48 South Damen Route Changes

[BUSANGEL#1]

As a part of the December winter pick changes, #48 South Damen will no longer operate between 87th & 35/orangeline. The changes in operation will be between Evergreen Plaza & Western/Orangeline. These changes will operate @ current service levels (AM & PM Rush Periods). Hopefully this will increase ridership so service hours will be expanded although now there is no longer a connection with the #50 Damen. Since these changes never made it to the board I would like to know your thoughts & feedback about the changes.

[Busjack]

Where is the official announcement of this?

Assuming, arguendo, that this is a stealth move like 76, the express run between 47 and 35th (apparently because the Damen bridge isn't there any more) didn't make sense. Also, there were numerous times when N. Damen and S. Damen didn't connect.

[geneking7320]

Under this route revision some #48 riders who are bound for destinations on Archer which are northeast of the 35th station may have to make an extra transfer. I wonder how many people will be inconvenienced by this move.

Gene King

[trey824]

Under this route revision some #48 riders who are bound for destinations on Archer which are northeast of the 35th station may have to make an extra transfer. I wonder how many people will be inconvenienced by this move.

Gene King

does any one know if this route will still originate out of 74th gargage? and when is this revision effective?

[cta_44499_FG]

does any one know if this route will still originate out of 74th gargage? and when is this revision effective?

Any such revisions would be at the effective date of the next run pick, which thus far is 12/28.

[artthouwill]

As a part of the December winter pick changes, #48 South Damen will no longer operate between 87th & 35/orangeline. The changes in operation will be between Evergreen Plaza & Western/Orangeline. These changes will operate @ current service levels (AM & PM Rush Periods). Hopefully this will increase ridership so service hours will be expanded although now there is no longer a connection with the #50 Damen. Since these changes never made it to the board I would like to know your thoughts & feedback about the changes.

I don't understand the extensionto Evergreen Plaza, especiallysince the mall won't be open during the A.M. rush hour. Shortening the north terminus to 49th/Western Orange Line station makes sense. What would make even more sense is to give this route over to Archer and use those 30ft Optimas with a possible exception of some school runs (Lindbloom H.S)

[jajuan]

I don't understand the extensionto Evergreen Plaza, especiallysince the mall won't be open during the A.M. rush hour. Shortening the north terminus to 49th/Western Orange Line station makes sense. What would make even more sense is to give this route over to Archer and use those 30ft Optimas with a possible exception of some school runs (Lindbloom H.S)

It brings up the question of are there enough Optimas to do this? Archer is already using them on 39, 43 and other light routes besides using them on the 170s. You have to take into consideration are there enough buses at the proposed new garage. Plus what should 74th do with the extra buses not used if you were to have this change. It probaly wouldn't make much difference in this case if you did have this change. I'm just pointing out changing garage route assignments aren't as simply as we think. Kedzie got quite a number of NABIs and TMCs combined (at least 50 extra buses by some counts) at the start of the 3/23 pick changes. This whole thing is possibly moot anyway because we don't know for sure if this change to the 48 is actually going to happen with nothing posted publicly by the CTA.

[sw4400]

Any such revisions would be at the effective date of the next run pick, which thus far is 12/28.

You mean we might see annual changes of routes from garage to garage?(i.e route #50 changing from a Kedzie route to a Archer route last pick)

[Busjack]

You mean we might see annual changes of routes from garage to garage?(i.e route #50 changing from a Kedzie route to a Archer route last pick)

No, I think he is just saying that changes affecting the schedule only occur on picks and the next pick is on that date, so, if a change occurs, it would be on 12/28.

And, the way that things work, there have been several picks since the big garage swap.

[cta_44499_FG]

No, I think he is just saying that changes affecting the schedule only occur on picks and the next pick is on that date, so, if a change occurs, it would be on 12/28.

And, the way that things work, there have been several picks since the big garage swap.

Thank you for reiterating that point...since that is all I said and all I meant.

Since it was raised, any "garage swaps" would result in a "System Pick", where for those that may not know is when drivers can pick to go to another garage. This does NOT include route changes occurring for a route already present at a garage, such as extending the 76 to the Nature Museum and cutting the 77 back to St. Joseph Hospital during daytime hours or whatever. Of course a system pick also triggers a run pick, but one cannot happen without the other. Union rules.

On the other hand...if they were to cut the 77 back to operate between Halsted and Octavia at all times and also move the route to 77th (which wouldn't make any sense, but we are PRETENDING it happens)...THEN it would be a garage swap and there would be a run and system pick.

[jajuan]

Thank you for reiterating that point...since that is all I said and all I meant.

Since it was raised, any "garage swaps" would result in a "System Pick", where for those that may not know is when drivers can pick to go to another garage. This does NOT include route changes occurring for a route already present at a garage, such as extending the 76 to the Nature Museum and cutting the 77 back to St. Joseph Hospital during daytime hours or whatever. Of course a system pick also triggers a run pick, but one cannot happen without the other. Union rules.

On the other hand...if they were to cut the 77 back to operate between Halsted and Octavia at all times and also move the route to 77th (which wouldn't make any sense, but we are PRETENDING it happens)...THEN it would be a garage swap and there would be a run and system pick.

Thanks for that explanation. I kind of guessed that's how some of it works, moreso along the lines of how the route configuration changes work, but I still learned something new.

[BUSANGEL#1]

Because the #48 changes never made it to the board it will not go public. This was quietly planned for winter pick. There will be customer alerts posted as time approaches. I believe the changes were handled this way because cta knew that it wouldnt cause much attention. This is mainly because #48 has low ridership and no real popularity.

[CircleSeven]

If this is true, I wished they did made this public anyway, even if they don't have any riders. It would also be interested on how they would layover their buses at 49th & Western while you have major traffic for all thoses Western & California buses.

Just a bit off-topic. Out of curiousity, when was last System Pick? Because I know that a System Pick usually happens every two years but in recent years, system picks have lasted less than two years. For example, that Lake Shore Change on 8/31/03. Another system pick happen when they started with the Rostering at NP & 74th that June of 2004. And I think it was another one in June of 2006, one pick before they'd went back to the original run number bracket at NP & 74.

[jajuan]

If this is true, I wished they did made this public anyway, even if they don't have any riders. It would also be interested on how they would layover their buses at 49th & Western while you have major traffic for all thoses Western & California buses.

Just a bit off-topic. Out of curiousity, when was last System Pick? Because I know that a System Pick usually happens every two years but in recent years, system picks have lasted less than two years. For example, that Lake Shore Change on 8/31/03. Another system pick happen when they started with the Rostering at NP & 74th that June of 2004. And I think it was another one in June of 2006, one pick before they'd went back to the original run number bracket at NP & 74.

By the definition given above of system involving garage swaps, the last one was March 23rd of this year.

[BusExpert32]

Does anyone know if new fixed routes such as #83 that BUSANGEL#1 is reporting will go into effect at the start of the winter pick, December 28th? Is the CTA even taking any consideration at all to the proposed JARC routes?

[cta_44499_FG]

Does anyone know if new fixed routes such as #83 that BUSANGEL#1 is reporting will go into effect at the start of the winter pick, December 28th? Is the CTA even taking any consideration at all to the proposed JARC routes?

No, for changes in the next pick consult South Loop and N201 Changes

[BUSANGEL#1]

Does anyone know if new fixed routes such as #83 that BUSANGEL#1 is reporting will go into effect at the start of the winter pick, December 28th? Is the CTA even taking any consideration at all to the proposed JARC routes?

The latest that the JARC proposals will go into effect will be summer 09. The target goal is spring pick.

[BusExpert32]

The latest that the JARC proposals will go into effect will be summer 09. The target goal is spring pick.

If this is true, then more 6000s can be saved to increase the fleet for new fixed routes. :)

[Busjack]

From the map on the schedule, and refreshing my recollection using Google Maps (indicating that Damen ends at 87th) it seems like the only possible justification is the one given for going to Evergreen Plaza--to connect with 49A, 349 and 381. Nothing on Damen to serve south of 87th.

[BusHunter]

From the map on the schedule, and refreshing my recollection using Google Maps (indicating that Damen ends at 87th) it seems like the only possible justification is the one given for going to Evergreen Plaza--to connect with 49A, 349 and 381. Nothing on Damen to serve south of 87th.

I'm just wondering how they would have there layover at Western/49th Orange line. The terminal was constructed to have buses pass through without a bay. You would think if a #48 pulls into the terminal and stops wouldn't he block up the whole terminal for the #X49's , #49's and #94's, especially with the curvature of the driveways. You would think most of the time a bus wouldn't park straight and have there tail end sticking out. It sounds like a little of a tight squeeze over there.

[Busjack]

I'm just wondering how they would have there layover at Western/49th Orange line. The terminal was constructed to have buses pass through without a bay. You would think if a #48 pulls into the terminal and stops wouldn't he block up the whole terminal for the #X49's , #49's and #94's, especially with the curvature of the driveways. You would think most of the time a bus wouldn't park straight and have there tail end sticking out. It sounds like a little of a tight squeeze over there.

Of course, you also have Western Ave. and Western Blvd. there, so there may be enough room to sit on the street. If I remember correctly, the terminal is between the Ave. and the Blvd.

[artthouwill]

I'm just wondering how they would have there layover at Western/49th Orange line. The terminal was constructed to have buses pass through without a bay. You would think if a #48 pulls into the terminal and stops wouldn't he block up the whole terminal for the #X49's , #49's and #94's, especially with the curvature of the driveways. You would think most of the time a bus wouldn't park straight and have there tail end sticking out. It sounds like a little of a tight squeeze over there.

I thought about that too, but when I actually passed gy, I found it feasible. It is just a matter of combining the 49, 49X, and the 94 bus stop into one stop, since those buses are only passing through, and the current 94 sto[ on the Western Ave side culd be the layover point for the 48. The dropoff point for the 48 could be where the 94 picks up going southbound.

[pudgym29]

Could all service on the #48 be provided by 30-foot Optima Opus buses from Archer garage?

[jajuan]

Could all service on the #48 be provided by 30-foot Optima Opus buses from Archer garage?

Probably not on school days with the schools located near the route around the Garfield and 59th street areas. Even on lighter routes, I've noticed that 40-footers can be full with students and the other riders from other parts of that route during school days before school starts and after the schools let out.