
| Shuttle Name | Hours | Frequency | Route Map |
| Red Line/Arts Block | M-F 6:30 am - 9 pm | Every 10-20 minutes | Red Line/Arts Block Route Map |
| Friend Center and Metra Route | M-F 5 am - 9 pm |
59th & Drexel: stops on the hour and half hour (:00 and :30) Friend Center: stops at :10 and :40 57th Street Metra Station: stops at :20 and :50 |
Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
| Drexel Route | M-F 5 am - 10 am | 61st and Drexel: every 10 minutes (use Apostolic/Drexel Route after 10 am) | Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
| Apostolic Route | M-F 5 am - 10 am | 63rd Street and Kenwood: every 10 minutes (use Apostolic/Drexel route after 10 am) | Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
| Apostolic/Drexel Route | M-F 10 am - 12:30 am | 59th and Drexel: departs every 15 minutes between 10 am - 3 pm; departs every 10 minutes between 3 pm - 12:30 am | Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
| Midway Metra | M-F 5:40 - 9:40 am; 3:30-6:40 pm | See Midway Metra Shuttle Schedule | Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
| 53rd Street Express | M-F 7 am - 6 pm | Arrivals and departures from Harper Court at :00 and :30; runs every 15 minutes between 8-10:30 am | Daytime Shuttles Routes Map |
UGo NightRide Shuttles
| Shuttle Name | Hours | Frequency | Route Map |
| North Route - stages at southeast corner of University Ave and 57th St | Daily 4 pm to 4 am |
4 pm - 11 pm: every 15-25 minutes 11 pm - 4 am: every 30 minutes |
NightRide Shuttle Map |
| South Route - stages at southeast corner of Ellis Ave and 60th St | Daily 4 pm to 4 am |
4 pm - 11 pm: every 15-25 minutes 11 pm - 4 am: every 30 minutes |
NightRide Shuttle Map |
| East Route - stages at southeast corner of University Ave and 57th St | Daily 4 pm to 4 am |
4 pm - 11 pm: every 15-25 minutes 11 pm - 4 am: every 30 minutes |
NightRide Shuttle Map |
| Central Route - stages at southeast corner of University Ave and 57th St | Daily 4 pm to 4 am |
4 pm - 11 pm: every 15-25 minutes 11 pm - 4 am: every 30 minutes |
NightRide Shuttle Map |
| Regents Express - stages in front of the Law School | M-F 5:20 - 9 pm | Every 15-30 minutes | NightRide Shuttle Map |
Other Shuttles
| Shuttle Name | Hours | Frequency | Route Map |
| South Loop Shuttle (between Hyde Park and South Loop) | Friday, Saturday: 6 pm - Midnight | Hourly | South Loop Shuttle Map |
| Coming soon: Downtown Connector Shuttle (Winter Quarter 2023) | TBD | TBD | TBD |
CTA Buses
A number of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses serve the University of Chicago campus and Hyde Park area. Please see below for more details.
| Bus Number | Hours | Areas Served | Route Map |
| #171 (free for students displaying UCID card) |
M-F: 7:15 am - 6:20 pm Saturday: 8 am - 6:20 pm Reduced schedule in summer |
Services Lake Shore Drive/54th St and the 55th-56th-57th St Metra Station. Travels to campus on 55th St and Ellis Ave and circles campus |
Route map and info |
| #172 (free for students displaying UCID card) |
M-F: 7:15 am - 6:15 pm Weekend: 8:20 am - 6:20 pm Reduced schedule in summer |
Services Lake Shore Drive/50th St and Hyde Park-53rd St Metra station Travels to campus on Hyde Park Blvd and Ellis and circles campus |
Route map and info |
| #192 (standard fare required) |
Southbound: 6 am - 9 am Northbound: 3:45 pm - 7:30 pm |
Provides express service to/from downtown to Harper Court, campus, medical center | Route map and info |
Other CTA buses also serve the Hyde Park area:
| Bus Number | Areas Served | Route Schedule and Map Info |
| #2 (Hyde Park Express) (standard fare required) | Express bus between Hyde Park and Downtown; runs only during rush periods Monday - Friday | Hyde Park Express Route Info |
| #6 (Jackson Park Express) (standard fare required) | Express bus between Hyde Park and Downtown; operates daily | Jackson Park Express Route Info |
| #15 (Jeffrey Local) (standard fare required) | Runs between 103rd/Stony Island and 47th Street Red Line Station | Jeffrey Local Route Info |
| #28 (Stony Island) (standard fare required) | Runs between Hyde Park and Union Station downtown | Stony Island Route Info |
| #55 (Garfield) (standard fare required) | Runs between Hyde Park and CTA Green or Red Line Stations; some buses go to Midway Airport | Garfield Route Info |
Trains
CTA 'L'
The CTA 'L' system (short for "elevated") is a network of trains that serves the City of Chicago. More information about the L system is available on the CTA website. The Red Line and Green Line trains both run relatively close to campus. The #55 CTA bus runs between Hyde Park and the Red Line and Green Line stations.
Metra
Please note: students can sign up on my.uchicago.edu to receive a free 10-ride Metra Electric pass, which is good for Metra Electric trains across all zones. Students are eligible for one 10-ride pass per year and must sign up for a Ventra account before claiming a pass.
The Metra Electric District Line runs through Hyde Park and can be accessed at several train stations in Hyde Park. The following buses and shuttles will take riders to Metra stations in Hyde Park:
| Metra Station | CTA Buses to Metra Station | Shuttles to Metra Station |
| 59th Street Station | #2, #6, #15, #28 | Midway Metra, Friend Center, Central, South |
| 57th Street Station | #2, #6, #15, #28 | Midway Metra, Friend Center, Central |
| 55th - 56th - 57th Street Station | #6, #15, #28, #55, #171 | Friend Center, East |
| 51st - 53rd Street Station | #2, #6, #15, #28, #171, #172, #192 | 53rd Street Express, East, Regents Express |
Please visit metrarail.com for more information.
Biking
Divvy is Chicago's bike share program. You can take a bike out from any station and return it to any other station in the city. For more information, visit divvybikes.com.
Divvy offers a discounted annual membership for $83 to UChicago students, faculty, and staff with the discount code bikeUChicago and a valid UChicago email address. For more information, review how to sign up.
For non-Divvy riders, campus offers a number of bike racks where students can lock their bikes.
Transportation for Injured or Disabled Students
Transportation for injured students (temporary transportation needs)
Injured students who need transportation should fill out the Injured Student Transportation Request Form and contact Transporation and Parking Services via phone (773-795-6108) or email (bus@uchicago.edu) between 9 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Service should be requested at least 48 hours in advance of when the service is needed. Transportation can be provided on campus for classes, meals, appointments, and other University-related activities between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday through Friday. Pick up and drop off times may vary depending on service demands. Injured student transportation will be provided for injured students but not for a third party.
Dial-A-Ride (for students with long-term limited mobility)
Students with long-term limited mobility can use Dial-A-Ride, a complimentary curb-to-curb transportation service. This service provides rides to and from regularly scheduled classes and medical appointments at the University of Chicago Medicine complex.
Students requesting Dial-A-Ride must first register with Student Disabilities Services. Service must then be arranged with Transportation & Parking Services at least 48 hours prior to an individual's transportation needs. To arrange for this, call 773-795-6108 or email bus@uchicago.edu.
Campus Bus and Shuttle Transportation
All campus bus and shuttle transportation is ADA accessible.
Parking
Students interested in parking on campus should review the Transportation and Parking Guide for more information about parking areas. Additionally, Hyde Park has a significant amount of unpaid street parking (varies by street).
After-Hours Parking at Campus North (Ellis Garage)
Beginning Autumn Quarter 2022, students and others with an active UChicago ID can park for free after hours at the Ellis Avenue parking facility. Students can use their UChicago ID card to enter the Ellis Garage between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m., 7 days a week. Those who access the garage after hours without a parking permit will be required to exit the facility no later than 7 a.m. each day or be subject to daily parking fees. Ellis Garage permit holders will continue to have 24-hour access.