Public transit, access to downtown set to return Wednesday morning

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the downtown area would be “cautious[ly] reopening” at 5 a.m. Wednesday after a four-day shutdown sparked by a weekend of protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The CTA will resume service to the Loop, though a few train stations — which haven’t been determined yet — will likely remained closed, the mayor’s office said.

Metra trains will also start running with a Sunday schedule, though the SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service lines will stay down. The South Shore Line, which connects Chicago to northwest Indiana, will resume service with a modified schedule.

The city also said they will lower the bridges over the Chicago River at Clark, Dearborn, Lake, Randolph, Wells and Washington streets. Divvy bikes will be available between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. until further notice.

Lake Shore Drive will reopen, though exits at Michigan Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Grand Avenue, Lower Wacker Drive and Randolph Street will remain closed, the mayor’s office said. Every ramp on Interstate 290 and Interstate 90/94 will reopen.

The city first implemented the shutdowns Saturday evening after peaceful protests in the Loop devolved into violent confrontations between police and protestors. Widespread looting in the Loop and River North soon followed.

The announcement comes hours after Lightfoot announced the city would move into Phase 3 of its coronavirus reopening Wednesday as planned, allowing various businesses ranging from restaurants to beauty salons to partially begin serving customers again.

However, the city’s 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain in effect indefinitely, the mayor’s office said.

Some aldermen suggested that Lightfoot’s move to guard downtown so vigorously led looters to focus on South and West Side neighborhoods, an accusation which the mayor denied.

Lawmakers have since asked for money to help rebuild the communities that have been hit hardest by systemic racism and looting.

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