The University of Chicago remains committed to minimizing the impact of single occupancy vehicle (SOV) travel upon the institution, its surrounding neighborhoods, and the region at large. SOV travel contributes to the region’s worsening traffic congestion, adversely affects air quality and causes parking to spill over into our surrounding neighborhoods.

To that end, the University will continue to encourage travel modes that improve environmental quality, pedestrian mobility and safety, reinforce the use of Chicago’s extensive transit network, and build upon our partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority. The programs listed below will help make your commute more convenient, cheaper and environmentally beneficial:

• Free local transit (CTA routes 170, 171, and 172 free to UC faculty, staff, and students)
• CTA Route 192 (Express Bus to Metra’s Union and Ogilvie stations and CTA's Roosevelt Road L station – Green, Orange & Red)
• Free local evening buses
• SafeRide (free late-night point-to-point service)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (free taxi or car rental in case of emergency)
• Occasional Parker (free parking at the Ellis Garage 24 times a year)
• Car Sharing (access to the I-Go or ZipCar programs, including free, one-year membership)
• Carpool parking at reduced rates or free
• Qualified Transportation Program for purchasing transit fare media (CTA, Metra, NICTD & PACE) with pre-tax dollars through WageWorks

Other local transit: The University is also fortunate to have convenient access to CTA bus routes (2, 4, X4, 6, 15, 28, X28, 55, X55, & 59) that connect to the loop and the L.  The Metra Electric Line to downtown and the south suburbs as well as the NICTD’s South Shore Line to Indiana’s lake shore communities stop at the nearby 55th-56th-57th station.  Free bus connections are available on the 170 and 171 from the station to campus.

To find more information about these programs or to sign up for any of them, please go to transportation.uchicago.edu.  If you would like help in planning your commute, please email us at bus@uchicago.edu.

If you need to continue to drive to campus, monthly parking rates will remain at their current level for Fiscal Year 2009-10.  University leadership recognizes the challenging economic circumstances impacting us all and recently decided to leave parking rates at their current level for the next fiscal year.

• South Campus lots — $75 (Dorchester, Chapin, Edelstone, Kimbark, Mott, NGR, 1155, Law, Faculty Apartments, Wells)
• North of Midway lots — $80 (Pierce, Judd, Maryland East & West, Ryerson, I-House, ATS, 5737, Woodlawn)
• Ellis Parking Structure — $80
• Lexington lot — $175

Parking permit rates include any required City of Chicago and Cook County parking taxes.