Random CTA

[quackintosh]

On 6/7/2026 at 11:57 PM, EasyMoney said:

Seems like cta updated the P.A announcements on the buses it’s a new announcement when the doors open “Fare Payment is required” aslo it announce transfers to metra and other L stations at stops it recently didn’t not before 

I still haven't heard a bus make the new announcement, but I did see that the label (edit: and announcement) for Western and Hubbard changed to include the Metra connections.

[Javi75]

I’m on the 22 Clark on a fully packed artic with another 22 Clark artic immediately behind my bus. If no one is getting off my packed bus should the bus driver pass the stops up and let the second bus take some of the crowd? The bus behind me doesn’t seem like they want to pick up any passengers. 

[EasyMoney]

54 minutes ago, Javi75 said:

I’m on the 22 Clark on a fully packed artic with another 22 Clark artic immediately behind my bus. If no one is getting off my packed bus should the bus driver pass the stops up and let the second bus take some of the crowd? The bus behind me doesn’t seem like they want to pick up any passengers. 

Can’t pass up stops we will get wrote up got to let passengers decide if they wanna board or not regardless of the bus is packed and for the operator that does not want to pass up and help that’s sucks because we a team and need to help out I’ll sit back and make them pass me 

[Busjack]

6 hours ago, EasyMoney said:

Can’t pass up stops we will get wrote up got to let passengers decide if they wanna board or not regardless of the bus is packed and for the operator that does not want to pass up and help that’s sucks because we a team and need to help out I’ll sit back and make them pass me 

CTA claimed to have rules to prevent this kind of bus bunching, but from what you say, threw them out the window.

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, EasyMoney said:

Can’t pass up stops we will get wrote up got to let passengers decide if they wanna board or not regardless of the bus is packed and for the operator that does not want to pass up and help that’s sucks because we a team and need to help out I’ll sit back and make them pass me 

I guess it depends.   I've seen  buses not crowded passing each other, " helping out" and I have seen crowded buses where the folder will not pass the leader.  I suppose That is to make sure wheelchair passengers don't get stranded if they're not able to board the first bus.  Yet I saw one this week on the 12 that wasn't able to board either bus.  

 

I do think not allowing buses to pass each other only increases the chances of bus bunching.   The crowded leader will never get to make up time if passing isn't allowed. 

[EasyMoney]

38 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

I guess it depends.   I've seen  buses not crowded passing each other, " helping out" and I have seen crowded buses where the folder will not pass the leader.  I suppose That is to make sure wheelchair passengers don't get stranded if they're not able to board the first bus.  Yet I saw one this week on the 12 that wasn't able to board either bus.  

 

I do think not allowing buses to pass each other only increases the chances of bus bunching.   The crowded leader will never get to make up time if passing isn't allowed. 

Trust me it’s a lot of lazy operators who don’t want to help they just here for the money 

[Sam92]

On 6/13/2026 at 1:49 PM, EasyMoney said:

Can’t pass up stops we will get wrote up got to let passengers decide if they wanna board or not regardless of the bus is packed and for the operator that does not want to pass up and help that’s sucks because we a team and need to help out I’ll sit back and make them pass me 

 

On 6/13/2026 at 4:07 PM, Busjack said:

CTA claimed to have rules to prevent this kind of bus bunching, but from what you say, threw them out the window.

 

On 6/13/2026 at 4:53 PM, artthouwill said:

I guess it depends.   I've seen  buses not crowded passing each other, " helping out" and I have seen crowded buses where the folder will not pass the leader.  I suppose That is to make sure wheelchair passengers don't get stranded if they're not able to board the first bus.  Yet I saw one this week on the 12 that wasn't able to board either bus.  

 

I do think not allowing buses to pass each other only increases the chances of bus bunching.   The crowded leader will never get to make up time if passing isn't allowed. 

Sounds like the issues is inconsistency on how it's done and the system doesn't seem to have a quick enough response time. @YoungBusLovershowed us messages tht control sends about headway management. Before COVID I've ONE TIME been on a bus that went express 'L'-style to unbunch on Cottage Grove. Of course we have the infamous #22 that can't be maintained after years of artic prioritization, schedule adjustments, etc. #6 is an honorable mention. I don't know if there's an auto-trigger to set up that you can send to drivers under certain situations. In areas where there's passing room, some provision could be set in the system to unbunch an buses that are too close to each other (running express or near the end of the line a bus or two can just turn back early to make sure the gap in the other direction doesn't grow while waiting for the pack of buses to come back). 

[strictures]

3 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

 

 

Sounds like the issues is inconsistency on how it's done and the system doesn't seem to have a quick enough response time. @YoungBusLovershowed us messages tht control sends about headway management. Before COVID I've ONE TIME been on a bus that went express 'L'-style to unbunch on Cottage Grove. Of course we have the infamous #22 that can't be maintained after years of artic prioritization, schedule adjustments, etc. #6 is an honorable mention. I don't know if there's an auto-trigger to set up that you can send to drivers under certain situations. In areas where there's passing room, some provision could be set in the system to unbunch an buses that are too close to each other (running express or near the end of the line a bus or two can just turn back early to make sure the gap in the other direction doesn't grow while waiting for the pack of buses to come back). 

All I want the driver of an overcrowded bus who can see his follower in the rear view mirror to do is drop off all passengers that need to get off on the wrong corner at a stop, so that no one else crowds on & then the follower picks up the waiting passengers.

Since the control center can see where each bus is, if someone complains, the CTA garage managers should be able to say, that the first bus which was overcrowded only made the people waiting on the sidewalk wait a couple of minutes extra. That alone would reduce bunching a bit, but definitely reduce the number of overcrowded buses. 

That should be a written policy exception to passing up people!

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, strictures said:

All I want the driver of an overcrowded bus who can see his follower in the rear view mirror to do is drop off all passengers that need to get off on the wrong corner at a stop, so that no one else crowds on & then the follower picks up the waiting .

May not legally do that [at least not now). A common carrier has a duty to stop only at safe locations.

 CTA 's rule is only at posted stops, but even Pace says only when it is safe to do so.

But I'm sure you are trying to buy a lawsuit against CTA. 

[EasyMoney]

Multiple garages helped out with the 10 yesterday (Chicago Ave),(103rd) I don’t know if this just was for the grand opening (Obama library) but seems like it helped 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, EasyMoney said:

Multiple garages helped out with the 10 yesterday (Chicago Ave),(103rd) I don’t know if this just was for the grand opening but seems like it helped 

There was also a concert at Soldier Field  which probably increased traffic  .  The extra buses probably helped mitigate that also.

 

Going forward,  the 10 will need articles from K and maybe 103rd,. 

[pokemonprime]

On the 73, Cortland & Ashland was already announced as transfer to Metra trains, but it's now formally Cortland & Ashland (Metra Up-N/Up-Nw), and the stop Armitage Brown Line Station (+announced "Transfer to Purple Line trains at Rush Hour") has been amended to Armitage & Sheffield (Brown/Purple Lines)

[dailycommuter62]

https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/22/work-begins-on-bronzeville-trail-the-south-sides-1st-elevated-bike-path/
 

A local effort to turn the kenwood L enbankment into a 606 style bike path. It shows a ramp leading down to the rock island was that part of the cta trackage? Wonder who even owns the whole thing at this point.

[Busjack]

14 minutes ago, dailycommuter62 said:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/22/work-begins-on-bronzeville-trail-the-south-sides-1st-elevated-bike-path/
 

A local effort to turn the kenwood L enbankment into a 606 style bike path. It shows a ramp leading down to the rock island was that part of the cta trackage? Wonder who even owns the whole thing at this point.

Probably no one (easement on adjoining property) and before that the Stock Yards railroad.

[strictures]

5 hours ago, dailycommuter62 said:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/22/work-begins-on-bronzeville-trail-the-south-sides-1st-elevated-bike-path/
 

A local effort to turn the kenwood L enbankment into a 606 style bike path. It shows a ramp leading down to the rock island was that part of the cta trackage? Wonder who even owns the whole thing at this point.

Large sections of it have already been removed.  So are they going to rebuild it with a bridge like structure such as the rebuilt North Side Main Line from Lawrence to Hollywood?  Or will they  build a new embankment, just narrower?

[Busjack]

12 hours ago, strictures said:

Large sections of it have already been removed.  So are they going to rebuild it with a bridge like structure such as the rebuilt North Side Main Line from Lawrence to Hollywood?  Or will they  build a new embankment, just narrower?

It's supposed to be a bike trail like the 606, so, no, they aren't going to spend $1 billion for a concrete structure. The question is whether they will rebuild the overpasses.

[artthouwill]

Friendly reminder that tomorrow July 3rd is the official 4th of July Holuday.  Sunday service will be in effect.  On the actual July 4th, Saturday service will be in effect . Tomorrow all banks and government officials will be clised.  Sine of you will be getting paid today. If you use CTA, Metra, or Pace tomorrow,  be aware of the holiday schedule and plan accordingly e

[artthouwill]

When did the 9 Ashland local start making stops 1/4 mile apart?  I know that idea had been floated, but I hadn't realize.d it has been put in effect,  aWhat does this mean for the C9?  Is it necessary?t least on the south side

[Tcmetro]

2 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

When did the 9 Ashland local start making stops 1/4 mile apart?  I know that idea had been floated, but I hadn't realize.d it has been put in effect,  aWhat does this mean for the C9?  Is it necessary?t least on the south side

I believe the 9 and 49 had stop removals in 2015 when the X9 and X49 were restored.

[artthouwill]

57 minutes ago, Tcmetro said:

I believe the 9 and 49 had stop removals in 2015 when the X9 and X49 were restored.

That long ago?  I usually get the X9 on Ashland but today I got the local.  Though not as fast as the X9, it's an improvement. 

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

That long ago?  I usually get the X9 on Ashland but today I got the local.  Though not as fast as the X9, it's an improvement. 

They took some of the lower used local stops and cut them so overall the whole corridor would speed up along with the return of the X9. 

[Busjack]

4 hours ago, Tcmetro said:

I believe the 9 and 49 had stop removals in 2015 when the X9 and X49 were restored.

I recall someone posting at the time that those "local" stops were at the same interval as the "express" stops on J14.

[Javi75]

Did CTA put out a public announcement that today wasn’t going to be regular weekday service? I thought today would be regular service since today isn’t the actual 4th of July. Usually every other holiday eve that falls on a weekday is treated as regular weekday operation. 

[Sam92]

12 minutes ago, Javi75 said:

Did CTA put out a public announcement that today wasn’t going to be regular weekday service? I thought today would be regular service since today isn’t the actual 4th of July. Usually every other holiday eve that falls on a weekday is treated as regular weekday operation. 

If the 4th is on Saturday then the friday before iss treated as a holiday. If Suniday then it is observed on Monday. I don't remember exactly when it changed but at some point in the past it was strictly celebrated on the 4th

[Busjack]

7 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

If the 4th is on SatTurday then the friday before iss treated as a holiday. If Suniday then it is observed on Monday. I don't remember exactly when it changed but at some point in the past it was strictly celebrated on the 4th

This was discussed the last time it happened and apparently it's only the government and financial institutions. The last time this happened it was Pace not running on Friday and running a normal Saturday schedule on July 4, which seemed like idiocy, but now the routes in question (422 and 423, among others) don't run weekends at all. I remember something similar about CTA starting late on what was a workday for others.