CTA Connects #9 Ashland to Ravenswood Metra Station

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has extended one of its most heavily ridden routes, the #9 Ashland, to the Ravenswood Metra station located at Lawrence and Ravenswood. The extension will reach an additional 21,000 residents and 15,000 jobs (within ½ mile) as compared to the current routing. The new routing also connects passengers to the Metra UP-North line and two more major bus routes, #78 Montrose and #81 Lawrence.

“The #9 is among our best-utilized routes, transporting an average of more than 16,000 riders every weekday,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This extension comes as we move closer to resuming pre-pandemic schedules and provides an opportunity not just for ridership recovery, but for long-term growth.”

The new routing will extend north of Irving Park along Ashland to Wilson, to Ravenswood, terminating just south of Lawrence and then return on Ravenswood to Lawrence, to Ashland. The 1-mile extension will include nine new bus stops spaced roughly every two blocks.

“We are pleased the CTA is improving connectivity between its riders and ours at the Ravenswood Station,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “This coordination will help both agencies better serve their riders and local communities and better meet our goals of providing safe, efficient, timely, and affordable transportation.”