Return of the 11 & 31 Bus

[Juniorz]

  On 7/14/2016 at 3:26 AM, Busjack said:

Sun-Times article that the CT Board got some protest to the terms of the 31 experiment, and that Carter said he would tweak service "after it gets up and running."

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The pilot hasn't even started yet! I understand the concerns, but not a single rubber tire has hit the pavement yet. The good news is that Mr. Carter is watching both pilots closely and that he will maintain existing service throughout the system as a whole.

Give the 180 day experiments a try first before jumping into conclusions that are (at least for now) assumptions.

 

[artthouwill]

  On 7/15/2016 at 12:48 AM, Juniorz said:

The pilot hasn't even started yet! I understand the concerns, but not a single rubber tire has hit the pavement yet. The good news is that Mr. Carter is watching both pilots closely and that he will maintain existing service throughout the system as a whole.

Give the 180 day experiments a try first before jumping into conclusions that are (at least for now) assumptions.

 

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I understand the concern.   CTA has the reputation of doominus service and then justify the cut.   Perhaps the feeling is that CTA really doesn't want to run service on that route.  

[Busjack]

  On 7/15/2016 at 2:03 AM, artthouwill said:

I understand the concern.   CTA has the reputation of doominus service and then justify the cut.   Perhaps the feeling is that CTA really doesn't want to run service on that route.  

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That would seem obvious from all the resistance CTA showed  until Carter decided to do the experiment. I wouldn't presume CTA intends the experiments to fail, but I don't know what customer research CTA did before instituting what it did.

[Juniorz]

The CTA did produce a 31st street study in 2011-2012 with an accompany digital booklet explaining why West 31st was more feasible to receive service than East 31st, but please remember that was under the Claypool era.

[Juniorz]

  On 7/15/2016 at 2:03 AM, artthouwill said:

I understand the concern.   CTA has the reputation of doominus service and then justify the cut.   Perhaps the feeling is that CTA really doesn't want to run service on that route.  

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I'm just glad the brass is giving it a shot period and it doesn't hurt that you have someone within the industry that is willing to see the pilots from both sides. 

As noted before, I'll bet my coins on route 11 before route 31, which would be a shocker to stay permanent considering it's performance in it's last configuration almost 20 years ago.

[renardo870]

What if the 31st St route was extended to serve 26th St from 26th and King Drive to Halsted Orange Line via 31st, King Drive, 26th, State, Cermak, Wentworth, 26th, Halsted and Archer, serving Mercy Hospital, Green and Red lines, Chinatown and N.Bridgeport to the Orange line. It would be something to look at down the line since CTA President Carter was open to tweak the service and I'm sure it possible ridership is on 26th St going to Red and Green and near McCormick Place and Mercy Hospital. 

[Busjack]

  On 8/7/2016 at 5:41 PM, renardo870 said:

What if the 31st St route was extended to serve 26th St

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21 already has.

[renardo870]

  On 8/7/2016 at 8:36 PM, Busjack said:

21 already has.

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I was referring to service along 26th St from King Drive to Halsted with service to/from the Red/Green lines if 31st route is successful or the 26th St portion would make it more appealing and improve running times to 15-20 minutes...down the line of course.  

[andrethebusman]

Remember when #31 ran from Ashland via Archer-Pitney-31st-Cottage Grove-26th to Halsted? 26th part got axe many years before the rest for lack of business. Wouldn't do any better now. Doesn't go anywhere where one can't get just as easily by other ways.

[Sam92]

Look what I found on 31st/Michigan 

[Juniorz]

  On 8/14/2016 at 6:47 PM, Sam92 said:

Look what I found on 31st/Michigan 

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THE RETURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TaylorTank1229]

  On 8/14/2016 at 6:47 PM, Sam92 said:

Look what I found on 31st/Michigan 

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The resurrection of the 31st Street bus... Is coming! Let's hope CTA finds a way to make it last...

[Juniorz]

  On 8/14/2016 at 8:01 PM, TaylorTank1229 said:

The resurrection of the 31st Street bus... Is coming! Let's hope CTA finds a way to make it last...

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Looks like the return may happen sooner than later.

[TaylorTank1229]

  On 8/14/2016 at 8:12 PM, Juniorz said:

Looks like the return may happen sooner than later.

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It's look like it, and here's a comparison of 1997 and today.

[Juniorz]

Maybe that political opposition kicked up the start date. It was unfair to start the 11 pilot when both pilots were announced simultaneously

[jajuan]

Again guys, the start date delay was not all on the CTA this time. The delay came because the alderman down there, Patrick Daley Thompson, didn't come to agreement with CTA about bus stop placement in time for the route to start route in the summer pick as the 11 was. So it's coming in the fall pick instead. Remember from what got explained to us a few months ago by I believe it was Andre, that when CTA introduces a new route, extends one or permanently reroutes one, that means they may have to change parking along the route's affected area to make room for bus stops. In the case of near side bus stops at intersections, they also have to determine how best to place those as well as how many to use to not only properly calibrate bus traffic flow but also to minimize the buses' impact on the rest of the traffic on the road. That means they have to negotiate with the alderman of affected areas to compromise how best to fit those stops. In short, CTA can't plop its bus stops anywhere it wants. It has to be negotiated with city officials the same way that Andre also explained that they have to negotiate with the city which streets its buses can run.

[andrethebusman]

Also remember they have the parking meter outfit to deal with. The deal Daley cut was that if a metered spot is removed for any reason, even temporarily, the city has to essentially pay Laz as if a car had been parked there at all times that paying is required. Nice deal, huh? So they have to juggle things around so that the number of paid parking spaces taken up by bus stops are replaced by new paid parking spaces somewhere else. Apparently not even nearby, just somewhere.

[geneking7320]

My church is at the southeast corner of 31st and King Dr. I was there Saturday morning and left around 1:30pm and didn't see a sign.

When I got there Sunday morning the sign was up. Too bad the bus won't run on Sunday.

[geneking7320]

Here's a follow up question that maybe Andre might answer:

Is the #31 likely to go into the Lake Meadows Shopping Center property at 33rd Place so that the buses might turn around and head back eastward on 33rd Place?

<rant> i appreciate bike paths and the desire to ride one's bike to the 31st street beach/marina. However, the return of this route is a good reason to NOT have a bike lane on 31st street. <end of rant>

[Sam92]

  On 8/15/2016 at 6:51 AM, geneking7320 said:

Here's a follow up question that maybe Andre might answer:

Is the #31 likely to go into the Lake Meadows Shopping Center property at 33rd Place so that the buses might turn around and head back eastward on 33rd Place?

<rant> i appreciate bike paths and the desire to ride one's bike to the 31st street beach/marina. However, the return of this route is a good reason to NOT have a bike lane on 31st street. <end of rant>

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I don't think traffic is that heavy for the bike lane to really affect 31st St traffic 

[Busjack]

  On 8/15/2016 at 6:40 AM, geneking7320 said:

When I got there Sunday morning the sign was up

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I'm surprised there isn't a notice on the pole saying "Effective Sept. 5." Sign is not effective for another 3 weeks.

  On 8/15/2016 at 6:51 AM, geneking7320 said:

Is the #31 likely to go into the Lake Meadows Shopping Center property at 33rd Place so that the buses might turn around and head back eastward on 33rd Place?

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CTA 31 page has as map.

Embedded from the above source.

[geneking7320]

  On 8/15/2016 at 10:14 AM, Sam92 said:

I don't think traffic is that heavy for the bike lane to really affect 31st St traffic 

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I would beg to differ with you - especially between the Dan Ryan and King Dr at certain times.

[geneking7320]

  On 8/15/2016 at 2:52 PM, Busjack said:

I'm surprised there isn't a notice on the pole saying "Effective Sept. 5." Sign is not effective for another 3 weeks.

CTA 31 page has as map.

Embedded from the above source.

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I had forgotten about that map. I must have had a early senior moment [I'll hit 62 in 13 days. ]

Thanks!

[Busjack]

  On 8/15/2016 at 4:42 PM, geneking7320 said:

I had forgotten about that map. I must have had a early senior moment [I'll hit 62 in 13 days

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My mother too. She's done that each year on that day for 27 years.

[jajuan]

It also occurs to me that they will have to make room in the bus terminal again at the Ashland Orange Line station  for the 31 again when they gave its bus bay to NB Ashland buses after the NB buses began entering the terminal just like the SB buses had been since day one of the Orange Line. It's not impossible to do, but it will still be interesting to see how CTA works it out given the overall layout of the bus terminal.