CHICAGO — Express bus routes will start running during rush hour on Western and Ashland avenues in December.
On Wednesday, the CTA's board approved the bus routes that will pick up passengers roughly every half mile starting on Dec. 21.
The buses will cover the entire routes of the regular No. 9 and No. 49 buses, stopping at "L" stations and bus transfer points.
December's launch will be the first of three phases for the express bus routes along the two major streets.
In later phases, the express buses will be able to signal to traffic lights to either make green lights longer or red lights shorter.
By spring 2016, the No. X9 Ashland Express will have that capability from Cermak to 95th Street, the agency said.
By the end of 2016, the No. X49 Western Express bus will have that capability stretching from Howard Street to 79th Street.
The agency plans to set up the entire traffic signal system for the X9 by the end of 2017, stretch north to Irving Park Road.
In the same meeting, CTA's board also reinstated the previously axed No. 11 and No. 31 routes.
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