[Speculative] Possible NITA Planning Ideas

[Busjack]

Tribune: Here’s how officials want to spend new transit funding this year. Apparently deals with money available before the NITA board takes over.  A bit over half goes to security. You know what I think about the "transit advocates" beotching about that. Getting to the other half, CTA's cut is to add 35, 8, 74 and 85 to the Frequent Bus Network, and the extension of 57 (but not Orange Line Owl service), Metra's statutory obligation to implement regional rail on the RID (and apparently a settlement over UP trackage rights), and Pace's statutory obligation to install bus shields.

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, Sam92 said:

"Avoids Chicago" as in the route looks to stay in the burbs as a pace route? This NITA isn't really being too consistent as we would have suggested it should be in prior discussions 

Since you mentioned NITA, I put it here. But any current planning (such as the pick sheet saying 108 is due for elimination or 95 and 381 should be consolidated or whatever) is being done behind the scenes, as the NITA Board doesn't take office until September, and the last time the Jarrett-Walker guy appeared before the Pace board, he said that the service plan would be designed to fold into NITA, and probably would not go into effect until 2027.

These topics have all been labelled "[Speculative]." I took the dialog as that @BusOps suggested that the north extension of 90 would be to Higgins and Canfield (replacing 88) instead of the presumed Touhy/Overhill, and I noted that while it was presumed that Pace would cover Higgins, not ending the 209 detour was, at least, curious. But maybe our speculation turns out to be wrong.

[Busjack]

I'll throw on the floor the following idea for discussion, noting that it is only in the realm of "possible."

I was reviewing such things as possible southbound extensions of 57 and 90,the discussion whether 206 should be out of FG, and a posted CTA document (I assume from about 2009) about such things as relief of Evanston routes at Howard being a pain (I suppose to compared to routes on Sheridan , Broadway, and Clark at Foster or Berwyn).

In short, why not just extend 57 to Morton College and eliminate 315? Also do away with 385 as described above? In return, turn over 97 and 201 to Pace, since the NS garage is closer at Oakton (and passed by 97). However, maybe 201 is complicated by the proposed extension to Bryn Mawr.

 

[MetroShadow]

20 hours ago, Busjack said:

I might be 20 minutes early, but farewell and good riddance. 

Happy NITA Day to all who celebrate...even in California.

1 hour ago, Busjack said:

I'll throw on the floor the following idea for discussion, noting that it is only in the realm of "possible."

I was reviewing such things as possible southbound extensions of 57 and 90,the discussion whether 206 should be out of FG, and a posted CTA document (I assume from about 2009) about such things as relief of Evanston routes at Howard being a pain (I suppose to compared to routes on Sheridan , Broadway, and Clark at Foster or Berwyn).

In short, why not just extend 57 to Morton College and eliminate 315? Also do away with 385 as described above? In return, turn over 97 and 201 to Pace, since the NS garage is closer at Oakton (and passed by 97). However, maybe 201 is complicated by the proposed extension to Bryn Mawr.

 

• 57 and 316 - Remember that the 305 and 315 were legacy routes (the former being confusing enough), and breaking these up to their distinctive streets made sense - extending the 57 to the Pink Line only changes the overlap by over a mile (and at that point the 314 is only operating in a much shorter route, which would just be better off absorbing to the 57). I would make the case to absorb. A couple of less buses that West will need but will probably add at least three for Morton (and 3-4 for Jeff Park).
   
• 90-Series, 307, 386, and 423: These are relatively oversubscribed:
  • Since Pulse will absorb most of 307 and the northern half of  386 (and assuming both locals go to 30/60-minute frequency or less), I don't anticipate those would change much.
  • 318 might need to change (with 90 extended south), except the rail lines would be the anchor and a potential forced transfer Do the brain trust figure that these are two separate markets and no overlap is necessary? .
  • 385 likely needs to be broken up (Morraine as the connector). Given the RLX, do we need to assume some kind of combination that'll require coordination on the east end?
  • 90N and 423: moot thanks to the crowding plan (it's been almost 14 years?!)
     
• Evanston
  • I'm positive the 206 creates weird blocks (and I wish I had a visual like Pantograph App does to track it), but why make changes to 97 and 201, especially since NS (the closest garage) is a 6-day-a-week joint?

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, MetroShadow said:

Happy NITA Day to all who celebrate...even in California.

• 57 and 316 -...
• 90-Series, 307, 386, and 423: These are relatively oversubscribed:...
  • Since Pulse will absorb most of 307 and the northern half of  386 (and assuming both locals go to 30/60-minute frequency or less), I don't anticipate those would change much.
  • ...
  • 385 likely needs to be broken up (Morraine as the connector). Given the RLX, do we need to assume some kind of combination that'll require coordination on the east end?
  • 90N and 423: moot thanks to the crowding plan (it's been almost 14 years?!)
• • I'm positive the 206 creates weird blocks (and I wish I had a visual like Pantograph App does to track it), but why make changes to 97 and 201, especially since NS (the closest garage) is a 6-day-a-week joint?

• As you noted, I goofed this morning and meant 316. I'm taking it that you are suggesting interlining 57 with Ridgeland instead of Laramie.
• As noted under Pulse, Pace territory on Harlem will probably only be south of the Green Line.
• 385: I would extend 87 to the Roberts Road area. My proposed trade-off is that Pace gets most of 95, although I'm not sure about reinstating 95E
• North Harlem--not moot because various ReVision proposals (depending on ridership or coverage) have 245 to Glenbrook Hospital or Highland Park (the latter having 245 via Waukegan Road and 246 via The Glen and Northbrook). But the intent seems clear that the 423 back over to Linden will be eliminated.
• 97 and 201: For the reasons I stated. Also, Pace said that NITA money will be used to open garages on Sunday, apparently implementing the JW philosophy that Sunday service should be as frequent as Saturday.