CTA police bus

[BusHunter]

There was a police bus parked downtown on Saturday afternoon at Plymouth court and Jackson across from the Federal Building. It was a former RTS CTA bus. It had been completely repainted to say Chicago Transit Authority Incident Command in big red letters across the length of the bus. Upon a closer look at the bus I was wowed out by it. All the windows had been tinted so you couldn't see through them. There was a emergency light placed on the top of the front of the bus just like a state trooper car. Also the right side had 3 white emergency lights about every 4 feet that strobe like most ambulances have. There was also a green strobe light at the right rear of the bus. The bus had metal bars placed on each side of the back door positioned vertically. The tailgate said Chicago Transit Authority Incident Command Stay Back 500 feet and there was this yellow sticker placed along the length of the rear bumper. On the roof there was a heavy duty air conditioner installed at the rear emergency escape hatch, like something you would see on an RV. Also there seemed to be a satelite antenna on the roof too. I would've liked to take a picture but about 4 guys were hovering close to the vehicle. I did take a chance though to see if I could spot a bus number. Although All exterior bus numbers were now gone the one on the interior of the bus was intact. From what I could see the bus looked like it was #4556. The front of the bus had a CTA decal centered on the front of the bus. A very weird sight!!

[Kevin]

This bus was shown in Connections episode #47 (January 2007) as part of a feature on the mobile security pilot. The video shows some interior shots of the bus.

[BusHunter]

This bus was shown in Connections episode #47 (January 2007) as part of a feature on the mobile security pilot. The video shows some interior shots of the bus.

I just seen that clip on Connections episode 47. So that shot where all the LCD screens were in that narrow corridor was the inside of the bus? Or was that the Office of Emergency Management. It was cool to see it flashing it's emergency lights. I didn't get to see that the other day. The run box showed 4905. I wonder if that was the bus number. I goofed the other day when I said it was #4556. Imagine my surprise when I saw #4556 rolling by yesterday on the #151 !! When I saw the bus for the first time it did look narrow like the #4900's. But when I approached it from behind I noticed it had an air conditioner installed in it's rear like a #4400. So I guess that through me off.

[artthouwill]

Awhile back, I remember seeing a CTA police bus parked on Jackson between State and Wabash, but this bus was clearly a 5300 series Flxible. I couldn't get too close to it either, and it didn't have all of the bells and whistles that police vehicles usually have, but it was painted in the CPD color scheme.

[BusHunter]

Awhile back, I remember seeing a CTA police bus parked on Jackson between State and Wabash, but this bus was clearly a 5300 series Flxible. I couldn't get too close to it either, and it didn't have all of the bells and whistles that police vehicles usually have, but it was painted in the CPD color scheme.

I saw that bus too once on Pulaski and once at police headquarters at 35th/Michigan. It doesn't have all the security enhancements of the #4900. I believe the #5300 is just a bus to transport high volumes of police officers to crime scenes. The #4900 can keep an eye on several buses cameras at the same time. That day I saw it, it was getting ready for venetian night. After what happened last time, they needed all the eyes they could get.