Public transit is the best way to get to the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening

With no public parking on site, attendees are encouraged to take CTA, Metra or Pace for the easiest and most affordable ride to the historic celebration

CHICAGO, JUNE 10, 2026 - The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), CTA, Metra and Pace are encouraging riders to take public transit to the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) Grand Opening Ceremony Official Watch Party on Thursday, June 18.

The free watch party will take place on the Midway Plaisance near the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Guests can enter starting at 9 a.m. with a live DJ and pre-ceremony activities before the Grand Opening Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Parking will not be available on site and street closures around the OPC will make transit the easiest, fastest and most affordable way to reach the celebration.

"The opening of the Obama Presidential Center is a proud moment for Chicago, the South Side and the entire region," said Kirk Dillard, chairman of the RTA Board of Directors. "Public transit is the best way to be part of this historic day. Whether riders are coming from the city, the suburbs or anywhere else, CTA, Metra and Pace can help them avoid traffic, save money and celebrate safely and conveniently."

How to use transit to get to the OPC

Metra's Electric Line provides a direct connection to the new center and the June 18 watch party in the Midway Plaisance from downtown and from the South Side and south suburbs.

"We are excited to welcome the Obama Presidential Center to Chicago and the South Side, and we are ready to deliver visitors to the center and the watch party with our fast, frequent and comfortable service," said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski.

Riders can board the Metra Electric Line downtown at the Millennium, Van Buren St. and 11th St./Museum Campus stations. Millennium Station is not currently ADA-accessible, so riders who require an elevator are advised to use Van Buren or 11th St. stations. The line's 59th St./University of Chicago Station is closest to the event and the center but is not ADA-accessible. ADA customers are advised to use the 55th-56th-57th St. Station, the closest accessible stop to the OPC. In addition, all trains will stop at the 63rd St. Station on June 18. The trip from downtown to Hyde Park takes less than 20 minutes.

One-Way Tickets ($3.75 to or from downtown) or Day Passes ($7.50 to and from downtown) can be purchased from ticket vending machines or via the Ventra app. Tickets should be purchased before boarding. If purchasing a ticket through the Ventra App, riders can add a Regional Day Pass for unlimited rides on CTA and Pace for 24 hours for only $2.50. This pass can be purchased directly after purchase of a Metra Day Pass. Metra riders should expect platforms and trains to be crowded after the Watch Party ends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will likely experience a wait to board a train. Riders should be cautious and patient and follow the instructions of Metra personnel.

Riders can also use CTA bus service to reach the Obama Presidential Center area, including the newly extended #10 Obama Presidential Center/Museum of Science and Industry Express Bus, which provides service from North Michigan Avenue. Due to street closures and reroutes during the dedication and opening weekend, the closest #10 stop will be located at Museum of Science & Industry. Once the reroute is over, the regular #10 Bus stop will be located at the main entrance near 60th Street and Stony Island Avenue. In addition, the route will now operate daily with year-round service, improving access to both the Obama Presidential Center and the Museum of Science & Industry. On June 18, service from Water Tower Place will begin at 8:40 a.m., with the final trip departing downtown at 5:10 p.m. Service departing from the Obama Presidential Center will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the final trip at 6 p.m.

For riders taking the L, CTA will provide shuttle service between the Garfield Red and Green Line stations and Midway Plaisance Park. On Thursday, June 18, shuttles will operate to the event between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., with return service between 1 and 3 p.m. For the remainder of the weekend between Friday, June 19, and Sunday, June 21, the shuttle will operate between 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

"The OPC honors President Obama's tremendous legacy of service to Chicago and our country, and it is certain to become one of the most visited cultural destinations in America," said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. "The grand opening of the world-class OPC is a landmark moment for Chicago. We are proud that CTA will be the way many Chicagoans and visitors from across the globe will travel to our great city's South Side to experience this historic moment together."

Pace buses connect with both CTA and Metra rail lines, making it easy to reach the campus from across the region. Pace also operates I-55 Bus-on-Shoulder Express service, which allows buses to bypass traffic congestion and provide faster, more reliable trips between the southwest suburbs and the city.

"We're excited to help welcome visitors from across the region to the Obama Presidential Center and this historic moment for Chicago," said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. "Together with CTA and Metra, Pace is making it easy to get there without the stress of driving, while ensuring accessible options are available for riders who need them."

In addition to providing bus service across the region, Pace provides ADA paratransit service for riders with disabilities or health conditions that prevent them from using other bus or train routes. Riders must be certified by the Regional Transportation Authority to use ADA Paratransit. Riders who are traveling in the RTA region and need to use ADA paratransit service while visiting should contact Pace Customer Service at (312) 341-8000 and provide information on the dates you will be visiting.

Regardless of whether they use CTA, Metra or Pace, riders can plan their trip using the RTA Trip Planner at RTAChicago.org and purchase their ticket via the Ventra app. Riders are encouraged to allow extra travel time, and check service alerts before leaving. The Obama Presidential Center will officially open to the public on June 19, with opening weekend events continuing June 19-21.