The Chicago Transit Authority announced that some bus routes will be rerouted before and during the NATO summit in order to avoid street closures and specified protest areas. A list of the affected buses can be found online at the CTA’s website. Passengers should also check CTA system status and alerts before leaving, as unforeseen issues may cause additional reroutes or other bumps in operation.

All rail lines will remain open throughout the events. At certain times, according to the CTA, there will be an increase in capacity and frequency to accommodate an expected increase in riders.

While the CTA says that rail service will “operate normally,” many frequent riders are skeptical. Alexa Valdez, a senior biology student, is worried about how she will get home from her job at Water Tower Place Saturday afternoon. “My dad already said he is not picking me up,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Because the Crosstown Classic between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox will be played at Wrigley Field during the summit, increased ridership is expected in both directions.

“Someone jumped the gun on this whole idea,” Alec Fethler, a senior business management student, said. “I didn’t even know that Crosstown was next weekend. More evidence of poor planning.” Fethler said he is going to avoid navigating the CTA and use his long board instead.

But not everyone is stressed out about the possibility of delays and packed trains.

“I probably won’t go past State and Lake, but I don’t understand why people who are never even in the South Loop are freaking out,” said Jenna Domanico, a junior finance student. “I don’t think it will really affect a lot of DePaul students, minus getting classes canceled. And I have not heard anyone complain about that.”

If you decide to use public transportation next weekend, be sure to check on the status of the route you will be taking. Also, be sure to allow for extra time in case there are delays, or a train is too packed to get on. Depending on the weather, Fethler’s idea to skip public transit completely may be the best. If you do not have wheels of your own, bikes can be rented from the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center for $10 a day.

Information regarding the current status of all CTA bus and rail lines can be found on their website or at certain L locations.