Why dedicated bus lanes on DuSable Lake Shore Drive matter beyond express routes

The useful part

Dedicated bus lanes on DuSable Lake Shore Drive matter more than you think. John Greenfield This post is sponsored by the Active Transportation Alliance. It's written by an anonymous CTA bus operator, whose opinions reflected are solely theirs and do not reflect the opinions of their employer.

How it works

• I'm definitely supportive of re-imaging the Drive, but I think even activists are underestimating how transformative prioritizing buses on DLSD would be.
• How to read a Run Paddle Even routes you wouldn't expect to see on DuSable Lake Shore Drive make appearances.
• At least 13 other routes do similarly, mostly long north-south routes like the 9 Ashland or 22 Clark.¹ Of course, the Lake Shore Express routes also run deadheads in the reverse peak direction as well.
• Last June, we ran another article by this transit worker, "CTA needs a better approach to Bus Control." If you've spent any time around North Side transit advocates recently, you've probably gotten an...
• A functional network does not survive on in-service routes alone.

What to take from it

For example, the Kedzie Garage runs shortlined 151 Sheridan morning rush buses that enter service at Belmont Avenue, rather than their usual terminal way up at Arthur Avenue and Clark Street in Rogers Park. It would reduce time, and therefore costs, for buses heading back to the garage, allowing the CTA to either add more service or reduce operating costs. Run K612 does pulls out at 5:55AM, does a 125 Water Tower Express run, goes north via DLSD to do a 143 Stockton/Michigan Express run heading south, then goes back north on Lake Shore to start a 151 southbound run before pulling into the garage.

Example or evidence

• Weekday boardings across them are comparable with all Red Line stations in the State street subway (~28K bus boardings versus ~31K subway boardings).
• In order for CTA to deliver rush hour service, it needs to be able to run more buses in the peak direction than the reverse-peak direction.
• For example, the 147 Outer DuSable Lake shore Drive Express runs to the Loop approximately every five minutes during morning rush, but only every 20 minutes out of the Loop.
• (See schedule below.) There are two primary ways the CTA manages this challenge.

Details worth keeping

Drive express routes are a very important component of CTA service. Obviously, buses carrying passengers are very important. In both cases, these positioning moves are also subject to DuSable Lake Shore Drive traffic.

Related coverage

• Streetsblog: This post is sponsored by Keating Law Offices.
• Streetsblog: This post is sponsored by Ride Illinois.
• Streetsblog: This post is sponsored by Keating Law Offices.
• Streetsblog: This post is sponsored by Find The Right Bike.