Chicago Transit Authority
As with any large city there is a daunting public transportation system. Chicago is no exception, however the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has proven to be quite useful for students on a day-to-day basis. As often the case, the first thing you should do is visit the CTA webpage at www.transitchicago.com and click on the link entitled “trip planner.” From this page you can set a beginning and end location and the trip planner will find multiple routes (via bus and train) to get to where you need to go. It is important that you make a habit of checking the CTA webpage for various bus reroutes and station closures so you don’t end up sitting around for a bus or train that is never coming!
The closest “EL” train to the college of medicine campus is the Polk St. pink line stop at the corner of Polk and Paulina. There is also a blue line stop for the medical district on Damen St. close to Stroger Hospital. Check the CTA webpage for current train schedules. Note that the blue line runs for 24 hours. Most students at UIC will be using the red, blue, and pink line to get to and from campus from the city. The red line literally goes from north (Howard) to south (95th/Dan Ryan), the blue line goes from northwest (O’hare airport) to the loop, then west (Forest Park) and the pink line heads directly into and around the loop making stops at all downtown locations then heading back west (to 54th/Cermak). Keep in mind, before the first day of classes you may want to set out a bit early and time how long it takes you to make your trip to the medical school. There are many instances where trains and busses do not run on time, so you will want to plan accordingly.
The only other issue at hand is what to use to get on and off these trains and buses. All M1 and M2 students are required to pay for a U-Pass as part of their tuition and fees each semester. The U-Pass is your ticket on and off all trains and busses in the city, making travel a breeze. You should receive an email about picking up your pass from either student affairs or the student center east (750 S. Halsted St.) before classes start. Keep in mind, U-Passes are only given to students who are registered for a full-time class load. It you haven’t registered for classes, then do so ASAP! If you forget your U-Pass the standard CTA fare is $2.00 with $0.25 transfers. Keep in mind that you need to have exact change for buses, trains stations and CTA card vending machines. The vending machines DON’T make change so don’t get stuck putting your only $20 on a CTA card!
UIC Shuttle
The UIC shuttle bus system runs between East and West campus 7 days a week. Hours and frequency vary, depending on the day and the time of day. Look at the signs posted at the stops for the frequency of busses throughout the day. A copy of the routes and schedules is always present in the UIC daily planner, which is sold at the university bookstores. Bus schedules are also available online at http://fmweb.fm.uic.edu/trans. The bus stops at Polk and Wolcott (outside CMW) and at Wolcott and Wood outside SSR. Please remember, the evening and weekend routes may vary from the weekday routes!
Cars and Parking
Whether you are bringing a car to campus because you live in SSR or you are simply commuting in from off-campus, you will need to make arrangements for parking. A permit for UIC lots costs about $315 a semester, check www.uic.edu/depts/avcad/parking for the most up-to-date rates. You will be assigned a parking lot that you may use throughout the semester. Street parking is available but closely monitored 24/7 on Damen Ave. Meters cost $0.25 for every 30 minutes with a two hour limit. Non-metered street parking is available west of Damen on Polk St. and Ogden Ave, but availability depends on time of day.
Metra
The Metra train makes for a speedy ride out to the West, North, and South suburbs. There are two main stations, the northwestern station at Canal and Washington and Union Station at Canal and Jackson. You can get to Union Station from the Clinton blue line stop. Check www.metrarail.com for schedules and fares.
Red Car
The Red Car service is a safety escort service available to students with an i-card from 11 pm to 7 am 7 days a week from campus buildings to within the campus boundaries of Halsted on the East, Western Ave. on the West, Eisenhower Expressway on the North, and Roosevelt Road on the South. Students must pick up the Red Car from a university building and NOT a residence. If the destination is a residence, students must identify this address when calling for the escort service at 312.996.6800. You must be prepared to wait for an available car.
Safety
The Illinois Medical District is a five-block area that includes hospitals and clinics as well as the UIC medical campus. As a medical student, you will be spending much time in and around the buildings, often late at night. While the campus is relatively safe and the UIC campus police regularly patrol, you should nevertheless be careful and use common sense.
If you need to move around late at night, travel in groups. Take advantage of Red Car if you feel uneasy about getting somewhere on campus. There are also emergency phone stations scattered throughout the streets and buildings on campus, which link directly to the UIC police.
Be sure to keep doors locked and only travel in familiar or well-populated areas. If you are going to use the CTA at night, make sure your station is open. As for security inside buildings, don’t be any less careful. While doors lock at night somewhere a door may be propped open. In fact, it can be simple for a criminal to enter the college of medicine at night and roam the hallways and offices. Always be vigilant and call the police if someone looks like they don’t belong. The campus police can be reached at 312.355.5555.
