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The CTA announced today they're adding 11 more lines to the popular Bus Tracker. The good news? The Clark and Broadway routes have been added. Bad news? Still no North Ave. The 11 routes being added on January 26 are:
- No. 3 King Drive
- No. X3 King Drive Express
- No. 4 Cottage Grove
- No. X4 Cottage Grove Express
- No. 22 Clark
- No. 36 Broadway
- No. 49B North Western
- No. 82 Kimball/Homan
- No. 93 California/Dodge
- No. 96 Lunt
- No. 97 Skokie
Meanwhile, those plans for bus-only lines that were left for dead after last week's federal grant deadline snafu may still yet have some life. After a weekend meeting with outgoing U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, Mayor Daley said, "They're going to put this on hold so the next administration can deal with it." The odds are good, then, that something will come of this, given that the new Transportation Secretary-designate is Ray LaHood of Peoria. What would the $153 million grant get us?
The grant would allow the CTA to build and equip bus lines on four corridors -- 79th Street, Jeffery Boulevard, Halsted Street and Chicago Avenue. All would get rapid transit-style stations that include fare pre-payment areas, high-tech signals and bus-only lanes to speed service.Sounds good. But, are wrong or does it seem like there are a few other routes (like Western) that may benefit more from such an upgrade?
Photo by Señor Codo
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Still no North Ave, Chicago, or Division on Bus Tracker. Grr.
I like how Chicago Ave would benefit from this highspeed bus line, yet is one of the last to be added to Bus Tracker...
At least they finally added the #22.
They're afraid to add the North Ave bus since then folks might figure out it only ACTUALLY runs once every two weeks.
The Chicago and Division routes are barely more dependable...
AAAARGH!
3, 4, 22, 36. you'd think they'd add these first. better late than never, i guess.
The Western Ave bus is on the tracker. But yea, I agree, the 66 should be on it too.
The Fullerton bus line isn't on there either, but should be.
Well, I got at least one of my possible morning routes to the Blue line, Kimball/Homan! Now if they will do Armitage then I will be a happy traveler
Still no 66, dammit.
I dig the idea of express lanes/treatment for the 79th Street, Jeffery Boulevard, and Chicago Avenue buses... but Halsted Street? Most of Halsted on the North side of town doesn't seem to be wide enough to support bus-only lanes.
I want to see a bus-only lane squeeze under the Metra bridge just south of Hubbard at 5 p.m. That would be the true test of a bus-only lane ... both whether two lanes would fit, and whether you could keep cars out of the express lane.
I'm more concerned with the "recent changes in routing" that completely eliminated public transportation in my area than adding lines to the bus tracker.
I would be quite content if, instead of adding the 66 to the tracker, if they perhaps just added more frequent busses that were better spaced. In that case, I don't think I would need to track them, and I could actually get ONTO one on occasion the first time it came past Chicago/Damen at 8:30 AM!