CTA and Pace have announced revisions to planned changes in bus service in Evanston that address concerns raised by residents and school and city officials.
Instead of having one morning and one afternoon direct run to Evanston Township High School from southeast Evanston as proposed in April, the new plan announced Wednesday calls for six morning and six afteroon runs on school days.
The new draft proposal still needs the approval of the Pace and CTA boards.
With the additional proposed service options on Pace Roue 213 and CTA Route 206, the majority of service provided by CTA Route 205, which is scheduled for elimination, would be replaced by the proposed restructuring of the transit network in the area.
The April proposal to re-align Pace Route 208 would remain unchanged. The agencies say the proposed new alignment would strengthen the grid network of bus routes in the area by consolidating transit service into a single corridor between Grant and Church Streets. Also, this proposed alignment offers alternative service options for riders along Grant Street.
As part of the proposed service plan, the Golf Road corridor would have longer weekday hours and weekend service with the proposed Pace Route 208. Additionally, the Chicago Avenue corridor would have longer weekday hours and Saturday service with the proposed Pace Route 213.
A larger version of the map is available here.
Related stories
Alderman: ‘Very good outcome’ from bus meeting (5/24/18)
Planned bus cuts draw protest (4/27/18)
CTA, Pace set hearing on route changes (4/9/18)
‘Don’t cut ETHS service’ panel tells Pace, CTA (3/29/18)
Bus route changes proposed (3/27/18)
A convoluted proposal to a simple problem
The Pace proposal is confusing and not sufficient. Below is my proposal.
If the #208-Golf Road bus began at Howard Terminal and continued to the Skokie Courthouse and the #213-Green Bay Road bus follows its current route beginning at Davis Station the following benefit could also be accomplished:
1: Direct access to ETHS from the Howard Terminal and the Chicago Avenue corridor 7 days a week including evenings.
2: Handicapped access service along Chicago Avenue on Sundays.
3: Continued midday service to the Skokie Court House. (The Skokie Courthouse is expanding cases with the closer of the courthouse at Belmont and Western.)
PACE & CTA route change quiz
Q: Will the #206 & #213 special school trips departing to/from ETHS follow the same route?
A: Yes
Q: Will the #206 special trips to/from ETHS follow any portion to the regular #206 route?
A: No.
Q: Why are these identical routings given different route numbers?
A: I do not know.
Q: Which trips indicate by a single asterisk operate on school days only?
A: No trips have a single asterisk.
Q: Since no bus service in midday will enter the Skokie Courthouse, will the #422 begin entering this complex?
A: PACE still unable to make a decision.
To be continued.
PACE & CTA student fares.
Q: What is the PACE student fare on a #213 special trip to ETHS?
A: $1.00
Q: What is the CTA student fare on a #206 special trip to ETHS?
A: $.75.
Q: Why the difference?
A: Not sufficient space to explain the policy differences regarding student fare pricing.