Infographic portrays transformative power of Bus Rapid Transit

CHICAGO, IL – Chicagoans who are fed up with buses stuck in traffic, causing slow and unreliable transit service, should attend upcoming meetings and sign a petition calling for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to come to Western and Ashland Avenues. Transit riders can add their names to those of the 1,300 of their fellow Chicagoans who have signed the Riders for Better Transit petition at http://tinyurl.com/BRT2012.

Fast, reliable transit service is a critical need for communities along the Western and Ashland corridor; 3 in 10 workers who live in the area take transit to work. By reinventing the bus and rethinking our streets, BRT can bring dramatic improvements to public transit. For example, in Cleveland, Ohio, BRT has improved transit speeds by 34% and increased ridership by 60%.
(Infographic: Rethinking Our Streets: Transit on Western and Ashland (JPG). Available in various print and web formats as needed.)

“Bus Rapid Transit presents an incredible opportunity to strengthen our neighborhoods by moving people faster and more conveniently than most people imagine riding a bus can be,” says Ron Burke, Executive Director of the Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans), which organizes the Riders for Better Transit initiative.

The CTA will pilot elements of BRT with its new Jeffery Jump service starting this fall, but transit riders and advocates are asking to take the concept further on Western and Ashland Avenues, where the city is currently considering a 21-mile BRT corridor. The plan could create a world-class BRT system with bus-only lanes, new transit stations and high-tech traffic signals.

CTA and CDOT will host their second round of public meetings about BRT on Western and Ashland on Oct. 16, 17 and 18, where people can provide feedback on several design proposals for bus-only lanes. Meeting details can be found at http://www.transitchicago.com/westernashlandbrt/.
Active Trans strongly encourages transit riders to attend and offer comments supporting bus-only lanes. Two important lessons from successful BRT systems in other cities to keep in mind include:

• Bus-only lanes in the center of the street provide better transit than curbside lanes. Placing bus lanes in the center of the street helps to reduce conflicts with existing local bus routes, cars parking and turning, and other vehicles that may end up obstructing a lane near the curb. It significantly reduces the chances that the bus lane will be blocked and therefore makes everyone’s transit trip both faster and more reliable.
• Wide sidewalks and on-street parking should be maintained. The new bus lanes could be created by taking a combination of car travel lanes, parking lanes, and/or sidewalk and median space. Rather than narrowing sidewalks or removing parking, Active Trans supports reprioritizing how we use the existing traffic lanes. Placing bus lanes in current car travel lanes preserves quality public space on our sidewalks that growing business districts can use for sidewalk seating. Replacing parking lanes with bus lanes would create six lanes of fast-moving traffic where there’s now only four. This will feel significantly less comfortable for people walking, especially if cars or buses are speeding by right against the sidewalk. On-street parking not only provides access to local businesses, but also provides a barrier between pedestrians and traffic that can make a street feel safer. Active Trans believes replacing car lanes will have a minimal impact on car travel speeds, and considering Chicago’s notorious congestion problem, it is essential that we provide better public transit options.

Riders for Better Transit ( www.ridersforbettertransit.org) is an initiative of the  Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans). Active Trans is a non-profit advocacy organization supported by more than 7,000 members that works to improve conditions for biking, walking and transit in the Chicago region.

The Active Transportation Alliance was honored for best practices by the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association for its recently published Complete Streets, Complete Networks transportation design manual.

The manual was developed for the Cook County Department of Public Health’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work program, which focused on improving health and active transportation options in suburban Cook County communities. Active Trans staff wrote and designed the manual to fill a gap in previous street design manuals by focusing on good policies, good design, a transparent process and complete networks where people get around safely, whether they are walking, biking, taking public transportation or driving.

“People want policies that improve transportation choices and they want better designed roads, streets, trails and transit systems,” said Paul Lippens, senior planner at the Active Transportation Alliance. “The Complete Streets, Complete Networks manual provides the guidance and checklists needed to help communities meet these needs.”

To develop the manual, Active Trans worked extensively with the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, Cook County Highway Department, Cook County Bureau of Community Development, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Pace, councils of government and many suburban Cook County communities to ensure the manual works well for many different types of agencies and their needs.

“Des Plaines has created transportation policy and planning goals so our citizens can walk and bike easily and safely,” said Derek Peebles, a civil engineer for the City of Des Plaines. “This manual is a comprehensive, one-stop reference guide for our staff to use in advancing our transportation goals.”

The Complete Streets, Complete Networks design manual is not location specific. It is a collection of best practices from around the world organized in a way useful to most metropolitan areas, smaller cities and suburbs in the U.S.

The  Complete Streets, Complete Networks design manual can be used by anyone in the planning and design of roadways, and can be downloaded for free in editable formats at ATPolicy.org

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety, and advocates for a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff.

For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

CTA incorporates feedback, suggestions into plans

Public feedback received at a series of recent community meetings is helping shape and improve the CTA’s plans for the Red Line South reconstruction project in 2013.

Feedback from CTA riders and community residents has been incorporated into plans for several elements of the project, from service levels to community outreach.  Since announcing the Red Line South project in early June, the CTA has held three large-scale public hearings along with numerous smaller community meetings in neighborhoods throughout the project area.  CTA has also worked closely with elected officials to solicit community feedback and better understand concerns.

“The Red Line South is an investment in our future that will revitalize communities and create jobs,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “It is crucial that the voices of South Side residents are heard throughout this process and I’m encouraged by the incredible turnout we have seen thus far.”

“These meetings have provided a productive forum for everyone who will be impacted by the work to ask questions, share their concerns and offer suggestions,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.  “We very much appreciate the ideas and thoughts we’ve received.  We’ve listened closely, and we’re using all the feedback we’ve received to refine our plans to make sure the project proceeds as smoothly as possible.”

Among the areas where CTA will be developing or expanding plans based on feedback:

1.    Shuttle bus service – CTA has added a shuttle bus between Roosevelt and Cermak/Chinatown to better facilitate travel between those stations

2.    Expanded bus service – CTA plans to further augment plans for additional bus service along some major bus routes, such as the #24 Wentworth, #9 Ashland, #44 Wallace/Racine, #3 King Drive and #4 Cottage Grove.  Additionally, some operating hours will be lengthened.

3.    Changes to bus routes–#8A will extend to the Halsted Green Line station and #71 71^st South Shore will extend to Garfield Green Line station, providing more convenient connections

4.    Safety/security – CTA is developing a comprehensive public safety plan for rail and bus service during the reconstruction period, working closely the Chicago Police Department and Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

5.    Supervision – CTA will implement 24-hour supervision of the free bus shuttles, resulting in smoother service and better assistance to customers

6.    Traffic management – to help ensure smooth traffic flow, CTA will work to develop a strong traffic-management plan for both vehicles and pedestrians.

7.    Community outreach – CTA is expanding its community outreach plan to provide project information to businesses, chambers of commerce, and others groups and organizations.  Information will be tailored to specific areas.

“As we said when we first announced the Red Line South reconstruction, we understand the impact this project will have on Red Line riders and the communities the line serves,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson.  “We pledged then to do everything we can to minimize the impact during this historic construction project.  We remain committed to that, and appreciate all the helpful suggestions we’ve received so far.”

Community meetings will continue throughout the remainder of 2012, providing the opportunity for additional feedback and suggestions about the project.

Beginning in May 2013, the Red Line South project will completely rebuild the 10 miles of the line from just north of Cermak-Chinatown to 95^th Street.  The project will provide a brand-new railroad—offering faster commutes, a smoother ride and more reliable service.

To complete the project in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest cost, the south Red Line will completely close for five months.  During the closure, CTA is planning extensive alternative service, including free shuttle buses from closed stations south of 63^rd Street, Red Line trains using Green Line tracks, and significantly expanded bus service on existing bus routes.

For more information, visit the CTA website at www.transitchicago.com/redsouth.

Agency Seeking Applicants for Part-Time Bus Operator Positions

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will host the second of three job fairs, intended to assist individuals interested in career opportunities as part-time bus operators (PTBOs) related to the 2013 Red Line South track renewal project, on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. The event will be held at the National Teachers Academy, 55 W. Cermak Road, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  The first job fair, held last month, attracted nearly 2,400 jobseekers.

CTA expects to hire as many as 400 part-time bus operators during the project, which begins in May 2013; once hired, these bus operators will have permanent positions at CTA and will remain a part of the CTA workforce when the track renewal project ends in fall 2013.

The purpose of the community job fairs, all of which are being held on Chicago’s South Side, is to seek applicants for PTBOs whose work will involve driving shuttle buses and operating buses that are part of CTA’s expanded supplemental service during the Red Line South project. 

“We are pleased to host another CTA job fair following the extraordinary turnout at our first event in July,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson.  “The response to this hiring initiative has been encouraging and we look forward to successful applicants joining the CTA family of employees.  They will be indispensible as we serve our customers during the Red Line South project.”

The fairs also provide information about the skills and training needed to become a bus operator, including the need for a Class “B” Commercial Driver’s License and about the CTA’s hiring process in general.

The final job fair will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2012, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Kennedy-King College, 6301 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois. 

For more information, visit the CTA website at www.transitchicago.com/redsouth, email at redlinesouth@transitchicago.com or send correspondence to Red Line South Project, CTA, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL, 60661.

Traveling Bus Rapid Transit exhibit educates and engages transit riders

CHICAGO, IL – Riders for Better Transit (www.ridersforbettertransit.org) this week launched a grassroots campaign urging Chicago officials to follow through on plans for a world-class Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that includes bus-only lanes and state-of-the-art transit facilities on Western or Ashland. Chicagoans are invited to participate online ( http://tinyurl.com/BRT2012) where they can urge their alderman to support these transit improvements.

The campaign follows a traveling BRT exhibit hosted this week by Riders for Better Transit, Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago Architecture Foundation, educating transit riders at six CTA bus and train stops about the city’s plans for BRT and engaging them in voicing their support.

“Bus Rapid Transit operates more like the El than a typical CTA bus, providing faster and more reliable service,” said Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “BRT on Western and Ashland would provide a much faster trip and provide a convenient connection to the CTA’s Orange, Blue and Green Lines.” 

BRT is an exciting new mode of public transportation that reinvents the bus, offering a better transit experience with the speed, reliability and convenience of a train. While regular buses average nine miles per hour, BRT’s limited stops and dedicated lanes with signal priority allow vehicles to travel faster while largely avoiding street congestion. BRT stations also function like train stations, with riders paying before they board–reducing time spent at each stop. Cities around the world are creating high-quality BRT systems to improve mobility. For example, the Emerald Express BRT in Eugene, Ore., reduced trip times by 30 percent.

Chicago is currently conducting a BRT planning study for the Western/Ashland corridor, building upon existing implementation for BRT routes along Jeffery Avenue on the Southside and in Chicago’s Central Business District. BRT in Chicago could improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, by providing better access to jobs and services, reducing traffic congestion, and making our streets more attractive and safer. But the Western/Ashland project is still in the early planning phase, and Chicago officials have not yet signed off on improvements that would give priority to transit and pedestrians in the corridor.

“Chicagoans deserve faster and more reliable bus service, but it won’t happen without the backing of aldermen and city officials,” says Burke. “We need to tell them we want BRT with bus-only lanes and state-of-the-art transit facilities.”

Transit riders can take action online in support of Bus Rapid Transit at http://www.tinyurl.com/BRT2012.

Riders for Better Transit
Riders for Better Transit (www.ridersforbettertransit.org ) is a project of the  Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans). Active Trans is a non-profit advocacy organization supported by more than 7,000 members that works to improve conditions for biking, walking and transit in the Chicago region.

Sign up before July 29 and save $3 on registration for the Four-Star Bike Tour, Chicago’s longest running bike ride. This thrilling summer biking event takes place on Sunday, August 26.

Four-Star Bike Tour offers four new great routes, a scavenger hunt with prizes (12-mile route only). After your ride, there’s a post-ride festival where you can pick up lunch and refreshing Goose Island beer.

Sign up for the 12-mile route and join a scavenger hunt on the ride! Compete in the scavenger hunt as an individual or put together a team. Complete the activities, challenges and trivia questions to win prizes (how about a new bike?) Scavenger hunters are encouraged to break out their Chicago-related costumes. We expect to see hot dogs, Blues Brothers, gangsters, characters from a John Hughes film and Chicago Bears, among others. Prizes will be given for the best costume and best team costume. Groups of 10 or more adults pay $25 each (a $5 savings).

Not sure about riding on streets with traffic? Participants of the 12-mile Chicago Ramble can also sign up for Safe City Cycling, an education opportunity that will teach participants to ride more confidently and safely on city streets. Participants learn from a traffic safety expert and ride the route in a small group.

Participants choose their fully-supported route:

• Chicago Ramble & Scavenger Hunt (12-miles) (Safe City Cycling option extra)
• Boulevard Jaunt (22-miles)
• Chicago & Beyond (35-miles)
• Ultimate Neighborhood Ride (62-miles)

Mechanical support is offered, volunteers to point the way, rest stops and water stops to ensure you enjoy your ride with us.

When you sign up for the Four-Star Bike Tour, you’ll be glad to know that your registration fee supports the Active Transportation Alliance’s efforts to make cycling, walking and public transportation easier and safer in Chicagoland.

Event registration includes a ride T-shirt, rest stop access and entry into the post-ride festival with live entertainment, food and beer.

For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.fourstarbiketour.org/.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff.

For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

The Active Transportation Alliance, Metropolitan Planning Council and Chicago Architecture Foundation are partnering to bring a traveling exhibit about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to six CTA bus and train stops Aug. 7 to 9. BRT is an exciting new mode of public transportation that reinvents the bus, offering a better transit experience with the reliability, efficiency and speed of a train. Chicago is currently conducting a BRT planning study for the Western/Ashland corridor, building upon existing implementation for BRT routes along Jeffery Avenue on the Southside and in Chicago’s Central Business District. BRT in Chicago will improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, by providing better access to jobs and services, reducing traffic congestion, and making our streets more attractive and safer.

Transit riders will have the opportunity to learn more about exciting plans to improve transit and get involved in support of BRT. The three-day traveling exhibit will end with an evening happy hour exhibit and celebration. The exhibit is a condensed version of the Bus Rapid Transit: Next Stop Chicago exhibit currently on display at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

More information about BRT in Chicago is available at http://www.brtchicago.com. Transit riders can take action online in support of Bus Rapid Transit at http://www.tinyurl.com/BRT2012.

When/Where

Tue., Aug. 7
4-6 p.m. Western bus stop at Addison (west side of street)
4-6 p.m. Ashland bus stop at 79th (west side of street)

Wed., Aug. 8
4-6 p.m.Western Orange Line CTA (outside station)
4-6 p.m. Ashland bus stop at 18th (east side of street)

Thur., Aug. 9
4-6 p.m. Western Brown Line CTA (outside station)
4-6 p.m. Division Blue Line CTA (outside station)
6:30-8 p.m. Bus Rapid Transit Happy Hour Exhibit at Bad Dog Tavern (4535 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago)

About Active Transportation Alliance

Riders for Better Transit is a project of the  Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans). Active Trans is a non-profit advocacy organization supported by more than 7,000 members that works to improve conditions for biking, walking and transit in the Chicago region.
Link: http://www.ridersforbettertransit.org

Metropolitan Planning Council

Since 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has been dedicated to shaping a more sustainable and prosperous greater Chicago region. As an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, MPC serves communities and residents by developing, promoting and implementing solutions for sound regional growth. Visit www.metroplanning.org to learn more.
Link: http://www.metroplanning.org/work/project/3

Chicago Architecture Foundation

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. The Chicago Architecture Foundation pursues this mission through architecture tours, exhibitions, panel discussions and youth and adult education programs.
Link: http://www.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=3145