Random CTA

[Sam92]

19 minutes ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

I see some of what you're saying, but you're just not going to convince me that one of the ten busiest routes in the city (and consistently so for the last 20 years) is a "support route" lol. Being close to the 4 is one thing, but it's not like the 29 or SSML are comparatively heavy hitters. Also, all 3 trips went downtown, at least by when I was born and started riding (1999-2003), the difference was going past congress plaza or not (although, as I am now finding out, I didn't realize/remember alternate trips ending at 79th)

The trips you're thinking of operated between Mercy/Reese and 79th/81st up till a few years after the 2003 Lake Shore Restructuring. Ironically 3 was counted as "key" initially when should've been counted as support back then since North of 35th #4 helped provide the frequency between there and downtown before being rerouted (only difference 3 provided was a one seat ride to mag mile) thus was only heavy from bronzeville to the south; of course that all changed when 3 had to pick up the 4's slack. If we were going by frequency I'd count 29 as support and 3 as key but I think of it like this. Half mile streets are mainly support cause they support not having to walk as far as you would have to if buses only ran on main streets lol