What's in a Route ?

[trainman8119]

As the 151 is operated out of 2 garages anyway and really is 2 different routes

as it is set up, why is it that the 151's to Belmont are in fact called Sheridan instead of having its own distinguishable route number and name. Why not keep the 151 Sheridan to Devon or Howard as it is and then have a different route...say 153 Michigan/Lincoln Park to Belmont-Halsted.

I realize that this is really nothing more than window dressing, but for an organization

that redid the entire rapid transit system in colors so as not to confuse anyone, in a

time when "short turns" don't occur, why not reclassify the short 151's under a

different route number make it be more clear ????

[Busjack]

I'm sure most of this is for accounting and the ridership report. Andre claimed that the route number system was mostly based on audit numbers with through route numbers superimposed, such as Halsted being audit number 42, even though that also encompassed the downtown route (which became 42), 8 and 13 through routes, and the 42A and 42B extensions.

The accounting issue probably has something to do with why, as part of the Evanston restructuring, route 201 was kept, but 202-204 were dropped and became 200 and 205-206. Apparently CTA didn't want to combine certain before and afters in the ridership report.

For that matter, apparently the current 151 is a hybrid of the old 151 and 153, with the Wilson locals (Wilson-Michigan and Wilson-LaSalle) being cut back to Belmont.

You also had some various strange renumberings in that area, including first making the express routes 140s, then dropping 153 and having 145 and 146 locals in the evening, to what we have now.

You also have the "crazy people" factor. When the north LSD restructuring was in the experimental stage, the only route between Irving Park and Belmont and then express to Michigan-Walton was 146. The protesters came out and said that service was cut from two routes to one (even though that didn't necessarily have an effect on the number of buses assigned). The 145 was modified (to I believe then Montrose, and now to Grace) and 148 instituted, basically on the then 145. People have replied to me that there is a difference, in that 145 goes inbound on Michigan and 146 on State, but I still think it was more the crazy people factor than the need to split the route.

While what you suggest has some precedent on the south side, where Jeffery Express service was basically split into the 6 Jackson Park and 14 Jeffery Express (for that matter, why is Jeffery now 14 and 15 instead of X14 and 14???), CTA could have really taken it to extremes if it had:

• Adopted Kruesi's numbering system, sort of based on the grid, but with express routes in a weird 800 series (apparently 147 would have become 876, since it ended at Howard). Mayor Daley properly put the kibosh on that.
  
• The Washington D.C. system, where every variation gets its own number. For instance, on one street, you have routes 21-28, on another 42C-42T. Mixing in the suburban systems, that is inherently real confusing. Before the advent of electronic signs, there were at least three number rolls. I understand that Pittsburgh is similar.
  

And to throw out a final suggestion that I know won't be adopted, but I thought should have been in 1976 (and is sort of D.C.)--Since LaSalle expresses are 130s and Michigan 140s, make LaSalle 131 instead of 156, and Sheridan 141 (and per your suggestion 142) instead of 151.

[Busjack]

...in a time when "short turns" don't occur, why not reclassify the short 151's under a different route number make it be more clear ????

While you may have meant to get back on schedule, there are a number of scheduled short terminals, such as 3 to 30th St, 55 to St. Louis, 63 to Kedzie, 147 to Devon (as you mentioned) and 71 to 73rd and Exchange. To get back to the crazy people point, CTA could have just said in connection with the south LSD restructuring going on at the same time that it was just rerouting 27 on 71st Street (and cutting out alternate 71 buses) but instead extended alternate 71 trips to 112th.

[artthouwill]

As the 151 is operated out of 2 garages anyway and really is 2 different routes

as it is set up, why is it that the 151's to Belmont are in fact called Sheridan instead of having its own distinguishable route number and name. Why not keep the 151 Sheridan to Devon or Howard as it is and then have a different route...say 153 Michigan/Lincoln Park to Belmont-Halsted.

I realize that this is really nothing more than window dressing, but for an organization

that redid the entire rapid transit system in colors so as not to confuse anyone, in a

time when "short turns" don't occur, why not reclassify the short 151's under a

different route number make it be more clear ????

The Twin Cities assign letters to branches, for example the Belmont turns would be 151B, and the Howard runs would be 151H. But they are used to it there. Here we still have people who intend on getting on local routes (i.e 3, 4,9, 49, 54, 55, 80) getting on X routes, then act surprised when they can't get off at their stop. People here can't even get on the right train, EVEN WITH THE COLOR CODING!

[Guest ctafan630]

As the 151 is operated out of 2 garages anyway and really is 2 different routes

as it is set up, why is it that the 151's to Belmont are in fact called Sheridan instead of having its own distinguishable route number and name. Why not keep the 151 Sheridan to Devon or Howard as it is and then have a different route...say 153 Michigan/Lincoln Park to Belmont-Halsted.

I realize that this is really nothing more than window dressing, but for an organization

that redid the entire rapid transit system in colors so as not to confuse anyone, in a

time when "short turns" don't occur, why not reclassify the short 151's under a

different route number make it be more clear ????

I propose running the 151 to Clark and Devon as an express route with limited stops between CUS and belmont and LSD. The 151 never runs on time even at 11pm and the buses are always bunched.

[Busjack]

I propose running the 151 to Clark and Devon as an express route with limited stops between CUS and belmont and LSD. The 151 never runs on time even at 11pm and the buses are always bunched.

It not running on time is a separate issue, that wouldn't be cured by a limited stop bus, that still would have to navigate heavy traffic on mostly narrow streets. As far as LSD is concerned (or express service to Belmont), you have 145 and 146. And as artthouwill points out, people will complain if they can't get off at the intermediate streets.

At one time, some 147s started at Union Station, and that might be a better solution, if your focus were from Union Station to the north side. (You can get the 145 at Van Buren and Wells). Also, at one time 151 ran on Cannon Drive, but apparently CTA decided to put in on the former 153's routing.

[nextstopchicago]

It not running on time is a separate issue, that wouldn't be cured by a limited stop bus, that still would have to navigate heavy traffic on mostly narrow streets. As far as LSD is concerned (or express service to Belmont), you have 145 and 146. And as artthouwill points out, people will complain if they can't get off at the intermediate streets.

At one time, some 147s started at Union Station, and that might be a better solution, if your focus were from Union Station to the north side. (You can get the 145 at Van Buren and Wells). Also, at one time 151 ran on Cannon Drive, but apparently CTA decided to put in on the former 153's routing.

For that matter, that federally funded experiment with Bus Rapid Transit seems to have committed them to a Halsted Express bus. There are already loads of ways to get from downtown to Belmont reasonably fast. I think the essence of the 151 is local service at the south end, combined with service to those shuttling around Lake View and further north who find the Broadway bus and the various 140-numbered routes not quite right. There's already a lot of service up there, but it's some of the most densely populated land between Manhattan and Mexico City, so that's appropriate.

The 151 isn't intended primarily for people heading downtown. Running it express would make it less useful for many of those who do use it, in order to create another option for commuters already well served.

[Guest ctafan630]

The 151 isn't intended primarily for people heading downtown. Running it express would make it less useful for many of those who do use it, in order to create another option for commuters already well served.

How would my proposed 151 Express bus be any different than the X80 or X49? I was suggesting that there be some express runs.

[Busjack]

How would my proposed 151 Express bus be any different than the X80 or X49? I was suggesting that there be some express runs.

Because the justification for the X80 and X49 was to provide faster crosstown service where the L isn't.

Especially, in the X80 case, to provide a quicker way from Lakeview to O'Hare. Also, Rahm got a grant to fund the X80. BTW, Western and Irving Park are wide streets where an express bus can navigate around the locals (you don't see any X152).

On the other hand, the 151 area is adequately served by the various 140 series express buses and not that far from the L. Lake Shore Drive allows the 140s to bypass traffic on the narrow local streets.

One would also think that the route system structure in that area was thoroughly studied during the 2 year North LSD restructuring and experimental phase.

So, it would be different in many different ways.

[sw4400]

People here can't even get on the right train, EVEN WITH THE COLOR CODING!

OT

Many people can't READ!!! Case in point: SCOT is broken and cannot take cash or give cash. The store has signs posted all over the register explaining this and apologizing for this. Yet people check out here and get annoyed to find out they cannot pay with cash even though the signs say that.

Long story short: you can have signs with text THIS BIG, and people still won't read it!!!

[Busjack]

Long story short: you can have signs with text THIS BIG, and people still won't read it!!!

Even though the ADA regs require that on the bus headsign.

[jajuan]

OT

Many people can't READ!!! Case in point: SCOT is broken and cannot take cash or give cash. The store has signs posted all over the register explaining this and apologizing for this. Yet people check out here and get annoyed to find out they cannot pay with cash even though the signs say that.

Long story short: you can have signs with text THIS BIG, and people still won't read it!!!

Which is why some CTA route restructurings made no sense to me. It left me thinking why are you restructuring service to satisfy people who don't take time to read? One example in my neighborhood is the rerouting of the 82 onto Douglas Blvd instead of Roosevelt between Homan and Central Park. One explanation I remember given in the usual CTA jargon along with the baloney about providing service to those living on Homan south of Roosevelt was that it would enhance service for those using the Roosevelt/St. Louis stops by only having one bus stop there. What? You mean to tell me all these people, who lived in the area for years by the way, can't tell the difference between '12' for the Roosevelt route and '82' for the Kimball/Homan route? It was ridiculous to actually read that on the service change notice on the bus stop signs. Basically you reworked a bus route on the basis that people can't/don't read or pay enough attention that if the bus turned from another street before approaching the stop, it was the 82 instead of 12. Ridiculous! I'd hate to see if any of these folks needed a bus downtown where upwards of 5 or more routes operate on one street.