Better Streets For Buses

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

CTA tweeted this this morning on their twitter i find it really interesting to read about

https://betterstreetsforbuses.com

[Busjack]

4 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

CTA tweeted this this morning on their twitter i find it really interesting to read about

https://betterstreetsforbuses.com

it's interesting. but the only question is if CDOT is going to do something this time. The corridors are basically the same backbone network,  and there was the prior wrangling over how hard it is to install TSP in Chicago with all the obsolete wiring. A few bump outs aren't going to accomplish much.

[Busjack]

Related, Lightfoot now wants an ordinance called "Smart Streets" to use CTA bus cameras and other cameras to ticket cars that block bus lanes, bike lanes. crosswalks or loading zones (Sun-Times).

[Shannoncvpi]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

Related, Lightfoot now wants an ordinance called "Smart Streets" to use CTA bus cameras and other cameras to ticket cars that block bus lanes, bike lanes. crosswalks or loading zones (Sun-Times).

That a be a good idea cause the city going to get alot of tickets due to their law breaking officers parking in bus stop zones on 63rd & cottage on Harrison & kedize & all over the city even crook County gone get tickets due to their gangmembers parking in the bus stop zone at their post on chicago & loreal 

[Busjack]

48 minutes ago, Shannoncvpi said:

That a be a good idea cause the city going to get alot of tickets due to their law breaking officers parking in bus stop zones on 63rd & cottage on Harrison & kedize & all over the city even crook County gone get tickets due to their gangmembers parking in the bus stop zone at their post on chicago & loreal 

There was a reference in the article to

Quote

Christina Whitehouse, founder of the advocacy group Bike Lane Uprising, said ... "City officials and employees are the “most egregious” offenders.."

However, since the ticket would go to the owner rather than the unknown driver, the city would be ticketing itself, unless it also implemented a disciplinary system.

[Shannoncvpi]

1 hour ago, Busjack said:

There was a reference in the article to

However, since the ticket would go to the owner rather than the unknown driver, the city would be ticketing itself, unless it also implemented a disciplinary system.

Well they will know who the sqaud was assigned to at the time 

[Busjack]

CTA Press Release pointing to the Better Streets for Buses website. Basically, though, it is a toolbox of known treatments, and certain corridors get priority consideration.

[Tcmetro]

We'll see if anything actually comes of this. A lot of these treatments are already being considered in most CDOT projects. Can't imagine this results in anything material like BRT. Maybe CTA will consider these important corridors to add service to.

[Busjack]

5 minutes ago, Tcmetro said:

Maybe CTA will consider these important corridors to add service to.

In that some corridors appear to be defined by bus routes (i.e, North DLSD includes Marine Dr. and Inner LSD, S. Michigan includes Indiana), and the routes on those corridors are indicated (including Pace 352 and 381, which Pace plans to make Pulse), this seems more an effort to get existing buses through more efficiently.

Back to the issue of artics, I don't see how bump-outs help them, at least on leaving the bus.

On the "lot lot of these treatments are already being considered in most CDOT projects" point, it noted "queue jump lanes on Clark Street to be installed as part of other streetscape improvements; and bus boarding islands along Milwaukee Avenue and Laramie Avenue."

[Sam92]

5 hours ago, Busjack said:

CTA Press Release pointing to the Better Streets for Buses website. Basically, though, it is a toolbox of known treatments, and certain corridors get priority consideration.

 

18 minutes ago, Tcmetro said:

We'll see if anything actually comes of this. A lot of these treatments are already being considered in most CDOT projects. Can't imagine this results in anything material like BRT. Maybe CTA will consider these important corridors to add service to.

 

8 minutes ago, Busjack said:

In that some corridors appear to be defined by bus routes (i.e, North DLSD includes Marine Dr. and Inner LSD, S. Michigan includes Indiana), and the routes on those corridors are indicated (including Pace 352 and 381, which Pace plans to make Pulse), this seems more an effort to get existing buses through more efficiently.

Back to the issue of artics, I don't see how bump-outs help them, at least on leaving the bus.

On the "lot lot of these treatments are already being considered in most CDOT projects" point, it noted "queue jump lanes on Clark Street to be installed as part of other streetscape improvements; and bus boarding islands along Milwaukee Avenue and Laramie Avenue."

Well the work that's already been done on 79th does seem to help at the dan Ryan. Chicago I need to sit downtown more and observe before I speak on the improvements between Michigan and Ogden. Milwaukee's boarding islands seem like straight overkill because there's no lane for traffic to pass. So one bus with a long dwell Is basically holding up every bus behind it. I can see bump outs working on maybe western and south Halsted seeing as they are multi lane stretches. Personally on all the narrower streets I would focus on putting queue jumps where ever they make sense and calling it a day. You can't do anything else on these stretches without holding up the street which could potentially lead to impatient drivers (and accidents resulting from the road rage and rushing to get around). 

[Tcmetro]

In Minneapolis and Seattle they've increasingly designed bus stops to block traffic completely if buses stop on both sides of the road.

It's not as big of an issue as those types of stops are on pay-before-you-board lines.

[MetroShadow]

We've an update here (including the document enclosed).. Very few mentions of Pulse, and BRT seems to be downplayed for "further discussion"

[Busjack]

34 minutes ago, MetroShadow said:

We've an update here (including the document enclosed).. Very few mentions of Pulse, and BRT seems to be downplayed for "further discussion"

I got a "AccessDeniedRequest has expired" message.

It's not surprising that Pulse isn't mentioned, as it is a Pace project, but at least CTA and CDOT are cooperating on Halsted and 95th.

[Busjack]

CTA Press Release  CDOT and CTA Announce New Dedicated Bus-Only Lanes Along Chicago Avenue. As part of Better Streets for Buses, the intent is to have bus-only lanes from Grand (2900W)  to Michigan, although this will also require replacing the Chicago River and Halsted bridges.

Maybe CTA can recoup its investment by running XE60s there 😀.

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

CTA Press Release  CDOT and CTA Announce New Dedicated Bus-Only Lanes Along Chicago Avenue. As part of Better Streets for Buses, the intent is to have bus-only lanes from Grand (2900W)  to Michigan, although this will also require replacing the Chicago River and Halsted bridges.

Maybe CTA can recoup its investment by running XE60s there 😀.

Auto traffic should avoid Chicago Ave at all Costs   Left turns will be nearly impossible with eight turns being illegal.   Pity the businesses in Chicago Ave near abd west of Ashland.  Delivery trucks are going to have to get creative  and hopefully the Proterras don't break down east of Grand. 

 

[NewFlyerMCI]

14 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Auto traffic should avoid Chicago Ave at all Costs   Left turns will be nearly impossible with eight turns being illegal.

Do you have a link to the plans showing where left turns are banned?

14 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Pity the businesses in Chicago Ave near abd west of Ashland.  Delivery trucks are going to have to get creative

Plenty of north-south streets, and for the smaller box trucks and vans, there are alleys and parking lots. Interesting that they're keeping the lanes 24 hrs despite bus frequency past 10p and definitely past 12m not requiring it. That could've at least allowed for curbside delivery.

[artthouwill]

48 minutes ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

Do you have a link to the plans showing where left turns are banned?

Plenty of north-south streets, and for the smaller box trucks and vans, there are alleys and parking lots. Interesting that they're keeping the lanes 24 hrs despite bus frequency past 10p and definitely past 12m not requiring it. That could've at least allowed for curbside delivery.

I didn't  type it properly 

  I meant to say LEFT  TURNS  will be nearly impossible ( not illegal].  Right turns will most likely be illegal.   I based that thought on the Loop Link lane on Madison where right turns on Westbound Madison are prohibited.   In fact I was ticketed for making such a turn at LaSalle even without a bus stop being present.   I hadn't seen it but there was a  no right turn sign ( electronic) posted on the lamppost across LaSalle.   I should have used Adams instead of LaSalle.   Based on that, I believe right turns will be illegal at least at major intersections.   Buses can't  be delayed by right turn traffic.

The reason I said left turns would nearly be impossible was because of the narrow road.  It may not be worse but we will see.

[Busjack]

4 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

Interesting that they're keeping the lanes 24 hrs despite bus frequency past 10p and definitely past 12m not requiring it.

The explanation given in the Better Streets for Buses Plan is: "In addition, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary bus
lanes were installed between Laramie and Ashland to prioritize bus service and reduce delays and crowding for essential workers and other transit riders." Must be demand to get to the hospitals in Streeterville.

 

[NewFlyerMCI]

7 hours ago, Busjack said:

The explanation given in the Better Streets for Buses Plan is: "In addition, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary bus
lanes were installed between Laramie and Ashland to prioritize bus service and reduce delays and crowding for essential workers and other transit riders." Must be demand to get to the hospitals in Streeterville.

 

This reminded me that I did have the 66 on my service comparer. One of the few bus routes (at least, that I analyzed) in the last 2 decades that gained buses instead of losing them (although service is more peaky now)

[NewFlyerMCI]

10 hours ago, artthouwill said:

I didn't  type it properly 

  I meant to say LEFT  TURNS  will be nearly impossible ( not illegal].  Right turns will most likely be illegal.   I based that thought on the Loop Link lane on Madison where right turns on Westbound Madison are prohibited.   In fact I was ticketed for making such a turn at LaSalle even without a bus stop being present.   I hadn't seen it but there was a  no right turn sign ( electronic) posted on the lamppost across LaSalle.   I should have used Adams instead of LaSalle.   Based on that, I believe right turns will be illegal at least at major intersections.   Buses can't  be delayed by right turn traffic.

The reason I said left turns would nearly be impossible was because of the narrow road.  It may not be worse but we will see.

I'll be interested in seeing the design plans, especially if they harden the existing BAT sections. No right turns at major intersections is going to be a huge lift in terms of accommodating new traffic patterns.

The Madison/LaSalle one is weird. No right turns on weekends/holidays seems like an unusual travel restriction.

[Tcmetro]

11 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

I'll be interested in seeing the design plans, especially if they harden the existing BAT sections. No right turns at major intersections is going to be a huge lift in terms of accommodating new traffic patterns.

The Madison/LaSalle one is weird. No right turns on weekends/holidays seems like an unusual travel restriction.

That one is a stopping/standing zone on the weekends likely due to the church in the middle of the block.

[Tcmetro]

CTA/CDOT have chosen the first five "Better Streets for Buses" corridors.

• Cottage Grove Av
• Western Av
• Pulaski Rd
• Fullerton Av
• Garfield Bl/55th St

https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-and-cdot-announce-better-streets-for-buses-target-design-corridors/

 

[Busjack]

1 minute ago, Tcmetro said:

CTA/CDOT have chosen the first five "Better Streets for Buses" corridors.

• Cottage Grove Av
• Western Av
• Pulaski Rd
• Fullerton Av
• Garfield Bl/55th St

https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-and-cdot-announce-better-streets-for-buses-target-design-corridors/

 

If you read the release, it was only to study those streets, not do anything. The key words are "CTA and CDOT plan to examine." Too inchoate for me.

[Tcmetro]

That is true and the implementation will probably be piecemeal until whoever runs CDOT next forgets about it.

This is reminiscent of the city wide BRT plan that was published ~10-15 years ago.

The toolkit that is mentioned includes a lot of items that are not directly related to bus operations. The press release mentions "at least one" significant bus lane segment, so this is probably more of a stop consolidation/improvement project.