Express Buses Coming to I-55

By Prescott Carlson in News on Apr 16, 2009 7:00PM

The suburban bus arm of the Regional Transportation Authority, Pace, is expected to announce Thursday a plan to add express buses along I-55, traveling from the southwest suburbs all the way to downtown. With plans to begin no later than early 2010, the buses will depart from Bolingbrook and utilize the left shoulder along I-55 to bypass traffic jams (note to self: if car stalls on the Stevenson, pull over to the right). The new bus service will essentially mimic the rail service that goes down the middle of the Kennedy and Eisenhower Expressways, but obviously at a fraction of the cost compared to a brand new rail line. The RTA is looking at adding similar service in the future along the Kennedy. Turns out the CTA was planning on speeding up the city buses as well by starting a test of bus-only lanes along four routes, but those plans were tabled after Chicago lost $153 million in federal transportation funds -- how Daley managed to let a big money grab through his fingers, we still don't know. [Trib]