Service beyond SP2025 (was: March 25 System Pick)

[Sam92]

23 minutes ago, Busjack said:

Under the proposal, 53A is cut back from 31st to 51st (Orange Line), which saves a couple of buses. I tend to agree that Peterson is a pretty distant destination for a 77th bus, but 49 goes almost as far to Berwyn. Difference might be that C has more yard space.

Well 53A saves buses for 77th; Western (and Ashland for that matter) is pretty lengthy but it's closer to it's garages so it balances out on that note compared to 53 being 5 Miles away; I don't see them being able to get to the relief, do a round trip then come back in under 5.5 hours especially with rush hour traffic. C has some heavy service to supply already and also took some of K's surplus work so if they're sending every bus to Ford City (which even with cutting back 53A I doubt they will do unless they anticipate the need for 2 min headways between 76th and the orange line) they'd at least have to give 37 and 157 back 

[Busjack]

5 hours ago, Sam92 said:

so if they're sending every bus to Ford City

Which reminded me that someone mentioned cutting back 54B to Midway and letting those going to Ford City take Pace, which would also tend to even things a bit.

[renardo870]

13 hours ago, renardo870 said:

4 Cottage Grove service increased FBN and N4 Cottage Grove to 95th Red Line Terminal 

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107905

 

4 Cottage Grove daily service to 115th 0400 - 2230

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107940

 

[Sam92]

11 hours ago, renardo870 said:

4 Cottage Grove daily service to 115th 0400 - 2230

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107940

 

So did they start it already or is it on hold till the next pick? One alert says June 4th. Also are we gonna see something similar to 49/X49 with expresses becoming locals? With the run time added along with the increased frequency wouldn't make sense to have too many X4's just pull in

[renardo870]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

So did they start it already or is it on hold till the next pick? One alert says June 4th. Also are we gonna see something similar to 49/X49 with expresses becoming locals? With the run time added along with the increased frequency wouldn't make sense to have too many X4's just pull in

It goes into effect Sunday, June 15th.

[EasyMoney]

What garage yall think will close first doing the system pick on the 21st 

[EasyMoney]

Just now, EasyMoney said:

What garage yall think will close first doing the system pick on the 21st 

I’ll think my garage north park will close first this the best garage 

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, EasyMoney said:

I’ll think my garage north park will close first this the best garage 

 

2 hours ago, EasyMoney said:

What garage yall think will close first doing the system pick on the 21st 

No garage is closing. And we're 99% sure we're gonna get funding; so If anything with them being back to pre COVID levels it can be argued we need an archer replacement again especially for to have something closer for routes 1, 18, 21, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43, 47,51, 60, 62, 157. Plus CTA's finally realizing trains can't do it all so the bus system might need some more peak service added back on top of the FBN.

[Busjack]

5 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

No garage is closing.

From the response, I think he meant "which garage's pick will close first."

[Sam92]

On 6/11/2025 at 11:42 AM, renardo870 said:

I would like to know if the decision was made to have 53 a shared route with Chicago (C) now that the extension to Ford City was approved today. 74th (6) or 77th (7) would be most likely on the south end as it could interline with 62 or 67 (from 6) or 53A or 79 (from 7).

 

On 6/11/2025 at 7:14 PM, Busjack said:

Which reminded me that someone mentioned cutting back 54B to Midway and letting those going to Ford City take Pace, which would also tend to even things a bit.

Good call. Between that and pulaski running less often than I thought it looks C doesn't need help for this after all (only 12 buses needed and cancelling 54B would free up like 6-7). At most they'd have to give it's AM work on 12 back. 

[$100KBusoperator]

Usually 103 or NP closes first during a system pick 

[Adam Hubbard]

Will the 53 & 53A be reassigned & be moved to another garage for the August Pick or stay at 7 & C?

[Adam Hubbard]

Is the #57 new terminal suppose to be the Jefferson Park terminal Transit Center be for the 2026 Pick including #54 Cicero to the Midway to Montrose terminal will also relocate to the new terminal at Jefferson Park as well? Chicago or Forest Glen will share these routes or exclusively Chicago Ave Garage routes after the proposed picks take effect TBD?

[MetroShadow]

1 hour ago, Adam Hubbard said:

Will the 53 & 53A be reassigned & be moved to another garage for the August Pick or stay at 7 & C?

 

1 hour ago, Adam Hubbard said:

Is the #57 new terminal suppose to be the Jefferson Park terminal Transit Center be for the 2026 Pick including #54 Cicero to the Midway to Montrose terminal will also relocate to the new terminal at Jefferson Park as well? Chicago or Forest Glen will share these routes or exclusively Chicago Ave Garage routes after the proposed picks take effect TBD?

 

This was discussed upstream. We're not even at the point of moving the 57, let alone the 9/49 splitting garages.

[Sam92]

23 hours ago, Busjack said:

From the response, I think he meant "which garage's pick will close first."

 

On 6/12/2025 at 4:20 PM, EasyMoney said:

I’ll think my garage north park will close first this the best garage 

 

On 6/12/2025 at 4:19 PM, EasyMoney said:

What garage yall think will close first doing the system pick on the 21st 

Ahh my bad. Hopefully some reliable hints about what NP is moving out get passed around 🫢. 93 to K seems reasonable in a sense that K might be a bit short of work since downtown commuter work isn't as heavy as it was but 50 seems like a better move cause leaving 93 at NP means you can squeeze a bit later service out of both ends of the route. 

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

Hopefully some reliable hints about what NP is moving out get passed around

I don't think any need for that has been established. NP having to add maybe 2 buses to 93 isn't going to make any difference at a 300+ bus terminal, Adding evening trips to 147 will make no difference. There's no reason to increase the 93 deadhead when it passes by NP.

You're moving buses from C to K  and NP to K when K has limited capacity.

As you might be implying, this may be premature until someone who is a CTA employee posts a pick list.

[YoungBusLover]

Well one thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I do not approve of 77th getting the #39 back from Kedzie. 😂😂😂😂

[TaylorTank1229]

1 hour ago, YoungBusLover said:

Well one thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I do not approve of 77th getting the #39 back from Kedzie. 😂😂😂😂

Looking at the route assignment notice here, seems CTA has some more potential route change/restructuring between this year’s end and next year or further (some that’s already known/coming):

Winter 2025:

•75: Extended to 79th/Western

•81W: Eliminate weekend service along  Cumberland Avenue to operate on East River Road on all days.

•93: Extended to Logan Square Blue Line Station

2026 (or later):

•49B: Extended to Howard L Station

•X49: Extended to Western/Howard

•1: Extended to operate along the South Lakefront area.

•96: Route restructured to operate on Pratt between Western and Kedzie.

•201: Extended south of Howard via Ridge to Bryn Mawr Red Line Station

•90: Extended to Forest Park Blue Line Station

•91: Extended to 54th/Cermak Pink Line Station

•92: Extended to Harlem (O’Hare) Blue Line Station 

•New bus route operating along Yates Boulevard

•New 55W - West 55th/Harlem bus route (Eliminating/replacing 55A, 55W, & 62H)

•2-3 new OWL routes/extension

•54: Extended to Midway Airport/Orange Line Station (Eliminating 54B)

•57: Extended to Jefferson Park Blue Line/Metra Station 

Interesting potential future bus changes. Always figured that it couldn’t hurt having the X49 covering the 49B portion of Western Avenue too. 49B to Howard Station is not a bad idea either. For 92, it could work since Foster Avenue is almost adjacent to Higgins Avenue between Harlem & Milwaukee. 201… I guess it is a straight shot to Bryn Mawr down Ridge south of Howard, but then there’s the congestion/traffic it’ll have to endure during the rush hours. 91 to 54th/Cermak Pink Line, interesting take. Used to think if any FG route could extend to Cermak, maybe it be 85 but then again, Austin Ave probably has a little more ridership on its south end (it must given the increase of service for Pace 315). Lastly, I thought buses don’t run on Pratt between Western & Kedzie because the amish was more populated in that area and didn’t want any buses moving down there.

[773ChiBussinRican]

When was the last system pick? This one will be my first.

[Busjack]

1. I said above "wait until someone posts a pick list." @YoungBusLover did.😄 Now the speculation can be informed!
2. People have been calling for about 20 years to put 96 on Pratt. Now it's being considered. @TaylorTank1229: The Amish don't live on Pratt, and the historic reasons were that Pratt was too narrow, but was widened, and there was a senior home on Lunt, but now there's basically no difference between the two streets.
3. There was the proposal about 10 years ago to consolidate 55A and 55N into something like 59W, supposedly killed by Ald. Marty Quinn. Looks like something like that is being considered again.
4. When I lived on that part of Ridge, I thought about a boulevard CTA route, but in addition to Ridge being congested in Chicago, I'm not sure how it would get under the railroad at Ravenswood and Peterson or Ridge, but I suppose something can be worked out.
5. Clearly, the planners are trying to get rid of short extensions. The rumor about eliminating 54B had some basis.
6. I don't know what "extend 1 to South Lakefront" means. Certainly not the old routing through Michael Reese (which isn't there now).

[EasyMoney]

All I Know Is 77th Needs Artics    

3KingDrive

4CottageGrove

79th

These The Routes That Could use Them

[andrethebusman]

Bringing up Yates Blvd again, huh? Remember how the last effort back in 1971 went, with bus stop signs painted over and daily ridership in the single digits? Maybe the locals won't get so worked up about buses bringing "undesirables" into their neighborhood this time. (Funny how that line of reasoning did not apply to the 75th or 79th buses though).

[Sam92]

9 hours ago, Busjack said:

I don't think any need for that has been established. NP having to add maybe 2 buses to 93 isn't going to make any difference at a 300+ bus terminal, Adding evening trips to 147 will make no difference. There's no reason to increase the 93 deadhead when it passes by NP.

You're moving buses from C to K  and NP to K when K has limited capacity.

As you might be implying, this may be premature until someone who is a CTA employee posts a pick list.

 

On 3/8/2025 at 6:35 PM, artthouwill said:

I like the 93 extension  

 

I like the 54B to 54/Cermak idea although I think ultimately the 54 gets extended to Midway Orange Line and the 54B gets eliminated  

It makes sense for North Park to do trips on the 9.  The question is whether the X9 will also receive some North Park trips?

I'm not sure what's going to be gained by extending the 75 to 79th/Western other than ferrying drivers to the 79th/ Western terminal.  The 94 can do the same thing to 69th and Western. 

The one extension we've been talking about hasn't surface yet ( the 52) .

As far as moving a route out of North Park,  I think the obvious choice is the 50 moving to K. 

 

 

On 3/8/2025 at 10:00 PM, Busjack said:

Maybe, but I think 93 is more likely; Logan Square is closer to K. Which raises 2 things:

• The proposal described above is not straight down Kedzie, but is more a Blago neighborhood route. As I indicated above, there's not a direct path between Lawrence and Sunnyside across the river, but maybe it would be like 94, i.e. on Kedzie where it can't be on California.
• Would Sunday service also be in Evanston, which doesn't have any Sunday bus service now? Or would it use the Howard/McCormick terminal (like it used to),

Guess the 9 moving and NP giving something up isn't a priority any more. 

[Sam92]

9 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

Well one thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I do not approve of 77th getting the #39 back from Kedzie. 😂😂😂😂

 

9 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

Looking at the route assignment notice here, seems CTA has some more potential route change/restructuring between this year’s end and next year or further (some that’s already known/coming):

Winter 2025:

•75: Extended to 79th/Western

•81W: Eliminate weekend service along  Cumberland Avenue to operate on East River Road on all days.

•93: Extended to Logan Square Blue Line Station

2026 (or later):

•49B: Extended to Howard L Station

•X49: Extended to Western/Howard

•1: Extended to operate along the South Lakefront area.

•96: Route restructured to operate on Pratt between Western and Kedzie.

•201: Extended south of Howard via Ridge to Bryn Mawr Red Line Station

•90: Extended to Forest Park Blue Line Station

•91: Extended to 54th/Cermak Pink Line Station

•92: Extended to Harlem (O’Hare) Blue Line Station 

•New bus route operating along Yates Boulevard

•New 55W - West 55th/Harlem bus route (Eliminating/replacing 55A, 55W, & 62H)

•2-3 new OWL routes/extension

•54: Extended to Midway Airport/Orange Line Station (Eliminating 54B)

•57: Extended to Jefferson Park Blue Line/Metra Station 

Interesting potential future bus changes. Always figured that it couldn’t hurt having the X49 covering the 49B portion of Western Avenue too. 49B to Howard Station is not a bad idea either. For 92, it could work since Foster Avenue is almost adjacent to Higgins Avenue between Harlem & Milwaukee. 201… I guess it is a straight shot to Bryn Mawr down Ridge south of Howard, but then there’s the congestion/traffic it’ll have to endure during the rush hours. 91 to 54th/Cermak Pink Line, interesting take. Used to think if any FG route could extend to Cermak, maybe it be 85 but then again, Austin Ave probably has a little more ridership on its south end (it must given the increase of service for Pace 315). Lastly, I thought buses don’t run on Pratt between Western & Kedzie because the amish was more populated in that area and didn’t want any buses moving down there.

X49 to Howard makes sense cause 49B isn't exactly a slouch plus X49 at some point had an extra 2 miles anyway but no point going back there.

62H being included in the 55W restructuring makes sense with 62 being there for most of the route. 

201: I think that's a case of Evanston students wanting to get to Loyola on one seat and being tired of the purple/red teansfer (seen a LOT of complaints about people making that type of ride about the switch at Howard). Bryn Mawr probably is just the only place they can turn back.

1: extend via what that wouldn't be redundant? Are they going all the way back to 79th?

143: I'm sure there wasn't too big of a time difference to begin with so if rush hour isn't as bad then 151 can handle it. I'm surprised 134 isn't being considered. 

54A: I wonder if pace still plans on 641

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, andrethebusman said:

Bringing up Yates Blvd again, huh? Remember how the last effort back in 1971 went, with bus stop signs painted over and daily ridership in the single digits? Maybe the locals won't get so worked up about buses bringing "undesirables" into their neighborhood this time. (Funny how that line of reasoning did not apply to the 75th or 79th buses though).

 

10 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

Well one thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I do not approve of 77th getting the #39 back from Kedzie. 😂😂😂😂

Only way I can see Yates being an option is as an extension of 75 to 87th cause that would be the only strip of Yates that is far enough from other routes to not be considered repetitive and I doubt they'd pull 71 from South Shore/Commercial to cover that