Chicago to Launch CTA Bus Service on the Loop Link

The Loop Link will use dedicated lanes to move people through downtown, improving reliability and speed for six bus routes in the area and extending benefits to neighborhoods throughout the city where these routes originate.
The Loop Link will use dedicated lanes to move people through downtown, improving reliability and speed for six bus routes in the area and extending benefits to neighborhoods throughout the city where these routes originate.

Do you know what the Loop Link is?

According to the City of Chicago, it a fast, easy and reliable option for getting around Chicago’s congested downtown. It reportedly will more efficiently connect people to jobs, businesses and attractions. Similar to “L” trains, the Loop Link will move people quickly using dedicated bus lanes while making limited stops at train-like stations along the way.

On Monday, the city announced that the new service will be available to citizens on Dec. 20.

The trick to the Loop Link is that it will use dedicated lanes on Washington, Madison, Clinton and Canalstreets to move people through downtown, improving reliability and speed for six bus routes in the area and extending benefits to neighborhoods throughout the city where these routes originate.

“The Loop Link will deliver fast, safe, and reliable access for all Chicagoans to the vast array of economic and cultural opportunities that are available in the heart of the city,” Mayor Emanuel said. "Whether you live on the South Side, the West Side or the North Side, the Loop Link is part of the city’s efforts to widen access to jobs and educational opportunities for all of Chicago’s residents." 

Here are more facts the CTA issued about the Loop Link: · Nearly 30,000 people per day will stay on schedule with buses that avoid traffic and subsequent bus build-up using dedicated lanes and traffic signal upgrades that provide buses an early green light.

· Riders will get on and off stations that make it easy for everyone to safely board, including seniors and people using wheelchairs or pushing strollers.

· Riders will stay comfortable and dry at longer, covered stations equipped with Bus Tracker displays and other amenities.

· The Loop Link will improve CTA bus service on six routes by eliminating bottlenecks on the most congested portion of the routes and speeding their passage through downtown. Improving service reliability downtown is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the portions of these routes outside downtown, benefiting neighborhoods throughout the City. The six routes are the J14, 20, 56, 60 124 and 157. A seventh route, the 19, provides service to and from the United Center for Bulls and Blackhawks home games. 

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Loop Link riders will stay comfortable and dry at longer, covered stations equipped with Bus Tracker displays and other amenities.

City officials have also said that CTA buses on the Loop Link serve a number of Chicago neighborhoods, including South Shore, Little Village, Austin and Logan Square to name a few, and the service provides critical links to Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, CTA subways and Navy Pier.

CDOT, the CTA and Loop Link stakeholders are launching an outreach and education campaign ahead of the December 20th launch to familiarize transit riders, bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians with the features of the Loop Link. 

“The Loop Link will provide quicker and more reliable bus service to CTA customers,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This project will improve their transit experience and may attract new customers who want an affordable, convenient way to get across the Loop.”

For cars and other motor vehicles, the Loop Link includes 20 new left turn and right turn arrows at key intersections designed to improve traffic flow. These dedicated turn signals will increase turning capacity and reduce conflicts with people walking and biking.

Cars will be prohibited from driving in the red, CTA bus only lanes. Motorists will have a protected right turn arrow and bicyclists will have a dedicated bicycle signal, eliminating conflicts between right turning cars and either bicyclists or pedestrians. 

City officials are also advising bicyclists to pay close attention to the pavement markings and safety signage on the new green bike lanes. Bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians who are crossing the bike lane.

Likewise, pedestrians are urged not to walk or stand in the green bike lanes and to obey signals when crossing at intersections. At 19 crosswalks, the crossing distance has been shortened to make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross. 

For more information on the Loop Link, go to www.transitchicago.com/looplink

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