Creation/Restoration/Elimination of Owl Service

[cta_44499_FG]

I have a feeling, at least with regard to 8, that while it runs most of the night, it doesn't run all night, as far as CTA is concerned. The schedule page shows a gap from 1:20 to 2:45 northbound, and 2:20 to 4:05 southbound.

My impression of how Owl was defined in the 1997 cutbacks was that it ran every 30 minutes all night.

If the route does not maintain at least a 30-minute headway 24/7, then it is not considered an "owl" route.

As far as destination signs are concerned, the only routes that carry an 'N' are those that are modified, for example, the 22 carries a regular southbound sign but northbound carries the 'N' as it operates via Dearborn, Washington, State, Randolph back to Dearborn. N77 operates via Belmont, Laramie, Diversey, Central back to Belmont for the eastbound trip. N151 terminates at Berwyn, and so forth.

Lines like the 81 Lawrence carry no variated signage as the route operates from Jefferson Park to Wilson/Marine the same way 24/7.

The oddball routes are N5, as we know doesn't have a daytime 5, and the N201...which basically is a separate route from its counterpart the 201, and there is no round the clock service.

[jajuan]

If the route does not maintain at least a 30-minute headway 24/7, then it is not considered an "owl" route.

As far as destination signs are concerned, the only routes that carry an 'N' are those that are modified, for example, the 22 carries a regular southbound sign but northbound carries the 'N' as it operates via Dearborn, Washington, State, Randolph back to Dearborn. N77 operates via Belmont, Laramie, Diversey, Central back to Belmont for the eastbound trip. N151 terminates at Berwyn, and so forth.

Lines like the 81 Lawrence carry no variated signage as the route operates from Jefferson Park to Wilson/Marine the same way 24/7.

The oddball routes are N5, as we know doesn't have a daytime 5, and the N201...which basically is a separate route from its counterpart the 201, and there is no round the clock service.

CTA still considers the owl service on say 49, 79, 81 and the like as N49, N79, N81 as stated in the late night service brochures found at some L stations. The actual destination signs may not say it but they still get the Nxx designation if it has owl service. The variations have no basis on that.

[qwantae]

How about This:

#87- back to 91/Commercial

#108 (bring back)or 8A from 79/Red Line to 127th/Vermont if cannot bring back #119.

#28 should be bring back

#6 would be a good option.

#55 Owl extend to Midway for Hyde Park residences.

Green Line should have Owl service.

[rideonrulez]

the N201...which basically is a separate route from its counterpart the 201, and there is no round the clock service.

1) the N201 should be numbered to say the N202 since it has no real route relation to the 201 and 2) what a waste of resources!! But yes it's political....

[MetroShadow]

1) the N201 should be numbered to say the N202 since it has no real route relation to the 201 and 2) what a waste of resources!! But yes it's political....

If you recall the original 201 prior to the 2003 restructuring...it was practically (keyword) identical. This was in part of the Purple Line losing Night Owl service.

[cta_44499_FG]

If you recall the original 201 prior to the 2003 restructuring...it was practically (keyword) identical. This was in part of the Purple Line losing Night Owl service.

You are correct. The only difference being that the regular daytime routing then continued west on Central St. to Crawford before continuing west, this was before the Old Orchard routing. As a matter of fact, the first day trip of the 201 terminates at Crawford, but it uses the current routing.

[MetroShadow]

The 200 is/was political

The 206 replaced the 204 and supplements 201 service

The 205 replaced 202 and 203 service, I believe also.

[Busjack]

The 200 is/was political

The 206 replaced the 204 and supplements 201 service

The 205 replaced 202 and 203 service, I believe also.

• 200 partially replaced 202 on the Main part.
  
• 93 replaced the 204 (and the northernmost part replaced the 202 on Emerson).
  
• 205 replaced 201 on the south end, and sort of replaced 203 on the west leg (although past ETHS, 203 went on Grant rather than Golf, and was extended to Old Orchard and Skokie Courthouse).
  
• Basically the current 201 covers the north half of the old 201, was extended to Old Orchard, and takes the old 203 routing south of Davis.
  
• 206 is essentially sui generis to provide service to ETHS.
  

The old routes were:

• 201: Central-Sherman [and then via Chicago Ave.]
  
• 202: Main-Emerson
  
• 203: Ridge-Grant
  
• 204: Dodge
  

[MetroShadow]

I didn't have time to analyze the old routes, and I know we've deviated off the topic (I apologize). But the N201 was designed since Purple Line service stopped running 24/7

[nextstopchicago]

An easy choice:

Route #50 Damen: Owl Service from the route #145 Brown Line "L" loop on the north to the Pink Line "L" Polk station on the south.

Traffic generators: Hospitals at both terminii; restaurants, taverns, and nightclubs at several points along Damen Ave. (Irving Park, North | Milwaukee, Division).

While I think this is a decent idea, the hospital you're talking about at the north end of the route has been closed for awhile now.

[cta_44499_FG]

Well seems no one noticed but the owl service on the 77 Belmont was officially extended to Octavia with the new run pick. See for yourself.

[jajuan]

Well seems no one noticed but the owl service on the 77 Belmont was officially extended to Octavia with the new run pick. See for yourself.

You're right. It likely went unnoticed because CTA didn't make a big show of it in any notices.

[sht6131]

You're right. It likely went unnoticed because CTA didn't make a big show of it in any notices.

They did. Its on there web site under travel information. Scrool down to weekday service changes June 22-24.

[Sam92]

Maybe this shouldn't be "Owl" service. But for the people who live extremely southeast and otherwise have to take loooong trips to the Red Line, maybe the #14 should be given a few more hours. Also it's northside counterpart the #147 could use them too although the Red is a little closer. #6 sounds like a good idea too for the same reason that it reaches way east and eliminates the need to take a trip to the Red and can give people a one-seat ride.

[Busjack]

Maybe this shouldn't be "Owl" service. But for the people who live extremely southeast and otherwise have to take loooong trips to the Red Line, maybe the #14 should be given a few more hours. Also it's northside counterpart the #147 could use them too although the Red is a little closer. #6 sounds like a good idea too for the same reason that it reaches way east and eliminates the need to take a trip to the Red and can give people a one-seat ride.

With regard to 6, most of it (South Shore and Commercial) is covered by the N5 bus. Those in Hyde Park would take the Metra Electric in any event.

With regard to 147, there is the N151 up to Foster, and past that it is within 2 blocks of the L.

I bet that with the low nighttime demand (and owl is basically defined as 1 to 4 a.m.), one seat ride is not a concern with regard to CTA finances. As noted on the home page tonight, because Quinn didn't come through with the promised state money to cover the fare freeze, the RTA is looking at cutting back service, pretty quickly.

[sw4400]

My changed route ideas.

#11 should run longer. Maybe run to Clark/North SB and Foster NB until 10p-10:30p maybe. This bus route ends too early.

#152 should be a Owl Bus, also #85 as these buses serve Reserrection Hospital(formerly Northwest Hospital at Addison & Cental)

[BusHunter]

My changed route ideas.

#11 should run longer. Maybe run to Clark/North SB and Foster NB until 10p-10:30p maybe. This bus route ends too early.

#152 should be a Owl Bus, also #85 as these buses serve Reserrection Hospital(formerly Northwest Hospital at Addison & Cental)

The #85 should be owl like you said, but the #152 gets too dead at night to support owl service. Probably the #80 would be a better candidate at least between the blue and red lines.

[BusHunter]

Well seems no one noticed but the owl service on the 77 Belmont was officially extended to Octavia with the new run pick. See for yourself.

Also like I said after the spring pick was out, they are sending more pullins/pullouts in/out before they reach the ends of the route. Now in the rush 20 minutes waits are no longer exclusively on the feeders like the #88 or #85A, but on main routes too, if you happen to be close to the end of a route. Harlem is starting to look like Central with all the extra out of service buses on it. :lol:

[cta_44499_FG]

The #85 should be owl like you said, but the #152 gets too dead at night to support owl service. Probably the #80 would be a better candidate at least between the blue and red lines.

152 is too close to the 77 (a few blocks) for there to be owl service less than a mile apart. Especially now that the 77 owl service was extended to Octavia, there would be no need for it on the 152, where, aside from Wrigley Field there is no real night traffic generator.

The 80 might be a good choice, but as far west as the Blue Line might be enough (direct connection to the "N53").

[mkohut]

152 is too close to the 77 (a few blocks) for there to be owl service less than a mile apart. Especially now that the 77 owl service was extended to Octavia, there would be no need for it on the 152, where, aside from Wrigley Field there is no real night traffic generator.

The 80 might be a good choice, but as far west as the Blue Line might be enough (direct connection to the "N53").

While there is value points to add service.There is one thing that it is lacking.Funding

Bus Service was cut 18 percent in Feb 2010.

Until there is a real funding solution nothing is going to happen.

[busfan2847]

While there is value points to add service.There is one thing that it is lacking.Funding

Bus Service was cut 18 percent in Feb 2010.

Until there is a real funding solution nothing is going to happen.

And of course there could be another 25% cut next month if the rta and Illinois can't get their act sorted out!

[cta_44499_FG]

While there is value points to add service.There is one thing that it is lacking.Funding

Bus Service was cut 18 percent in Feb 2010.

Until there is a real funding solution nothing is going to happen.

I'm the 77 extension came at the expense of cutting more thru trips. There are more pm runs ending at Octavia after looking at the schedule.

[ChicagoNova]

The #85 should be owl like you said, but the #152 gets too dead at night to support owl service. Probably the #80 would be a better candidate at least between the blue and red lines.

I also agree that CTA should restore #N85 Night Owl Service because it also terminates at Harrison, across the street from Loretto Hospital.

[jajuan]

And of course there could be another 25% cut next month if the rta and Illinois can't get their act sorted out!

Well Metra and CTA's official stance is on that is Metra is not planning any fare increases and CTA isn't planning to cut service any time this year. So that kind of undercuts the RTA since it was RTA alone making the threat on cuts and fare increases next month with the media playing right into this foolishness. There's almost the sense they were quick to put out the story on this battle brewing between Illinois and the RTA with RTA issuing the threat on fare increases and service cuts before having clear communication with its three service boards in an attempt to show it's running transit and not just sitting passing on its responsibilities of authority.

[Busjack]

Well Metra and CTA's official stance is on that is Metra is not planning any fare increases and CTA isn't planning to cut service any time this year. So that kind of undercuts the RTA since it was RTA alone making the threat on cuts and fare increases next month with the media playing right into this foolishness. There's almost the sense they were quick to put out the story on this battle brewing between Illinois and the RTA with RTA issuing the threat on fare increases and service cuts before having clear communication with its three service boards in an attempt to show it's running transit and not just sitting passing on its responsibilities of authority.

Whatever the politics between the multifarious transit agencies, if there ain't no money, there ain't no money, and Quinn's spokesperson isn't saying that the state has paid what it owes.

Let's go back to 2007. This was said about every two weeks, and Blago was the one that had to come up with various "steal from capital" plans to avert similar scenarios, while he was sending mixed signals on whether he would sign the sales tax increase.

The state has engaged in too many of these frauds, and the string has probably run out.

On the other hand, the RTA doesn't have any authority over the level of service, the service boards do (section 2.01 of the RTA Act), so they aren't going to say anything until the RTA tells them that they aren't getting the money.

Such is fragmented transit here.

The one thing about which you can be sure is that any substantial service cut is not going to happen July 1, because the transit agencies have to hold public hearings on them, and that won't happen in a week. That is, of course, if the service cuts are serious, as in 2010, as opposed to political theater, as in 2007.