A comparison of the Red Line times between stations with the proposed Ashland BRT. Total travel time for the BRT is estimated to be 61.5 minutes. For the Red Line, 43.5 minutes for the trip from Irving Park Rd to 95th St. Credit: CTA
WBEZ reports a $50 million bus rapid transit service will serve Ashland from Cortland Ave south for a distance of about 5.3 miles.
The Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Department of Transportation are studying options of extending the line as far north as Irving Park Road the story says.
The CTA said Ashland route 9 has the highest ridership of any bus route in the city with 31,000 boardings each weekday. Ashland connects to seven ‘L’ stations, two Metra stations and 37 bus routes, CTA says. It connects to the Medical District.
The proposal includes illustrations of a center bus line with stops each half mile. Left turns would be eliminated on Ashland at some intersections, allowing the bus line to move faster.
One lane would be open in each direction for traffic. Parking would also be included.
The radio station story noted local business owners were concerned with truck deliveries that would be limited to a single lane, and the loss of the left turn.
CTA says the average speed of the bus would be about 16 MPH. Red Line speed averages 21 MPH, the transit agency says.
The CTA plan would eventually stretch south to 95th Street and north to Irving Park Road, the agency indicated.
CTA concept illustration for Ashland & Chicago Ave. Credit CTA
My two-cents: I would consider taking the Ashland if it went up to Lawrence. It stops a mile too short for me.