March 2026 Service Changes

[Elkmn]

2 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

They used to release them a couple of days in advance to their assigned effective date. Don’t know why they stop 😓

gonna go out here on a limb and say that it's because they don't want people being able to compare schedules and see service cuts 

[sht6131]

1 hour ago, Elkmn said:

gonna go out here on a limb and say that it's because they don't want people being able to compare schedules and see service cuts 

Agree. CTA will always mention 1 to 2 minute improvments but never mentions 1 to 2 minute cuts.

[Busjack]

10 hours ago, sht6131 said:

Agree. CTA will always mention 1 to 2 minute improvments but never mentions 1 to 2 minute cuts.

I'm sure this has nothing to do with PACE SUBURBAN BUS

 

[MetroShadow]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

I'm sure this has nothing to do with PACE SUBURBAN BUS

 

Their processes are more structured and less chaotic and more organized; so you are both correct. 

[Busjack]

5 hours ago, MetroShadow said:

Their processes are more structured and less chaotic and more organized; so you are both correct. 

Now that the point has been explained, frequent Pace routes (other than 352)  are something like 20-30 minutes,aandthe timetables don't have blocks like "Every 5 to12 minutes from 7:00  a.m. to 10 a.m." Also,these changes are mostly to service spans. So, Pace has to publish Passenger Notices and new timetables, also to solicit ridership on the added services.

[TaylorTank1229]

I noticed during this week that despite the bus bridge at the Harlem Blue Line (O’Hare) station being reopening on Momday, 209 & 423 still weren’t being seen entering the station. 423 was still staring & ending at Harlem/Bryn Mawr, north of the train station, and 209 is still detouring to Cumberland Blue Line. So I’m just wondering if Pace has yet to be updated on the bridge’s completion so buses could resume their regular routing.

[Sam92]

15 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

I noticed during this week that despite the bus bridge at the Harlem Blue Line (O’Hare) station being reopening on Momday, 209 & 423 still weren’t being seen entering the station. 423 was still staring & ending at Harlem/Bryn Mawr, north of the train station, and 209 is still detouring to Cumberland Blue Line. So I’m just wondering if Pace has yet to be updated on the bridge’s completion so buses could resume their regular routing.

They probably try to stick different time windows to adjust their routes. I remember when the Red Line reopened #924, and #925 (temporary routes for the shut down) still ran for a month after. 

[artthouwill]

16 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

I noticed during this week that despite the bus bridge at the Harlem Blue Line (O’Hare) station being reopening on Momday, 209 & 423 still weren’t being seen entering the station. 423 was still staring & ending at Harlem/Bryn Mawr, north of the train station, and 209 is still detouring to Cumberland Blue Line. So I’m just wondering if Pace has yet to be updated on the bridge’s completion so buses could resume their regular routing.

I think both bus routes have published timetables with the alternate terminals on them.  Pace would need to revise the schedules to reflect the change, especially since it affects the routing of the 209.  Pace would also have to post advance notices of the change.  The 423 is an easy fix.  But is it possible that Pace might consider making the temporary 209 change permanent?

[Tcmetro]

The Pace alert says that the 423 will start using the Harlem bus bridge tomorrow, the 30th. The 209 will continue to end at Cumberland station.

https://www.pacebus.com/notice/routes-209-and-423-detour-update

[Busjack]

41 minutes ago, Tcmetro said:

The Pace alert says that the 423 will start using the Harlem bus bridge tomorrow, the 30th. The 209 will continue to end at Cumberland station.

https://www.pacebus.com/notice/routes-209-and-423-detour-update

That's what it says, but IRC they said something at the meeting that 209 to Cumberland was messing up the schedule. Since the alert refers to the 209 "Detour" continuing and the bus stop signs not being changed, this appears temporary, but IDK what's holding it up.

[Busjack]

Pace is trying to round up riders. I received tghe following post card (addess redacted):

 

 

[TaylorTank1229]

Almost a month, and SB 315 buses still have their destination signs displaying CENTRL/38TH. Or “A1 MESSAGE” on others, you’d think they would’ve updated their system to display its new terminal at Midway Airport.

[Sam92]

On 4/12/2026 at 10:12 AM, TaylorTank1229 said:

Almost a month, and SB 315 buses still have their destination signs displaying CENTRL/38TH. Or “A1 MESSAGE” on others, you’d think they would’ve updated their system to display its new terminal at Midway Airport.

At least it's not displaying 312, 325 or something else from the past 😅

[artthouwill]

On 4/12/2026 at 10:12 AM, TaylorTank1229 said:

Almost a month, and SB 315 buses still have their destination signs displaying CENTRL/38TH. Or “A1 MESSAGE” on others, you’d think they would’ve updated their system to display its new terminal at Midway Airport.

The question is whether the announcements say 315 to Midway Airport/Orange Line Station?  If so, then no big deal.   If not, then there's a problem. 

[TaylorTank1229]

48 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

The question is whether the announcements say 315 to Midway Airport/Orange Line Station?  If so, then no big deal.   If not, then there's a problem. 

They do announce “SOUTHBOUND TO MIDWAY CTA STATION”.

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

They do announce “SOUTHBOUND TO MIDWAY CTA STATION”.

They will eventually get around to changing the sigs, but as long as the announcement accurate, no worries.

[TaylorTank1229]

On 4/14/2026 at 2:41 PM, artthouwill said:

They will eventually get around to changing the sigs, but as long as the announcement accurate, no worries.

Yeah, but the PA speakers on the outside of them buses don’t be loud enough for some to hear. And even now, once getting to Central & Pershing, some riders still think it turns down Pershing back north on Austin… not aware of the extension. This is why I said they should had notices about that one the buses or better yet, at the bus stops so people would be aware of it. 😅