[Speculative] Service Planning beyond 2025 (was: March 25 System Pick)

[renardo870]

On 5/20/2025 at 12:27 PM, renardo870 said:

The 53/53A changes are for August. Everything else is for June.

It looks like the 53/N53/53A restructuring and the 93 Sunday service and extension may be in play for the Fall at the board meeting on Wednesday June 11th. I haven't seen any updated bus stops yet but you never know with CTA.

June_2025_-_Regular_Board_Agenda.pdf

Edited June 10 by renardo870

[TaylorTank1229]

New alert on the CTA website confirms Summer pick will take effect this coming Sunday, June 15th:

Beginning Sunday, Jun 15, updated schedules will go into effect for the following bus routes. The schedules for these routes are receiving updates as part of CTA’s commitment to better meet evolving ridership needs and patterns. Most routes continue to have the same frequency and span of service, but arrival times may change up to a few minutes.

Routes with more extensive changes to hours of service are marked with an asterisk (*). Bolded routes are part of CTA’s Frequent Network.

3 King Drive
4 Cottage Grove*
X4 Cottage Grove
7 Harrison
8A South Halsted
9 Ashland
X9 Ashland Exp
10 Museum of Science & Industry*
12 Roosevelt
15 Jeffrey Local
18 16th-18th*
20 Madison*
21 Cermak
24 Wentworth
28 Stony Island
30 South Chicago
34 South Michigan
35 31st/35th*
36 Broadway
47 47th*
49 Western*
X49 Western Exp*
50 Damen
53 Pulaski
53A South Kedzie
54B South Cicero*
55 Garfield
56 Milwaukee*
57 Laramie
60 Blue Island/26th
62 Archer
63 63rd*
63W West 63rd
66 Chicago*
67 67th/69th/71st
68 Northwest Highway
70 Division
72 North*
73 Armitage*
74 Fullerton
77 Belmont
78 Montrose*
79 79th
80 Irving Park
82 Kimball/Homan
84 Peterson
85 Central
86 Narragansett/Ridgeland*
87 87th
91 Austin
92 Foster
93 California/Dodge
94 California
95 95th
100 Jeffery Manor Exp
103 West 103rd
106 East 103rd
108 Halsted/95th
112 Vincennes/111th
121 Union/Streeterville Exp*
124 Navy Pier*
126 Jackson
130 Museum Campus
146 Inner Lake Shore /Michigan Exp*
147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Exp*
152 Addison
156 LaSalle
157 Streeterville/Taylor*
165 West 65th
171 U. of Chicago/Hyde Park*
172 U. of Chicago/Kenwood*
206 Evanston Circulator

*In addition, the following service changes will be implemented (see separate alerts for details):

• Service to the lakefront and beaches are expanded weekdays - Mon, Jun 9 through mid-August:  #35 31st/35th (31st Street Beach), #63 63rd (63rd Street Beach), #72 North (North Avenue Beach), and #78 Montrose (Montrose Beach) buses begin and end their trips at the indicated beaches between approximately 9am and 9:30pm.    

Four Bus Routes Added to CTA’s Frequent Network – Effective Sun, Jun 15: The #4 Cottage Grove, #20 Madison, #49 Western and #66 Chicago will join CTA’s Frequent Network. This expands the network to 12 frequent routes that operate every 10 minutes or better along the entire route, 6am to 9pm on weekdays and weekends, 9am to 9pm.

 

[Sam92]

8 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

New alert on the CTA website confirms Summer pick will take effect this coming Sunday, June 15th:

Beginning Sunday, Jun 15, updated schedules will go into effect for the following bus routes. The schedules for these routes are receiving updates as part of CTA’s commitment to better meet evolving ridership needs and patterns. Most routes continue to have the same frequency and span of service, but arrival times may change up to a few minutes.

Routes with more extensive changes to hours of service are marked with an asterisk (*). Bolded routes are part of CTA’s Frequent Network.

3 King Drive
4 Cottage Grove*
X4 Cottage Grove
7 Harrison
8A South Halsted
9 Ashland
X9 Ashland Exp
10 Museum of Science & Industry*
12 Roosevelt
15 Jeffrey Local
18 16th-18th*
20 Madison*
21 Cermak
24 Wentworth
28 Stony Island
30 South Chicago
34 South Michigan
35 31st/35th*
36 Broadway
47 47th*
49 Western*
X49 Western Exp*
50 Damen
53 Pulaski
53A South Kedzie
54B South Cicero*
55 Garfield
56 Milwaukee*
57 Laramie
60 Blue Island/26th
62 Archer
63 63rd*
63W West 63rd
66 Chicago*
67 67th/69th/71st
68 Northwest Highway
70 Division
72 North*
73 Armitage*
74 Fullerton
77 Belmont
78 Montrose*
79 79th
80 Irving Park
82 Kimball/Homan
84 Peterson
85 Central
86 Narragansett/Ridgeland*
87 87th
91 Austin
92 Foster
93 California/Dodge
94 California
95 95th
100 Jeffery Manor Exp
103 West 103rd
106 East 103rd
108 Halsted/95th
112 Vincennes/111th
121 Union/Streeterville Exp*
124 Navy Pier*
126 Jackson
130 Museum Campus
146 Inner Lake Shore /Michigan Exp*
147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Exp*
152 Addison
156 LaSalle
157 Streeterville/Taylor*
165 West 65th
171 U. of Chicago/Hyde Park*
172 U. of Chicago/Kenwood*
206 Evanston Circulator

*In addition, the following service changes will be implemented (see separate alerts for details):

• Service to the lakefront and beaches are expanded weekdays - Mon, Jun 9 through mid-August:  #35 31st/35th (31st Street Beach), #63 63rd (63rd Street Beach), #72 North (North Avenue Beach), and #78 Montrose (Montrose Beach) buses begin and end their trips at the indicated beaches between approximately 9am and 9:30pm.    

Four Bus Routes Added to CTA’s Frequent Network – Effective Sun, Jun 15: The #4 Cottage Grove, #20 Madison, #49 Western and #66 Chicago will join CTA’s Frequent Network. This expands the network to 12 frequent routes that operate every 10 minutes or better along the entire route, 6am to 9pm on weekdays and weekends, 9am to 9pm.

 

I don't know if it's lack of sleep but some of these asterisks (for extensive changes) got me curious.... Outside of the obvious beach changes, summer changes for 124, 171,172 and KNOWN service expansion; what's happening with 56, 86, 47 and 146 that's "extensive"?

[renardo870]

On 4/25/2025 at 10:24 PM, renardo870 said:

I believe they put more service on the 4 to 115th during the weekdays in preparation for the Frequency Bus Network (FBN) Summer edition where nearly all service runs will go to 115th (except late nights/early mornings) and N4 runs will be extended from 63rd and Cottage Grove to 95th and State or 95th/Red Line Terminal. (which would be better)

N4 extended to 95th Red Line

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107903

Edited June 11 by renardo870
N4 overnight service extended to 95th/Red Line

[renardo870]

4 minutes ago, renardo870 said:

N4 extended to 95th Red Line Terminal 

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107903

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

 

[Busjack]

36 minutes 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

 

Actually 2 specific alerts:

Quote

Sun, Jun 15 2025 to TBDMore Frequent Service and Night Owl Service Extension

Added Service

Eff Sun, Jun 15: #4 buses operate more than 20% more service Sundays. Night Owl trips leaving Downtown between 10:25pm and 3:40am end at CTA’s 95th Red Ln sta.

#4 Cottage Grove

Sun, Jun 15 2025 to TBDBus Stop Relocation

Bus Stop Relocation

Eff Sun, June 15, #4 Cottage Grove Night Owl Service buses will no longer board at 95th/State. Brd #4 "Owl" buses in 95th Red Ln station South Bus Terminal.

 

[wayfaringrob]

6 hours ago, Sam92 said:

I don't know if it's lack of sleep but some of these asterisks (for extensive changes) got me curious.... Outside of the obvious beach changes, summer changes for 124, 171,172 and KNOWN service expansion; what's happening with 56, 86, 47 and 146 that's "extensive"?

Seems like they're done with posting new schedules in advance, as they've been doing the last few years. Those were useful.

[Sam92]

9 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

Seems like they're done with posting new schedules in advance, as they've been doing the last few years. Those were useful.

If you have a computer there's a chance you can pull up a current schedule and change the date in the link to the next pick date to get them in advance. 

[wayfaringrob]

1 minute ago, Sam92 said:

If you have a computer there's a chance you can pull up a current schedule and change the date in the link to the next pick date to get them in advance. 

I did try that. Hasn't worked the last pick or two, either.

[Sam92]

1 minute ago, wayfaringrob said:

I did try that. Hasn't worked the last pick or two, either.

Literally just tried too and there wasn't a space to change the date 🤣🤣🤣

[wayfaringrob]

On 3/8/2025 at 5:13 PM, YoungBusLover said:

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Reading the asterisks in the alert as tea leaves, it seems the extended hours for 18, 73, 147, and 157 are occurring with the summer pick now.

Interestingly, 73 was left off the list at this morning's strategic planning and service delivery meeting.

For fall: 53 restructuring. For winter: 93 extension. Committee recommended for board approval.

[wayfaringrob]

8 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

Literally just tried too and there wasn't a space to change the date 🤣🤣🤣

https://www.transitchicago.com/downloads/misc/advance_timetables/202406/bus-tt_72.pdf

The date was only included for advance timetables, not current. So once a new schedule is out, the old one is unavailable unless they had previously posted it in advance.

[Sam92]

#147 is confirmed to get later hours this pick. #18 has an asterisk but no alerts about later hours yet. Am I the only one that feels the N4 should've used the 359 bay to just have all the Night cars in the same spot? 

[Sam92]

10 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

Reading the asterisks in the alert as tea leaves, it seems the extended hours for 18, 73, 147, and 157 are occurring with the summer pick now.

Interestingly, 73 was left off the list at this morning's strategic planning and service delivery meeting.

For fall: 53 restructuring. For winter: 93 extension. Committee recommended for board approval.

Does "add entire extent frequent network" mean no short turns on 53? I can see off peak all trips going through but K or NP's gonna have to help if all rush hour trips go through unless C can send like 35 buses worth of work (the amount needed for the extension) somewhere else.

[TaylorTank1229]

2 hours ago, renardo870 said:

N4 extended to 95th Red Line

https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107903

Alerts for 66/N66 147, & 157 are now up.

N66: Owl service extended from Pulaski to Austin (https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=107909)

147: Hours of service extended to end 1 hour later in both directions (https://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/alert_detail.aspx?AlertId=107934)

157: Hours of service extended to end 2 hours later in both directions (https://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/alert_detail.aspx?AlertId=107935)

[renardo870]

3 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

Does "add entire extent frequent network" mean no short turns on 53? I can see off peak all trips going through but someone's gonna have to share if all rush hour trips go through unless C can send like 35 buses worth of work (the amount needed for the extension) somewhere else.

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).

[TaylorTank1229]

16 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

Reading the asterisks in the alert as tea leaves, it seems the extended hours for 18, 73, 147, and 157 are occurring with the summer pick now.

Interestingly, 73 was left off the list at this morning's strategic planning and service delivery meeting.

For fall: 53 restructuring. For winter: 93 extension. Committee recommended for board approval.

So Sunday/holiday service for #93 still goes Davis Purple Line in Evanston? Or will it have a different terminal, like Howard/McCormick as it did before the 2003 restructure of the route?

[Sam92]

1 minute ago, 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).

The length of the route kinda takes 77th out as a choice cause Pulaski is pretty far away. 53A is a quick run time so it fits at 77th. 

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

so i summed up a lot of information and basically just put it into one (pls lmk if i need to change anything)

**SUMMER PICK CHANGES**

• N4 To 95th Terminal (using the 100 bay)
• N66 extended to austin daily
• 157 Later Hours
• 147 Later Hours
• 18 Later Hours

————————————————————
**FALL PICK CHANGES FOR RN**

• 53 to Ford City
• 53A to Orange Line
• 93 Sunday Service

• 82 to 31st/Pulaski
————————————————————
**WINTER PICK CHANGES FOR RN**

• 93 extended daily to Logan Square BL via foster-kedzie-montrose-california-diversey-kedzie

[Sam92]

3 minutes ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

So Sunday/holiday service for #93 still goes Davis Purple Line in Evanston? Or will it have a different terminal, like Howard/McCormick as it did before the 2003 restructure of the route?

Probably all to Evanston if the "top request" is a hint. I can see people who might need to hit the blue line from Evanston but not exactly going that far northwest finding this useful

[renardo870]

9 minutes ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

So Sunday/holiday service for #93 still goes Davis Purple Line in Evanston? Or will it have a different terminal, like Howard/McCormick as it did before the 2003 restructure of the route?

It will go full length from Davis Purple to Logan Square Blue and I believe it's scheduled for Fall or Winter 2025.

Edited June 11 by renardo870

[renardo870]

5 minutes ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

so i summed up a lot of information and basically just put it into one (pls lmk if i need to change anything)

(Summer Pick)

• **N4 To 95th Terminal** (using the 100 bay)
• **N66 extended to austin daily**
• **157 Later Hours**
• **147 Later Hours**
• **18 Later Hours**

————————————————————
**FALL PICK CHANGES FOR RN**

• **53 to Ford City**
• **53A to Orange Line**
• **93 Sunday Service**
————————————————————
**WINTER PICK CHANGES FOR RN**

• **93 extended daily to Logan Square BL via foster-kedzie-montrose-california-diversey-kedzie**

54B extended to 54th/Cermak Pink Line Terminal in Summer '25

82 to 31st and Pulask Bus Terminal in Fall '25.

75 extended to 79th and Western Bus Terminal in Winter '25.

Edited June 11 by renardo870
Added information

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

1 minute ago, renardo870 said:

82 to 31st and Pulask Bus Terminal in Fall '25

thanks 

[TaylorTank1229]

44 minutes ago, renardo870 said:

It will go full length from Davis Purple to Logan Square Blue and I believe it's scheduled for Fall or Winter 2025.

 

1 hour ago, wayfaringrob said:

Reading the asterisks in the alert as tea leaves, it seems the extended hours for 18, 73, 147, and 157 are occurring with the summer pick now.

Interestingly, 73 was left off the list at this morning's strategic planning and service delivery meeting.

For fall: 53 restructuring. For winter: 93 extension. Committee recommended for board approval.

Seems that the Sunday/Holiday service for #93 will go in effect in August, and the extension to Logan Square in December.

I figured they do both simultaneously, but maybe want to see how the added Sunday service will go before the extension.

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

The length of the route kinda takes 77th out as a choice cause Pulaski is pretty far away. 53A is a quick run time so it fits at 77th. 

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.