Bus Service

But will the initiative get shelved like Ashland BRT, or watered down like Loop Link due to pushback from drivers and merchants, plus bureaucratic inertia?

Faster buses, more affordable housing and useful retail near stations, fare capping and other strategies could prevent ridership from falling further.

The North Shore Coordination Plan could be a mixed bag.

With limited hours and a relatively high ridership goal, the Lincoln Avenue bus pilot never met its target and will be canceled next month.

Active Trans has hit the ground running by getting input from almost 2,000 local straphangers about their biggest beefs with current CTA bus operations, and the group will be using this feedback to push for positive change.

For all his warts, Mayor Emanuel has a strong record on improving public transportation, including initiatives like the South Red Line reconstruction, the Loop Link bus rapid transit corridor, the Your New Blue rehab, and several completed and in-progress station construction projects. Today’s announcement that several South Side bus and rail lines will have more frequent service and/or extended routes also appears to be a step in the right direction.