Even with the addition of 3.5 miles of permanent bus-only lanes, Chicago trails other cities in miles of dedicated bus lanes.
According to John Greenfield, writing for Streetsblog Chicago, a 3.5 mile stretch of “pop-up” dedicated bus lanes on Chicago Avenue between Ashland and Laramie will be made permanent. The red bus-only lanes will be in effect 24 hours a day, unlike other bus lanes elsewhere on Chicago Avenue.
In a statement, CTA president Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said, “The temporary, pop-up essential bus lanes were a useful tool we implemented during the pandemic that have since proven to be vital in ensuring that buses traveling the #66 bus can pass through what has long been a bottle-neck and major source of delays along the route.”
Other safety improvements coming to Chicago Avenue include sidewalk extensions and bollards and speed humps to force slower left turns at dangerous intersections.
Chicago lags far behind other major cities when it comes to dedicated bus lanes, with only 11 miles across the whole city. For comparison, Los Angeles has 107 miles of dedicated lanes, while New York City, which recently began using traffic cameras to crack down on bus lane blocking violations, has 138 miles.
FULL STORY: “Pop-up” bus lanes on Chicago Ave. are now permanent, other upgrades planned citywide
Chicago Announces First Five ‘Better Streets for Buses’ Corridors
The CTA will develop a series of options for improving bus service on key transit corridors.
RTA Calls for Bus Lanes on Chicago Bridge Project
The regional authority is asking the city to add dedicated bus lanes to a bridge over the Chicago River that serves a high number of bus commuters.
A Look at San Antonio’s Upcoming Rapid Bus Line
A new bus line will bring some of the benefits of bus rapid transit, connecting the city’s airport and downtown.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research