Ashland Avenue Chosen for 'Rail-Like' Bus Route

By 2016, commuters will have a faster connection through one of the city’s main arteries. Ashland Avenue will be the recipient of bus rapid transit, or BRT, the Chicago Transit Authority announced Friday.

The project would give “super express” buses their own lane, creating an almost rail-like experience, officials said. Riders can get on and off at every half-mile and at CTA stations 24 hours a day.

CTA officials said BRT would increase speeds by more than 80 percent during rush hour and save 8 minutes every 2.5 miles.

The 16-mile route would begin at 95th Street and end at Irving Park Road, running directly through areas including Lincoln Park, Lake View, Bucktown and Wicker Park, and slightly southeast of Lincoln Square. 

Designs will continue for the rest of 2013, with the initial phase of the project running from Cortland Avenue to 31st Street. Officials estimate completion by 2016.

Read previous: CTA Bus Rapid Transit to Cruise Through North Side Neighborhoods

The Ashland route has the highest ridership on the CTA and connects to seven “L” stations, 2 Metra stations and 47 other bus routes.

“One in four households within walking distance of Ashland Avenue currently do not have a car,” said Metropolitan Planning Council Executive Vice President Peter Skosey in a news release. “By implementing BRT, a community that is not served well by the rail system will have better access to jobs and connectivity to the overall transit system.”

Another reason is the width of the street—70 feet from curb to curb—can accommodate bus-only lanes with a minimal effect on traffic or pedestrians, experts said.

At a $10 million per mile cost, the project is funded by grants supported by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

BRT won’t affect the regular No. 9 Ashland bus route, but some drivers are balking at losing nearly 50 percent of the street’s lane space.

"This is going to be a disaster,'' regular Ashland drive Jack Farioli told the Chicago Tribune. "The only way I could see this working is if they eliminate parking on Ashland and take away any median."

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