CTA Bus Vision Project

[renardo870]

On 3/4/2025 at 2:37 PM, TaylorTank1229 said:

It appears that March 22nd is the effect date for spring changes on the CTA bus system.

CTA has announced the launching of a new “Frequent Network” initiative to improve frequency on select bus routes & operating on a “10-minute or less” frequency scale during certain times on all days of the week. The article confirms 20 bus routes will be part of this initiative, taking effect throughout 2025. The 8 listed below are the ones set for added service later this month:

#J14 Jeffery Jump  

#34 South Michigan  

#47 47th Street  

#54 Cicero 

#60 Blue Island/26th  

#63 63rd Street 

#79 79th Street 

#95 95th Street 

No other service changes to these or any other bus routes have yet to been announced at this time.

For more information on the CTA “Frequent Network” initiative, here’s the link to the press release:

https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-launches-new-frequent-network-for-buses/

Will the 10 minutes or better frequency (6am to 9pm M-F and 9a to 9p Sa/Su/Hol) start and end on both ends of the route? For example J14 Jeffery Jump NB weekday will definitely be at 10 minutes or better @0600 but what about SB? I believe the 1st SB leaves Washington/Jefferson @0530 then @0602 and then avg of 16 minutes thereafter. Will there be earlier SB trips like at @0500 and rin 15 or 20 minutes until 0600?

And will there be earlier SB trips from 67th Jeffery to 103rd/ Stony? I believe the 1st SB trip arrive @0602. It should be some short SB trips starting at 0430 or 0445 running 15-20 minutes. 

[artthouwill]

7 hours ago, renardo870 said:

Will the 10 minutes or better frequency (6am to 9pm M-F and 9a to 9p Sa/Su/Hol) start and end on both ends of the route? For example J14 Jeffery Jump NB weekday will definitely be at 10 minutes or better @0600 but what about SB? I believe the 1st SB leaves Washington/Jefferson @0530 then @0602 and then avg of 16 minutes thereafter. Will there be earlier SB trips like at @0500 and rin 15 or 20 minutes until 0600?

And will there be earlier SB trips from 67th Jeffery to 103rd/ Stony? I believe the 1st SB trip arrive @0602. It should be some short SB trips starting at 0430 or 0445 running 15-20 minutes. 

Since the time is from 6a.m., I would take that literally.  As for trips from 67th south on Jeffery, there's the N5 before 5 and there's the 15 local as well.   The only reason for any frequent SB a.m. rush service would be to serve Chicago Vocational High school  ( and to a lesser extent South Shore High school).

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Since the time is from 6a.m., I would take that literally.  As for trips from 67th south on Jeffery, there's the N5 before 5 and there's the 15 local as well.   The only reason for any frequent SB a.m. rush service would be to serve Chicago Vocational High school  ( and to a lesser extent South Shore High school).

 

9 hours ago, renardo870 said:

Will the 10 minutes or better frequency (6am to 9pm M-F and 9a to 9p Sa/Su/Hol) start and end on both ends of the route? For example J14 Jeffery Jump NB weekday will definitely be at 10 minutes or better @0600 but what about SB? I believe the 1st SB leaves Washington/Jefferson @0530 then @0602 and then avg of 16 minutes thereafter. Will there be earlier SB trips like at @0500 and rin 15 or 20 minutes until 0600?

And will there be earlier SB trips from 67th Jeffery to 103rd/ Stony? I believe the 1st SB trip arrive @0602. It should be some short SB trips starting at 0430 or 0445 running 15-20 minutes. 

I'd say the timeframe is generalized but specifically may depend on each route. Crosstown routes would probably stick to that rule more but J14 might just simply continue on 10 min headways after the AM rush NB while SB we really wouldn't need that until like 10am or noon. The issue on Jeffery is really that after 11am-noon the headway drops too steeply and a lot of people still head NB as late as 5-7pm for later jobs. 

[MetroShadow]

I just realized this requires a lot of drivers (taken from the "Beyond SP25" thread)

[Busjack]

1 minute ago, MetroShadow said:

I just realized this requires a lot of drivers (taken from the "Beyond SP25" thread)

Yes, and I wonder how things are working, when CTA says 1000 out of 4000 drivers are new.

[Sam92]

https://www.transitchicago.com/frequent/

Looks like they added some details on when the increases are. Basically no more short turns on 47 and 63. Doesn't mention the same for 79 (not that Ford city needs it). Pretty sure 55 will do the same in the fall. I wonder if 34's changes breaks the interline with 119 since 119th isn't getting anything. What's gonna be interesting is to see what 53 does as far as short turns

[MetroShadow]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

https://www.transitchicago.com/frequent/

Looks like they added some details on when the increases are. Basically no more short turns on 47 and 63. Doesn't mention the same for 79 (not that Ford city needs it). Pretty sure 55 will do the same in the fall. I wonder if 34's changes breaks the interline with 119 since 119th isn't getting anything. What's gonna be interesting is to see what 53 does as far as short turns

119 runs every 12-20 minute frequencies as it is, so begs the question of whether there's capacity to run that much service (and drop 119th street to a flat 20-30).

[CircleSeven]

17 hours ago, Sam92 said:

https://www.transitchicago.com/frequent/

Looks like they added some details on when the increases are. Basically no more short turns on 47 and 63. Doesn't mention the same for 79 (not that Ford city needs it). Pretty sure 55 will do the same in the fall. I wonder if 34's changes breaks the interline with 119 since 119th isn't getting anything. What's gonna be interesting is to see what 53 does as far as short turns

Also related to that page, It appears that they've switched the #53 listing from "Summer" to "Fall" and #20 was switched to "Summer".

[TaylorTank1229]

8 minutes ago, CircleSeven said:

Also related to that page, It appears that they've switched the #53 listing from "Summer" to "Fall" and #20 was switched to "Summer".

That’s kind of an odd switch. Since it’ll be having its route extension to Ford City in the summer, you’d think they want to put better frequency on the #53 then as well.

[$100KBusoperator]

Probably because the system pick was switched from summer to fall

[Javi75]

What is the justification for extending the #53? Peterson to Ford City is pretty long stretch, of all bus routes that could be extended the 53 was one of the last routes I’d expect for any service change. Everybody I tell about the extension thinks CTA out their minds for extending the route. Do more crosstown routes make it harder for CTA bus operation wise? Is the 52 Kedzie really getting extended to Devon even though the 82 Kimball / Homan covers that corridor north of Chicago Ave? 

[jajuan]

1 hour ago, Javi75 said:

What is the justification for extending the #53? Peterson to Ford City is pretty long stretch, of all bus routes that could be extended the 53 was one of the last routes I’d expect for any service change. Everybody I tell about the extension thinks CTA out their minds for extending the route. Do more crosstown routes make it harder for CTA bus operation wise? Is the 52 Kedzie really getting extended to Devon even though the 82 Kimball / Homan covers that corridor north of Chicago Ave? 

Where are you seeing an extension of the 53 to Ford City? The reference as I understood it was to the 79 as far as ending the daytime short turns at Western and having those trips run to Ford City. It would make zero sense for the 53 to be the route with an extension to Ford City when to do so would cover half of the 53A. And didn't see any mentions of extending 52 to Devon/Kedzie. 

[jajuan]

On 3/10/2025 at 8:18 PM, MetroShadow said:

I just realized this requires a lot of drivers (taken from the "Beyond SP25" thread)

Having all the SB 4 local buses going to 115th makes sense when the X4 covers the trips ending at 95th. It would be similar to the X9 covering the trips on Ashland ending at 95th while all the locals go to 104th/Vincennes while the X9 is running. The only difference is on Cottage Grove the all local trips being the longer ones would apply during midday too too while on Ashland, it only applies rush periods and early afternoons.  

[NewFlyerMCI]

1 hour ago, jajuan said:

Where are you seeing an extension of the 53 to Ford City? The reference as I understood it was to the 79 as far as ending the daytime short turns at Western and having those trips run to Ford City. It would make zero sense for the 53 to be the route with an extension to Ford City when to do so would cover half of the 53A. And didn't see any mentions of extending 52 to Devon/Kedzie. 

First post has the most pertinent information, but there's a lot of reading to catch up on

[Sam92]

1 hour ago, jajuan said:

Where are you seeing an extension of the 53 to Ford City? The reference as I understood it was to the 79 as far as ending the daytime short turns at Western and having those trips run to Ford City. It would make zero sense for the 53 to be the route with an extension to Ford City when to do so would cover half of the 53A. And didn't see any mentions of extending 52 to Devon/Kedzie. 

79 didn't mention a doubling of service to Ford city like the others. I think it's already 10 min to Ford city now plus with Ford city being dead everyone over there is probably either staying in their area or going to the orange line. However Ford city trips won't be entering the terminal 

[TaylorTank1229]

15 hours ago, $100KBusoperator said:

Probably because the system pick was switched from summer to fall

So all the changes that was planned for summer (the N4, 53 N66 & 93 extensions) is now gonna go into effect in August instead of June?

[TaylorTank1229]

13 hours ago, Javi75 said:

What is the justification for extending the #53? Peterson to Ford City is pretty long stretch, of all bus routes that could be extended the 53 was one of the last routes I’d expect for any service change. Everybody I tell about the extension thinks CTA out their minds for extending the route. Do more crosstown routes make it harder for CTA bus operation wise? Is the 52 Kedzie really getting extended to Devon even though the 82 Kimball / Homan covers that corridor north of Chicago Ave? 

I’d say it probably make a little more sense if the #53 was extended to Devon & Kedzie instead. Since as you said, there’d be adjacent service with the #82 being only 1/4 mile west of Kedzie. Basically a few-minute walk between the two streets 

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

I’d say it probably make a little more sense if the #53 was extended to Devon & Kedzie instead. Since as you said, there’d be adjacent service with the #82 being only 1/4 mile west of Kedzie. Basically a few-minute walk between the two streets 

I guess we will have to wait for the official announcement.   I certainly can see a northern extension making sense.   

As for the south end, extending the 82 to 31st/Pulaski  ( Komensky) terminal requires that at least one or both Pulaski routes vacate the terminal.  Of the 53 extension to Ford City is true, then the only rationale is to cut frequency and the amount of buses on the 53A.  The extension replaces 53A service between 31st and 79th meaning all 53A buses can run between the Orange Line and 111th or 115rh at a lower frequency.   The question becomes whether 53 will short turn some byses at 31st or the Orange Line ?  While 77th would operate less buses on 53A, it can shift buses to other routes. The other question is whether 53 would get a 2nd garage ( like NP or K) to operate the route?   

What would be insane  is if both extensions were made.     Not likely.

[jajuan]

13 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

First post has the most pertinent information, but there's a lot of reading to catch up on

Ah. Thank you. That would make for a long route, but it still wouldn't be quite as long as the 9, X9, 49 and X49. As for the 52, my first reaction like others is to say that the 82 is just two blocks to the west. But thinking about it and having seen 40 foot buses get jam packed along with artics return on regular service trips that aren't school runs, I'm starting to think that the 52 would help take some pressure off the 82. Along those lines, I suspect that the powers that be may have drawn similar conclusions and hence the rumored rumblings among drivers that that's an extension that's also in the cards. 

[renardo870]

On 3/9/2025 at 10:41 PM, renardo870 said:

Will the 10 minutes or better frequency (6am to 9pm M-F and 9a to 9p Sa/Su/Hol) start and end on both ends of the route? For example J14 Jeffery Jump NB weekday will definitely be at 10 minutes or better @0600 but what about SB? I believe the 1st SB leaves Washington/Jefferson @0530 then @0602 and then avg of 16 minutes thereafter. Will there be earlier SB trips like at @0500 and rin 15 or 20 minutes until 0600?

And will there be earlier SB trips from 67th Jeffery to 103rd/ Stony? I believe the 1st SB trip arrive @0602. It should be some short SB trips starting at 0430 or 0445 running 15-20 minutes. 

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=106077

It looks like the 1st SB trip for J14 on Weekdays will start from Washington/Jefferson around 5:15 AM which is about 20 min earlier and the last NB trip on Sundays/Holidays from.103rd/Stony Island will be extended 40 mins later until 9:00 PM.

Edited March 20 by renardo870

[YoungBusLover]

On 3/13/2025 at 8:58 PM, Sam92 said:

https://www.transitchicago.com/frequent/

Looks like they added some details on when the increases are. Basically no more short turns on 47 and 63. Doesn't mention the same for 79 (not that Ford city needs it). Pretty sure 55 will do the same in the fall. I wonder if 34's changes breaks the interline with 119 since 119th isn't getting anything. What's gonna be interesting is to see what 53 does as far as short turns

34 still has interlines for the spring pick with the 119.

[MetroShadow]

18 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

34 still has interlines for the spring pick with the 119.

That solves my running thoughts from last week - it's still 8-12 minutes on the 119, which really doesn't impact the interline as much as I would expect.

[renardo870]

On 3/9/2025 at 10:41 PM, renardo870 said:

Will the 10 minutes or better frequency (6am to 9pm M-F and 9a to 9p Sa/Su/Hol) start and end on both ends of the route? For example J14 Jeffery Jump NB weekday will definitely be at 10 minutes or better @0600 but what about SB? I believe the 1st SB leaves Washington/Jefferson @0530 then @0602 and then avg of 16 minutes thereafter. Will there be earlier SB trips like at @0500 and rin 15 or 20 minutes until 0600?

And will there be earlier SB trips from 67th Jeffery to 103rd/ Stony? I believe the 1st SB trip arrive @0602. It should be some short SB trips starting at 0430 or 0445 running 15-20 minutes. 

Well, I got my question answered regarding the J14 Jeffery Jump Weekday AM SB frequency from Washington/Jefferson to 103rd/Stony Island...more service every 9-10 minutes beginning @0515

https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/j14/

 

Edited March 24 by renardo870
Added info