CTA express buses aren't that much faster

At a recent CTA community meeting in South Shore, some riders complained their commute would be longer without these express buses. But how much time does an express bus save? "Going Public" compared the most recent weekday schedules for four express routes up for elimination to their non-express counterparts.

No. 3-King-Drive bus runs between 95th Street and King Drive and the Near North Side
» Express ridership for an average weekday: 2,679
» If both buses left for the North Side at 8:01 a.m. ...
From 95th Street and King Drive to Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue on No. X3: 44 minutes
From 95th Street and King Drive to Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue on No. 3: 50 minutes
Difference: -6 minutes

No. 20-Madison bus runs between the Oak Park area and the Loop area
» Express ridership for an average weekday: 2,877
» If both buses left for the Loop area at 8:50 a.m. ...
From Madison Street and Austin Boulevard to Madison Street and Pulaski Road on No. X20: 13 minutes
From Madison Street and Austin Boulevard to Madison Street and Pulaski Road on No. 20: 16 minutes
Difference: -3 minutes

No. 49-Western bus runs between the Southwest Side and Lincoln Square
» Express ridership for an average weekday: 17,328
» If both buses left for Ashburn about 6:05 a.m. ...
From Berwyn and Western Avenues to 79th Street and Western Avenue on No. X49: 1 hour, 9 minutes
From Berwyn and Western Avenues to 79th Street and Western Avenue on No. 49: 1 hour, 21 minutes
Difference: -12 minutes

No. 55-Garfield bus runs between Midway Airport and the Museum of Science and Industry
» Express ridership for an average weekday: 5,712
» If both buses left for the Museum of Science and Industry at 6:15 a.m. ...
From Midway to the museum on No. X55: 38 minutes
From Midway to the museum on No. 55: 45 minutes
Difference: -7 minutes

Here is rider feedback. Please post yours below.

Adriane Carr, 42, of Bronzeville wrote: "It is funny that someone has timed the No. 3 or the No. X3 King Drive bus at 50 minutes from 95th to Michigan. I have taken that bus or the No. 4 or No. X4 Cottage Grove bus all my life.

I still park at 29th and King Drive to get on the No. 3 and most times I get off at Washington and the ride is 20 minutes on a good day. I mostly take it on Saturdays to go to my dentist. So 50 minutes for the distance listed is difficult to believe."

Aaron Rodgers, 29, of West Town wrote: "The best thing about express buses is they seriously reduce clumping. I've lived along Ashland for years, and I frequently saw three buses rolling along together.

Four buses clumped was not unheard of. But since the No. X9 was introduced, I have never seen more than two on the same block and that's generally an express and a local.

Those, I assumed, would cease to clump within a mile or two. I personally think all buses should be express, but since that will never happen, they should keep the few express lines they have."

Ishea Brown, 25, of Oak Park wrote: "Having lived in the South Loop, the No. X3 and No. X4 are pretty much worthless. I actually found it a joke that they considered it to be an 'express' route because nothing was express about it.

As for the fare hikes, I wish they could put someone in charge that actually had experience and was able to manage the budget they had effectively... but that seems like wishing on a star, so I'll have no choice but to pay the increased rate.

I'm not going to 'go greener' and make my stilettos endure a bike ride or walk to work. I'll pass. It would be nice if they could take some of the budget and clean up the bums and smell of urine. I mean, if we're going to be paying more at least give us a few upgrades."

Carol Burns of Portage Park wrote: "The service cuts will affect my commute and others to work, due to the fact that the local Cicero bus does not continue to Jefferson Park, where we would transfer to the No. 68 bus to go to work.

If the CTA is going to cut the express buses, then they need to reroute the local service
to continue to Jefferson Park.  We should not be asked to pay increased fares for less or incomplete service.

We are trying to get to our jobs, it is important that we are provided good service on a daily basis."

Rob Russo of East Rogers Park wrote: "Having read your article 'Schedule reality,' in Tuesday's RedEye (11/10), I'm stunned.

For the CTA to think about eliminating X-press service is an absolutely ludicrous idea. I see that all the CTA test runs, for X-bus routes, were done first thing in the morning.

If the CTA  really wants to see the advantages riders get from using the X-press services, why don't they run the test at a realistic time. Board an X-49 Western Avenue bus, southbound at  Berwyn like I do, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

The X bus saves me half- to three-quarters of an hour, and that's just traveling to Diversey. En route we've passed two or three regular No. 49 Western Avenue buses, packed to doors with riders.

Many of us 'seasoned CTA riders' will walk to a major intersection, just to catch one of the X buses. I can see the CTA reducing X-bus operations to true rush hours only, say from  7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., then from 3:30 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.

It's not only the riders on the South Side who will suffer. Those riders who travel from the far North Side (X-49), and the far West Side (X-20) & (X-80) who will suffer also.

If the CTA really wants to save money, why don't they look at reducing the number of supervisors (white shirts)? Those people who sit in their SUVs at the bus turnarounds, supposedly checking schedules.

I can't tell you the number of times I've seen them just sitting there, snug and warm, reading the morning newspaper, drinking their coffee.

I understand that economic times are hard, so why does the CTA insist on balancing their budget on the backs of those of us in the working class, who are still lucky enough to have jobs, by making it harder to get to THOSE JOBS?

When do we, the the bus riding public, get a chance to vote on these issues? Give us a break. Reduce upper management pay, instead of increasing fares, and reduce bus hour services."