A UChicago Transportation Guide for Employees

A UGo shuttle on campusMARCH 17, 2023

Safe transportation is a key priority at the University of Chicago and there are several transportation options available for employees.

  • UGo Shuttles: UGo shuttles are free to anyone with a University of Chicago ID. The shuttles travel all over campus, the surrounding neighborhood, and UChicago properties downtown during both the day and night. Routes that run during daytime hours stop at specifically marked stops, but on nighttime routes passengers can flag the driver anywhere along a route and ask to be dropped off at any intersection on the route. More information about the UGo shuttles, including operating times and route maps can be found on the Department of Safety and Security’s transportation page. Live updates on UGo shuttles can be found on the TransLoc app.
  • Downtown Campus Connector: Students and employees can use the Downtown Campus Connector to get from the Hyde Park campus to the Gleacher Center, UChicago Medical Centers downtown, and the Roosevelt CTA station. The Downtown Campus Connector runs Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., excluding holidays, with approximately 20 minutes between shuttles. More information, including a map of the route, can be found on the Department of Safety and Security’s website and the TransLoc app.
  • CTA Buses: There are several bus routes that service the area around the Hyde Park campus. Anyone with a UChicago ID can board the 171 and 172 bus routes for free. The 192 bus is also useful for University employees travelling between campus and the Ogilvie Metra Station, Union Station, the CTA Roosevelt Station. Regular CTA fees apply.   
  • Trains: There are two commuter trains in Chicago, the CTA’s L, and Metra, a commuter train serving the city and surrounding suburban areas. Passes for both the CTA and Metra can be purchased online through the Ventra App or at CTA L stations. 
    • CTA: The closest CTA trains to the Hyde Park campus are the Red Line, which stops at Garfield and the Dan Ryan, and the Green Line, which also stops at Garfield Blvd. The Red Line/Arts Block UGo Shuttle makes stops at both stations.
    • Metra: The closest Metra line to campus is the Electric District Line, which makes three stops in Hyde Park close to campus. The Metra Electric line is subsidized for all riders through 2023, including half off one-way and 10-ride fares. The 53rd Street Express and Friend Center/Metra UGo Shuttles also make stops at the 57th Street Metra stations.
    • South Shore Line: The South Shore Line, which provides service between the South Bend Airport and the Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, also makes a stop at the 57th Street Station. 
  • Parking on campus: Parking permits are available to faculty and staff on a first come, first served basis. More information, including monthly and hourly fees for the various garages and lots and how to apply for a parking permit can be found on the Permit Parking website. 
  • Biking: A map of bike racks around campus can be found on the Department of Safety and Security’s website. You can register your bike with the University of Chicago Police Department by emailing UCPD-cru@uchicago.edu. You can also use Chicago’s bike share program, Divvy, which offers a discounted annual membership to UChicago faculty, staff, and students with the discount code bikeUChicago and a valid University of Chicago email address. More information about Divvy bikes on campus can be found on the DSS website. 

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