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Chicago Receives Federal Grants for BRT Service

July 9, 2010 – By Kevin Zolkiewicz

Chicago is set to receive two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, following grants totaling $35.6 million awarded by the Federal Transit Administration this week.

One of the two BRT projects, known as the East-West Corridor of the Chicago Central Area Transitway, will be built by the Chicago Department of Transportation. The East-West Corridor would serve several CTA “L” stops, Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Streeterville, and Navy Pier.

Two miles of designated bus-priority lanes would be built along Canal and Washington for northbound routes and Madison and Clinton for southbound routes. Seven CTA bus routes, including routes 14, 20, 56, 60, 124, 157, and 125, would use all or most of the proposed alignment.

The plan also calls for signal priority for buses at key intersections, branded bus shelters, electronic “next bus” signage powered by Bus Tracker, sidewalk improvements, bicycle lanes, and a new transportation center just south of Union Station.

The second BRT grant, awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority, would resurrect previously-scrapped plans for BRT service along the Jeffery corridor. While specifics for the Jeffery Corridor BRT service have not been announced, previous plans called for dedicated bus lanes between 57th and 83rd Streets along Jeffery Boulevard.

Download Map of 2008 Jeffery Corridor BRT Plans (PDF)

In 2008, CTA was set to receive $135 million from the federal government that would have funded BRT pilot projects along the 79th, Chicago, Halsted, and Jeffery corridors. The funds were forfeited after the Chicago City Council missed a deadline to raise downtown parking garage rates in an effort to encourage transit use, one of the conditions of the funding agreement.

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Six Flxible Metros Return to Service

July 4, 2010 – By Kevin Zolkiewicz

Due to an apparent fleet shortage, the CTA has chosen to reactivate six 6000-series Flxible Metro buses. The following buses are now active at 103rd Garage as of July 2nd:

• 6042
• 6221
• 6223
• 6224
• 6227
• 6237

The 6000-series was removed from service and stored at the now defunct Archer Garage following service cuts in February. The buses remained in storage in the event of a labor agreement to restore cut service.

It is uncertain how long the reactivated buses will remain in service. A total of 203 Flxible Metros remain in storage.

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