The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced today a new, joint public outreach effort to help shape the proposed “Better Streets for Buses Plan,” which when complete, will be used to help lay the groundwork for ongoing bus surface infrastructure improvements on a citywide scale.

CTA President Dorval Carter celebrated the beginning of this important project, “We know that Chicago relies on buses and we are excited to work with our partners at CDOT to help make the public transit bus riding experience better. Buses reach across all of our neighborhoods and for many it is their primary mode of travel. We’re committed to investing in the bus network to improve access to opportunity and ensure all Chicagoans have good options to reach jobs, schools, medical care, parks—and their friends and family. When streets work better for buses, buses work better for people.”

The Better Streets for Buses (BSB) Plan will include a proposed network of streets throughout the city where improvements would be focused, and a “toolbox” of potential street treatment options for enhancing the public way to facilitate a better bus riding experience, such as enhanced bus stops, bus priority traffic signals, and bus lanes.

“Developing the ‘Better Streets for Buses Plan’ with our partners at CTA will help achieve key benchmarks within our city’s Strategic Plan for Transportation that sets forth a vision and specific steps towards achieving greater equity through increased mobility,” said CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi. “CTA buses are accessible, affordable, and available throughout the city and improving bus service is key to achieving transportation equity in Chicago.”

To gather input on the proposed street network and toolbox, CTA and CDOT have launched an interactive public website at betterstreetsforbuses.com, and are also providing other mechanisms for public comment, including by phone, text, and via paper comment cards distributed at key community locations.

To help lay the foundation for this proposed plan, the two agencies will also be hosting three upcoming virtual public meetings. Those interested attending one of these meetings can register through the project website. Each meeting session will offer the same information and feedback opportunities. The virtual public meetings will be held on:

· Wednesday, May 4th at 6 p.m.

· Thursday, May 12th at 7 p.m.

· Tuesday, May 17th at 12:30 p.m.

Those needing accessibility or language accommodations can note this in the registration form or call (312) 772-5496.

The project website features opportunities to put “pins” on interactive maps to indicate where you think a bus corridor should be prioritized, or where you experience issues with buses or use of the street. It also includes an option to take a brief survey, and an “ideas wall” about the types of street treatments that can be used. The website also provides more information about examples of bus priority projects, a short video about the effort, information on how to register for a virtual public meeting, CTA trivia and more.

The public comment period is open beginning today through May 31st, 2022. Comments and questions can also be submitted via email (betterstreetsforbuses@transitchicago.com) or by phone or text (312-772-5496).

The development of the Better Streets for Buses Plan is supported by a $300,000 Unified Work Plan grant administered by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Identifying funding for implementation of bus priority projects will be ongoing. In the past, these types of projects have been funded by a variety of local, state, and federal funds; CTA and CDOT will continue to seek funding from these sources. Learn more about bus priority projects that have already been implemented on Chicago streets, such as the Jeffery Jump, Loop Link, and the more recent Bus Priority Zones.

For more information, visit betterstreetsforbuses.com, email betterstreetsforbuses@transitchicago.com, or call/text (312) 772-5496)