2027 NITA Budget

[Busjack]

3 hours ago, Sam92 said:

I don't get the point of the New Lenox connection if there's already a SWS/RI connection planned at 74th. Nothing in the document nor Metra's SNP plan mentions the purpose. 

It only hits me as a track connection between intersecting lines, as opposed to the 74th one shifting passenger traffic off a freight line and into LaSalle St. Station (and also furthering CREATE).

[Elkmn]

On 11/7/2026 at 8:51 PM, Tcmetro said:

The budget doc was updated, removing reference to expanded Owl service and providing some different changes.

CTA Service Improvements

CTA’s service proposal includes an additional more than 330,000 bus service hours and an additional 49,000 rail service hours compared to 2026. CTA’s service improvements for 2027 prioritize two key areas of expanding weekend, evening and midday service (off-peak service), and improving regional service connections.

On the bus network, CTA is expanding span of service (operating earlier and later in the day) and adding more frequency on weekends, weekday evenings and weekday middays on at least 20 bus routes including #7 Harrison; #10 Obama Presidential Center / Griffin MSI Express; #18 16th Street/18th Street; #30 South Chicago; #43 43rd Street; #73 Armitage; #86 Narragansett/Ridgeland; #92 Foster; #201 Central/Ridge; and many more. Routes targeted for improvements were identified based on existing demand; underlying demographic and market analysis; and service availability. 

CTA is seeking proposed bus extensions to rail stations and regional destinations including

• #54 Cicero to the Midway Orange Line station, replacing #54B South Cicero with Pace service continuing south of Midway

• #57 Laramie extending north to Jefferson Park and south to Morton College

• #8A and #108 South Halsted service changes to improve frequency and connections in coordination with Pace

• #147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express to LaSalle Street Station, improving connections to the Metra Rock Island Line and supporting the Rock Island Regional Rail pilot.

Additionally, improved service frequencies are proposed on the Red Line to address growing ridership demands on the busiest rail line in Midwest.

92 IMPROVEMENTS LETS GOOOOOO

Surprised that multiple FG routes are seeing upgrades. Wasn't it just a few months ago when they had to cannibalize 90 trips for the frequent 81?

[Sam92]

6 hours ago, Elkmn said:

92 IMPROVEMENTS LETS GOOOOOO

Surprised that multiple FG routes are seeing upgrades. Wasn't it just a few months ago when they had to cannibalize 90 trips for the frequent 81?

Well you gotta consider even though FG doesn't do as much downtown work it's basically responsible for everything running east-west between Diversey and Devon. Hours/trip reductions are more of a "Harlem ridership is dropping but Lawrence is growing, so one of those buses might do better on Lawrence without hurting Harlem too much" and probably budget/fleet neutral since it didn't lead to a fleet increase. If FG picked up a whole new route especially something like 74 then yeah we should be trying to figure how that's gonna fit 🤷

[MetroShadow]

Local wonk changed the topic to reflect capital and planning improvements.