Chicago will receive a $36 million grant for two CTA bus projects designed to improve transportation within the Loop and to the South Side. The grants were awarded as part of two competitive grant programs through the U.S. Dept. of Transportation totaling $293 million. "The process was very competitive. The FTA received 65 applications totaling more than $1 billion, all vying for a $130 million pot of money," Paul Griffo, Federal Transit Administration spokesperson, told Zach Behrens of our sister site LAist, referring to the first type of grant, Urban Circular. The FTA also received 281 applications totaling over $2 billion for the second type of grant, Bus and Bus Livability. more ›

Now and through the summer, the Chicago-Card readers on buses will be relocated from left of the front door to the front of the farebox next to the driver. The readers were placed in their current locations in 2005 to quicken boarding. However, that didn't pan out quite as planned including, as the Sun-Times notes, in which bus drivers yell at passengers to retouch their card if it doesn't register, which holds up the boarding process. more ›

It's almost spring, the season for bicycle commuting, leisurely weekend bike rides, longer bike trips - and sudden afternoon rainstorms. In these situations, you have three choices: suck it up and get wet, leave your bike wherever it was and seek shelter, or haul yourself and your bike onto a CTA bus or train. Here's a handy-dandy list of rules and some tips for all of your emergency biking needs this spring and summer. more ›

A CTA bus crashed into a South Side home this morning, injuring four; none of the injuries were described as life-threatening. The crash happened at a house at the intersection of 115th Street and Vincennes Avenue. The bus, a No. 111 Pullman/111th/115th bus, was, according to the Tribune, "traveling south on Vincennes when it hit the south side of the house." According to the Sun-Times report, vehicles (it's unclear if that includes "CTA buses") have narrowly missed barreling into the house twice in the past year. A neighbor told the S-T, "Every time the buses take the left turn [southbound on Vincennes onto 115th Street] they speed. They go fast around that corner." That said, the CTA is still investigating and hasn't given an official reason as to how the bus missed the street and hit the house instead. more ›

To our friends celebrating Rosh Hashanah, L'shana tova! more ›

Chicago Public School buses got a technology makeover this summer, and they’re ready just in time for school to start next week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.The fleet’s 1,600 buses have been outfitted with remote GPS systems and in-vehicle mobile data terminals, which together will make the buses more efficient and safer—particularly for special-needs students. And, by December, the older buses will be outfitted with cleaner-running technology, thanks to a $1 million Environmental Protection Agency program. more ›

In about 10 minutes, the city will close Jackson between Canal and Wacker for the next year to repair the bridge and rebuild the viaduct over the Union Station south passenger platforms. This, of course, means CTA bus reroutes. Several of them. Between now and April 2010, if you catch the 1, 7, X28, 126, 129, 130, 132, 151, and 156 buses in this area, you'll need to figure out your new stop. The CTA has all the details here. more ›

Strange story this morning: it seems a bus driver hijacked a bus and led police on a chase that ended with the man being shot and killed by officers as he tried to ram police cars with the bus. Another employee was on the bus but was not hurt in the chase. The driver had been with the bus company since March and the hijacking/chase occurred after he allegedly had an argument with a manager. He crashed the bus into several other buses and cars during the chase. The chase started in south suburban Riverdale but ended in nearby Glenwood. [Tribune, Sun-Times] more ›

A new ad campaign rolled out on 25 Chicago buses this week that aims at giving atheists, agnostics and non-believers the same voice on public transportation that other religions have used for years. The Chicago slogan, which has been seen on buses running from the North to South Side of Chicago, including downtown reads: “In the Beginning, Man Created God.” more ›

The Chicago Transit Authority is about to embark on its second project funded by stimulus cash: it will purchase 58 hybrid buses for $49 million to be delivered this fall, according to a CTA statement. more ›

Chicago Police arrested a man this morning just after he robbed a bank in Lincoln Square. His getaway car? A CTA bus! Does he get points for being environmentally conscious and employing the use of public transportation?[Chicago Breaking News] more ›

A No. 67 bus traveling west on West 69th Street was involved in a collision at South Racine earlier this afternoon. While details are still coming in, it appears as if another vehicle and a bicycle were involved in the crash. A total of 16 people were examined at the scene and nine have been sent to area hospitals as a result of the crash, including one in serious-to-critical condition. more ›

The CTA is running a test hybrid bus on the #8 Halsted line. The funky-looking, futuristic (can you imagine, the future arriving to the CTA?) bus confused some riders who questioned whether or not they were stepping on to public transit. more ›

The CTA has released its Mystery Shopper reports (recall the mystery shopping program), and apparently the rest of the city rides the Heaven Express down Miracle Drive, direct from Unicorn Town. more ›

Beginning Monday, you’ll be able to log onto the Web through CTA Bus Tracker to determine the location of 13 more bus routes. The system uses GPS to track the exact locations of buses. There are two views available on the site - one predicting arrival time at a particular stops, the other displaying bus locations on a map. The CTA advises that the estimated arrival time will count down, unless there is a problem: “you may see the arrival predictions remain the same number of minutes or possibly increase, rather than count down, indicating that the bus is not moving.” more ›

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The clock is ticking, lovelies--get those presents purchased and fast. If you still need some last-minute help, though, take the Chicago bus to these three stores where we can practically guarantee you'll find something. We'll be running posts like this all week, so if you know the perfect store, drop us a line: tips@chicagoist.com more ›

The CTA may be getting slightly greener (assuming it can get its hands on some green). Yes, our beleagured transit authority is looking to by hybrid buses for its fleet if Springfield works out a funding structure. The diesel/electric buses get an extra 2 miles per gallon, and they're priced to move because the King County Metro System in Seattle didn't exercise its option to by the articulated (read: accordion) buses, plus they'd save the CTA about $7 million a year in lower maintanence and fuel costs. Ron Huberman requested and received the board's approval to negotiate a lease for 150 new hybrid buses for $120 million. more ›

The only thing worse than being on a Greyhound bus at 3:15 a.m. is having that bus spin out of control and crash. Luckily, no one was killed or seriously hurt, but 17 passengers were injured when a bus from Chicago wiped out in Indiana. more ›

Barrington Community Unit School District 220 canceled its classes today because its fleet of school buses were vandalized. Unknown culprits slashed the tires on "24 to 26 large buses and 15 to 17 smaller ones," apparently with an ice pick. School bus tires cost about $200, which means someone's on the hook for a lot of damage. A note from the district's superintendent says about 7,000 of Barrington's 9,200 K-12 students take a school bus... more ›

What a hilarious week to be a Missed Connection. Just when we think things are starting to grow tamer on Craigslist, we're struck with a Desperate Housewives-style fantasy about Juan the door-repair guy. Behold (the parts we don't feel dirty repeating): I know we've only met a couple of times briefly but I just have to be honest. ... On the bed, on the couch, in the shower, on the floor ... I just can't... more ›

Breaking news: No Doomsday! (...until January maybe.) Blago offered $27 million grant to keep the CTA and Pace functioning at their current levels, and even though transit officials had said they wouldn't accept short-term solutions, CBS2 is reporting that Mayor Daley did. More as it happens. Also, what's that story about a little boy crying some animal? Coyote? Dingo? The boy who cried...panther? It's on the tip of our tongue... UPDATE Looks like we... more ›

It's T-minus four days until "Doomsday I," and the storm clouds are gathering. Mayor Daley held a press conference at a bus stop yesterday, announcing that "This is do-or-die time." State legislators aren't in session right now, and won't be until Friday — gaaaah! cutting it close, guys! — but Mike Madigan thinks he can get his bill calling for a tax increase to fund transit through the House and the Senate. Madigan needs... more ›

Sure, we're all anxious and upset about the supposed cuts to the CTA service. However, there is one bus route we wouldn't mind see being cut. "We're a team that gets off the bus running the football,'' Bears coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday. ''I have it memorized, and that's what we are, period.'' Has he been watching the same offense we we've been watching this year? The only thing separating this team from a 1-6... more ›

Mercy, CTA. Uncle. Whatever you want. We give up. You're eliminating every bus we ever take, charging us more for every packed, smelly ride, and now, you're stealing our identities, too. CTA customer service rep Miranda Smith was arrested last week and charged with official misconduct, one count of aggravated identity theft, and three counts of identity theft. (Aggravated identity theft means the victim is over 60 or disabled, or that the crime occurred "in... more ›

Did you get an e-mail from the CTA a little while ago? Some customers did with a severe weather warning. Dear CTA Customer, This email is to alert you that there is currently severe weather, including heavy rain and high winds, forecasted to reach Chicago during the afternoon and evening rush-hour period today, October 18. It is possible that this severe weather could impact CTA bus and train service. Please take this into account... more ›

We’ve had the CTA’s multiple doomsday plans hammered into our heads for months now. The implications are staggering for work and for play. But what about school? Those who attend Steinmetz High School on the Northwest Side are a good example of how Springfield’s lack of funding could have a deeper impact on our social fabric. more ›

While we're pre-mourning the loss of basically all forms of public transit near our apartment if the CTA "doomsday" plan goes into effect in January, we never stopped to think about the true victim in this situation: Missed Connections. With fewer buses running, trains will inevitably be more crowded, eliminating the chance to make eyes with that guy with the Timbuk2 bag and iPod during your morning commute. The humanity! more ›

Busy day in these parts, what with the CTA planning on cutting every bus we take to get anywhere. High fives for reader Keven Hisson for sending us these really funny punked CTA posters. (More after the jump.) But on to the extras: Police still don't have a suspect in Ronald Heard, Jr.'s murder. Heard, the son, godson and nephew of police officers, was shot and killed outside a White Castle on the South... more ›

Ron Huberman et al handed down the proposed 2008 CTA budget, and it ain't pretty. At all. more ›