ROSELAND — South Side CTA commuters will soon benefit from more bus and train service and shorter wait times, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Thursday.
He, along with CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Deputy Mayor and Chief Neighborhood Development Officer Andrea Zopp, Ald. Toni Foulkes (16th), Ald. Michelle Harris (8th), Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) and Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) shared the news from the 95th Red Line Station.
Emanuel said that both South and far South Side residents have been asking for enhancements to bus routes and rail lines and called the changes long overdue.
Changes include "enhanced service" to four bus routes and the two southern branches of the Green Line, which will "provide faster, more convenient and more frequent service for customers," the Mayor's Office said.
The additional bus service will start this summer and be fully operational by fall, Emanuel said.
Bus routes affected are:
• The 95th Street bus, which will combine separate east and west segments to create a continuous route.
• The No. 4 Cottage Grove bus, which will extend service south from 95th Street to 115th Street.
• The No. 71 71st Street bus, which will extend all trips from 73rd to 112th and Torrence, and see increased frequency.
• The No. 26 South Shore Express, which will add earlier and later service.
• The No. 34 Michigan and No. 119 Michigan/119th bus routes, which will add increased frequency during midday and evening hours.
• The Cottage Grove and Ashland/63rd branches of the Green Line will have increased frequency during the a.m. and p.m. rush hours.
The complete new schedules haven't been determined yet, but the total project will cost $5.7 million annually to run, officials said.
“With this expansion, the CTA is continuing the important work of connecting more residents to jobs and economic opportunities,” Emanuel said.
“These changes will benefit tens of thousands of bus and rail riders each day,” said Carter. “Our goal is to provide additional service, as well as more frequent and more convenient trips for riders on Chicago’s South and Far South Sides.”
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