U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced this week that the CTA will receive $30 million in federal funding for the purchase of an undisclosed number of 60-foot hybrid articulated buses. Durbin’s office says that the buses will replace “a like amount” of 40-foot buses.
Based on cost estimates for hybrid articulated buses, the funding is expected to net approximately 30 buses. With CTA’s 40-foot Nova LFS buses nearing end-of-life, the purchase could allow CTA to begin retirement of that series.
Last year, CTA secured federal funding for the purchase of two electric buses. CTA is currently in the process of procuring those buses, with bids due on November 29, 2011.
Also announced was $2 million in funding for a study on the Lakefront Corridor to “determine the feasibility and appropriate level of investment for high capacity transit connections.” CTA will also receive $6 million in funding for a rehab of the Wilson Red Line station.
At public meetings last week, the CTA unveiled its initial plans for bus rapid transit (BRT) service along the Jeffery Boulevard corridor. Last year, the CTA, in coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation, received an $11 million federal grant to fund the project. The planned BRT would follow routing of the existing #14 Jeffery Express bus.
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The BRT service would follow the same frequency of the #14 route, with ½ mile station spacing. Dedicated lanes for rush hour use would be installed along Jeffery between 67th and 83rd street. The project would also make use of transit signal priority to provide an early or extended green light to facilitate moving of buses through intersections. Plans also call for a queue jump to be installed on northbound Jeffery at Anthony and potentially on northbound Lake Shore Drive at Marquette. The queue jump would allow buses to advance through an intersection ahead of general traffic with a unique traffic signal.
Each BRT station would be equipped with kiosks that include route and neighborhood maps. Northbound stations would feature standard bus shelters that would be upgraded to include Bus Tracker LED screens and other amenities such as bike racks. The project also calls for two showcase stations: a commercial showcase station at 71st/Jeffery and a residential showcase station at 100th/Paxton. The commercial showcase station would feature enhanced platform and crosswalk paving, along with a custom shelter canopy and a fare card vending machine. The residential showcase would build upon the standard BRT station design and include bumpouts for boarding and alighting, shortened pedestrian crosswalks, and enhanced platform and crosswalk paving.
The BRT service would use CTA’s existing 4000-series DE60LF articulated bus fleet, with 53 buses from 103rd Garage receiving BRT-related upgrades. The buses would feature a unique identity and on-board displays with real time information regarding connecting service at upcoming stops.
CTA will begin work on the final design phase for the Jeffery BRT service starting this summer, with additional public meetings early next year. Construction is scheduled to begin by Summer 2012 with service commencing in Fall 2012.
