X4 Cottage Grove Express

[YoungBusLover]

One day we'll have the X3 back hopefully. 

[MetroShadow]

On 8/15/2022 at 8:33 AM, YoungBusLover said:

So as far as X4's being interlined with locals the general idea here is, one run will pull-out as an X4 and do one trip or one and a half then pull-in or get relieved for the first half then either they'll pull-out as a local or an express for the 2nd half. The local service is really beefed up so it'll be interesting to see how things play out next week.

Just perfect. Thanks for sharing this, and it makes sense (especially if you have a split)??

[YoungBusLover]

4 minutes ago, MetroShadow said:

Just perfect. Thanks for sharing this, and it makes sense (especially if you have a split)??

No problem! I choose the runs that have those lunch time to early afternoon splits. Benefits me not having to make a relief with another operator.

[YoungBusLover]

We're less than 5 days away and yet CTA has not even put the public on notice of this upcoming service change, The schedules or at least a general map/bulletin of the route should be posted by now.

[NovaHater]

58 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

We're less than 5 days away and yet CTA has not even put the public on notice of this upcoming service change, The schedules or at least a general map/bulletin of the route should be posted by now.

There’s info posted and the CTA reroutes page. 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, YoungBusLover said:

We're less than 5 days away and yet CTA has not even put the public on notice of this upcoming service change, The schedules or at least a general map/bulletin of the route should be posted by now.

cta’s website under upcoming changes 

[YoungBusLover]

2 hours ago, NovaHater said:

There’s info posted and the CTA reroutes page. 

2 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

cta’s website under upcoming changes 

10-4 But I would prefer if it's on the main page and showcased the same way the return of the X9/X49 was promoted. You can't just bring a route back on the first day of school of a new run pick without some sort of promotion ahead of time. 

 

[YoungBusLover]

One of my buddy's found this downtown this morning so  I'm guessing they're doing something after all. ???

[NewFlyerMCI]

On 8/18/2022 at 2:56 AM, YoungBusLover said:

10-4 But I would prefer if it's on the main page and showcased the same way the return of the X9/X49 was promoted. You can't just bring a route back on the first day of school of a new run pick without some sort of promotion ahead of time. 

 

Ahhh, RIP to the King Drive routing.

Also, the scaling on that map, sheesh

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

was downtown earlier i seen at bus stops along michigan ave they have posted notices about the X4 and the 3 going to red line

[Policeman]

On 6/11/2022 at 12:18 PM, artthouwill said:

Now that the X4 will be bidirectional,  I'd be willing to trade 59th for 58th. I'd keep 57th for the DuSable Museum.

Sadly, 58th will not be a stop 

[YoungBusLover]

I'm surprised they did 59th and not 57th/58th, I don't understand that at all.

bus-tt_X4.pdf

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

here’s a door announcement for the 3 

[YoungBusLover]

Well day two is looking a lot worse than day one as far as the X4 am rush is concerned. The locals are doing much of the work today. Hopefully the PM is better for the X4.

[andrethebusman]

I fail to understand why 3 kicked out of CSU, only to be replaced by X4. Capacity? Should not be. Especially strange since X4 "ends" at Cottage/95th.

[andrethebusman]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:56 PM, YoungBusLover said:

10-4 But I would prefer if it's on the main page and showcased the same way the return of the X9/X49 was promoted. You can't just bring a route back on the first day of school of a new run pick without some sort of promotion ahead of time. 

 

I think it was indeed supposed to mean Michigan-98th-Wabash/99th-State, though turn at Michigan/99th os not that bad as street is quite wide.

[andrethebusman]

3 route is 95-Michigan-99-State-95, and is a permanent change. X4 was supposed to be Cottage-93-Woodlawn-95-Cottage, sit on Cottage north of 95, but union objected. However, routing to CSU is "temporary" as CSU wants buses off their property by November. (CSU has evicted CTA before...) 

[YoungBusLover]

1 hour ago, andrethebusman said:

3 route is 95-Michigan-99-State-95, and is a permanent change. X4 was supposed to be Cottage-93-Woodlawn-95-Cottage, sit on Cottage north of 95, but union objected. However, routing to CSU is "temporary" as CSU wants buses off their property by November. (CSU has evicted CTA before...) 

Rumor that seems to be gaining traction is by November the 95th Red line will be the new terminal for the 4/X4.

[Shannoncvpi]

5 hours ago, andrethebusman said:

3 route is 95-Michigan-99-State-95, and is a permanent change. X4 was supposed to be Cottage-93-Woodlawn-95-Cottage, sit on Cottage north of 95, but union objected. However, routing to CSU is "temporary" as CSU wants buses off their property by November. (CSU has evicted CTA before...) 

So like now the buses turn around using side streets like how the 91 does 

[jajuan]

From what I could see of the first day in the PM, there were a bit of kinks to work out. One NB bus had a blank sign with an "A1 ME" error message in the run box. The next NB bus was a ghost bus, in this instance in service but not tracking on the Tracker. The next one behind that had its sign displaying  "X4 COTTAGE GROVE" flip "X4 EXPRESS" flip "X4 to 94TH". All actual SB buses though displayed "X4 COTTAGE GROVE EXPRESS" flip "X4 to 95TH".  From what I read above, the second day also had its kinks. I have not had much opportunity to observe very much in the later part of the week. Has anyone noticed or seen much evidence that the initial bumps are improving?

[YoungBusLover]

55 minutes ago, jajuan said:

From what I could see of the first day in the PM, there were a bit of kinks to work out. One NB bus had a blank sign with an "A1 ME" error message in the run box. The next NB bus was a ghost bus, in this instance in service but not tracking on the Tracker. The next one behind that had its sign displaying  "X4 COTTAGE GROVE" flip "X4 EXPRESS" flip "X4 to 94TH". All actual SB buses though displayed "X4 COTTAGE GROVE EXPRESS" flip "X4 to 95TH".  From what I read above, the second day also had its kinks. I have not had much opportunity to observe very much in the later part of the week. Has anyone noticed or seen much evidence that the initial bumps are improving?

I worked the first day and the signs didn't work on some buses at all including mine, I had to go a bit old school and manually change the luminator to the old X4 signage to make it throughout the day without any hiccups. What surprised me was during my final trip SB during the PM rush a employee from 567 asked me about the issues with the signs at Cermak and I pretty much told him that the system needs an update. He pretty much was taking notes from all operators about that particular issue. Luckily after a day or so the signs began to work properly.

[jajuan]

1 hour ago, YoungBusLover said:

I worked the first day and the signs didn't work on some buses at all including mine, I had to go a bit old school and manually change the luminator to the old X4 signage to make it throughout the day without any hiccups. What surprised me was during my final trip SB during the PM rush a employee from 567 asked me about the issues with the signs at Cermak and I pretty much told him that the system needs an update. He pretty much was taking notes from all operators about that particular issue. Luckily after a day or so the signs began to work properly.

Okay. I know that first day, half the buses had blank signs or said 77th Garage.  And among the buses that did have destination displays showing, the SB buses showed X4 to 95th while for sune odd reason the NB ones were showing X4 to 94th. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

3 hours ago, jajuan said:

One NB bus had a blank sign with an "A1 ME" error message in the run box.

BRB, gonna throw a bottle of steak sauce at the bus ?

[YoungBusLover]

1 hour ago, jajuan said:

Okay. I know that first day, half the buses had blank signs or said 77th Garage.  And among the buses that did have destination displays showing, the SB buses showed X4 to 95th while for sune odd reason the NB ones were showing X4 to 94th. 

I noticed that as well but everything sounds like it's back in order now.

 

14 minutes ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

BRB, gonna throw a bottle of steak sauce at the bus ?

That's a good one I must admit. ???

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

4 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

I noticed that as well but everything sounds like it's back in order now.

all they need to fix is the damn ghost buses on X4 if they expect better buses