Why Is There No X72 North Ave Express Bus?

[jesi2282]

I was looking at the main CTA website, I saw that there is a X80,X3,X4,X49 but no X72 usually only two lane streets get express routes and North Ave is a two lane street and a long route, I don't know why there no X72?

[Kevin]

North Ave--along with many other busy routes--probably could use express buses. The limiting factor is likely the cost to fund such service. With the current funding crisis, we'll be luckly if there's service period, let alone express service.

[westing]

Funding is always an issue but possibly the lack of an express bus on North Ave. might be due to people not voicing their desire for an express bus.

Would it really cost that much extra to run some buses that skip some stops? Besides the change of street bus signs, reprogramming of the internal bus destination signs, and informing the drivers, I don't see any other costs involved. However, I could imagine some sort of lengthy report would need to be made for feasibility.

The cheapest "express" service must be the 53A Limited. While not a true express bus, it’s just a normal bus that skips every few stops; it shows how cheap an express bus could be. It runs north to the Orange line in the morning rush and south from it in the evening. The bus signs are nothing special; they simply contain information about the limited route, and from what I see none are in red. More limiteds would be helpful, if expresses are too expensive.

[mkohut]

if there was a north ave express the question is how far east and how far west.would it go to winston plaza in melrose park or to te mall in northlake.why limited the service to the city of chicago.there is plenty of traffic everywhere on north ave.

[mkohut]

if there was a north ave express the question is how far east and how far west.would it go to winston plaza in melrose park or to the mall in northlake.why limited the service to the city of chicago.there is plenty of traffic everywhere on north ave.

[Danielsmusic]

The problems with this are:

- North Avenue is only two lanes for a mile or so, meaning that an express couldn't pass a local

- North Avenue has so much goddamn traffic that an express bus really wouldn't go fast

- There isn't enough room in the turnarounds at Clark and the beach for more buses

- Because there's so much traffic, the buses not only go slowly, but also tend to clump. If a bus is

stuck with three others, it would be no more useful as an express

[qwantae]

The problems with this are:

- North Avenue is only two lanes for a mile or so, meaning that an express couldn't pass a local

- North Avenue has so much goddamn traffic that an express bus really wouldn't go fast

- There isn't enough room in the turnarounds at Clark and the beach for more buses

- Because there's so much traffic, the buses not only go slowly, but also tend to clump. If a bus is

stuck with three others, it would be no more useful as an express

No wonder why they couldnt use Chicago Ave or 79th St for express buses, becuse of two lane road situation and those route are needed as bad for express routes.

[MetroShadow]

The problems with this are:

- North Avenue is only two lanes for a mile or so, meaning that an express couldn't pass a local

- North Avenue has so much goddamn traffic that an express bus really wouldn't go fast

- Because there's so much traffic, the buses not only go slowly, but also tend to clump. If a bus is

stuck with three others, it would be no more useful as an express

The X80 experiences the same problems as noted. There's a two lane stretch of road from Austin to Narragansett (and if there aren't any parking restrictions, extended to at least Oak Park).

[nextstopchicago]

The X80 experiences the same problems as noted. There's a two lane stretch of road from Austin to Narragansett (and if there aren't any parking restrictions, extended to at least Oak Park).

You're right, but I don't think it has the same impact on time-keeping as the stretch from Ashland to Damen has on the North Avenue. Traffic is occasionall lined up a block out there, but everyone makes the light at Narragansett in a single cycle. The North/Milwaukee/Damen intersection can take 3-6 cycles to get through at some times of day.

[BusExpert32]

The North/Milwaukee/Damen intersection can take 3-6 cycles to get through at some times of day.

Same thing with the Milwaukee/Cicero/Irving Park intersection.

[Danielsmusic]

Same thing with the Milwaukee/Cicero/Irving Park intersection.

True, but there are quite a few people on the X80 who connect with other buses near Lake Shore Drive. The 72, on the other hand, connects with no express buses and is far enough South that people could get off the bus and hop on the Blue or Red Line. There isn't enough rush hour patronage or enough connections to really justify an X72. It might help relieve crowding on the 72, but it's not really necessary. And with the CTA in such a budget crisis, it would eventually be cut.

[Busjack]

The X80 experiences the same problems as noted. There's a two lane stretch of road from Austin to Narragansett (and if there aren't any parking restrictions, extended to at least Oak Park).

This also wasn't the justification for the X80. It originally ran only between LSD and Cicero-Montrose to give Lakeview residents a connection to the Blue Line at O'Hare. The stretch to Harlem-Irving was an afterthought. Also, even if Irving Park is narrower out west, it has far less automobile traffic in that section.

[sw4400]

This might sound impractical, given the lack of funding right now. But if the CTA does get it's funding problems solved, what about this express route that I've been thinking about becoming a reality?

X11 Lincoln Express?

Many people seem to complain that they wait for 45 minutes to over an hour before one bus even shows up in their direction of travel(I remember this one jerk by CVS Pharmacy at Lincoln and Belle Plaine talking REALLY LOUD that he's been waiting an hour and a half for a Lincoln bus to take him north. BTW, he loved to use the "F" word!!! Moron! Anyhow, enough about him, getting back on topic, this bus could be started either at the Clinton Blue Line Station and go north to Howard and McCormick, stopping at major intersections only. Or starting at North and Clark.

[Buslover88]

if the CTA does get it's funding problems solved, what about this express route that I've been thinking about becoming a reality?

X11 Lincoln Express?

Many people seem to complain that they wait for 45 minutes to over an hour before one bus even shows up in their direction of travel(I remember this one jerk by CVS Pharmacy at Lincoln and Belle Plaine talking REALLY LOUD that he's been waiting an hour and a half for a Lincoln bus to take him north. BTW, he loved to use the "F" word!!! Moron! Anyhow, enough about him, getting back on topic, this bus could be started either at the Clinton Blue Line Station and go north to Howard and McCormick, stopping at major intersections only. Or starting at North and Clark.

In my opinion, I think #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick should be sorted out before an #X11 is even started.

[Busjack]

You are also talking about a low ridership route on a street, because of all of the 6-way intersections, that does not get much of the green traffic light cycle. Basically, then, there is no way to make service much faster. Buslover is right about sorting out #11, and the demand should go down when the Brown Line project is completed. There are quicker ways to get to points on the northern reaches of Lincoln from downtown or North Ave., either by transferring from the Brown Line or taking the Red Line and going west from Loyola. Morse, or Howard.

Let's also remember that the original justification for X routes (primarily X80 and X55) was to provide express service where rail rapid transit was not available. As described in the preceding paragraph, Lincoln does not qualify.

[MetroShadow]

This also wasn't the justification for the X80. It originally ran only between LSD and Cicero-Montrose to give Lakeview residents a connection to the Blue Line at O'Hare. The stretch to Harlem-Irving was an afterthought. Also, even if Irving Park is narrower out west, it has far less automobile traffic in that section.

Correct. Definitely wasn't justification, nor was its intention.

Although I have to admit that the bus (from Sheridan to Belmont) got me to school downtown (although it was the hard way).

There are issues with the Irving Park Corridor that need to be figured out also since the rush hour happens, there will be bad traffic. You throw in bad weather (like the Deluges of July, 2007), then you would see buses delayed in the eighty-minutes. I guess the point of the issue is that bad weather can impact travel during rush hours, but to what point would it also justify NOT having an express bus along the corridor.

[Buslover88]

The only thing I will say is that I wish #X80 was cut, it's not doing any good.

[BusExpert32]

The only thing I will say is that I wish #X80 was cut, it's not doing any good.

I don't know if the #X80 is doing good under the CTA's standards for the past few years, but what really befuddles me, is that the #X80 is the only CTA express route that operates on both Saturday and Sunday. Why?

[Busjack]

Probably because Rahm Emanuel got them the grant.

[jajuan]

I don't know if the #X80 is doing good under the CTA's standards for the past few years, but what really befuddles me, is that the #X80 is the only CTA express route that operates on both Saturday and Sunday. Why?

I get the point of what you intend to say, but I think it would be more precise to say that the X80 is the only crosstown express bus that runs both Saturday and Sunday. Remember the 6, 10, 14, 145, 146, and 147 are express as well and they all run both Saturday and Sunday.

[BusExpert32]

I get the point of what you intend to say, but I think it would be more precise to say that the X80 is the only crosstown express bus that runs both Saturday and Sunday. Remember the 6, 10, 14, 145, 146, and 147 are express as well and they all run both Saturday and Sunday.

Well, anyhow, the X80 is the only crosstown express route that runs on Saturday and Sunday, but good call though. Precision in posting has really been an issue recently causing pointless arguements.

[qwantae]

I get the point of what you intend to say, but I think it would be more precise to say that the X80 is the only crosstown express bus that runs both Saturday and Sunday. Remember the 6, 10, 14, 145, 146, and 147 are express as well and they all run both Saturday and Sunday.

Back in early 2000s, I remember X21 ran Saturday and Sunday because of the rehabilitation of Douglas Blue/ Pink line Stations, I loved that route especially ran on I290 from Rush Hospital to Downtown.

I think that X49, X54 and X9 should be the ones to operate Weekends. God bless X54, I love that route.

[BusExpert32]

God bless X54, I love that route.

I must concur. X54 is the best route implemented in recent years in my opinion!

[jajuan]

Well, anyhow, the X80 is the only crosstown express route that runs on Saturday and Sunday, but good call though. Precision in posting has really been an issue recently causing pointless arguements.

The point wasn't made here to start any arguments. Just the opposite. We just know there are others who will look at the statement and take it for the opposite of what was meant. Especially if there are folks who look at these posts in the middle of the night.

[jajuan]

I must concur. X54 is the best route implemented in recent years in my opinion!

Yes indeed. I can now make most of the trip to Ford City and not have to switch buses until the Midway Orange line station instead of switching at Cermak. That can be a pain when the trip down Cicero starts at Roosevelt for me.