The Chicago Transit Authority announced on Nov. 3 an extended service plan to better serve customers during downtown election night festivities, including rush-hour service on rail lines and additional bus service in the Loop.

According to the CTA website, rush hour service will begin in the afternoon for riders attempting to leave work in the Loop early in anticipation of Sen. Barack Obama’s election rally in Grant Park. Also, bicycles will not be permitted on rail lines after 4 p.m. on Nov. 4, until 4 a.m. the next day.

“Owl” late-night service on buses leaving downtown will be added to 14 more bus routes on Nov. 4, in addition to the 19 routes that previously offered the late-night service. Due to numerous street closures throughout downtown, the CTA will have three different loading points for buses leaving the Loop. All northbound buses will board at Lasalle Street between Van Buren and Randolph streets, southbound buses will board at Clark Street between Van Buren and Randolph streets and westbound buses will board at Madison between Dearborn and Clark streets.

For rail lines, service in the Loop will be extended on the Brown, Pink, Green and Orange lines until 2 a.m. or later. Also, Purple and Yellow lines will run from Howard until 2 a.m. or later.

Columbia’s class schedule has been suspended after 3:30 p.m., and the campus will close at 6 p.m., with exceptions for student media and the Columbia chapter of American Civil Liberties Union’s View and Skew election watching party at Plymouth Court, 731 S. Plymouth Court.

For more information, visit TransitChicago.com.

The Chronicle will have continuous coverage of Election Day 2008. Keep checking back for more updates.