06/07/00
The CTA Board Wednesday approved the extension of service on two fully accessible bus routes to an industrial plant near the Ford City Shopping Center on the Southwest Side, and on a third route that connects the downtown area with museums along the lakefront.
The changes on the #54B South Cicero, #79 79th and #10 Museum of Science and Industry routes, are among several service enhancements being implemented by CTA this summer to meet growing customer needs.
Starting Sunday, June 25, certain buses on the #54B South Cicero and #79 79th routes will begin operating east through the Ford City complex to the Sweetheart Cup Company at 7575 S. Kostner. The plant is almost a half mile east of the regular terminal near Cicero that is served by both routes, and is near other businesses that are expected to benefit from the service extension.
More than 1,100 people are employed at the plant, which has four shift changes seven days a week. The company is building a turn-around at the site for the buses, which will serve the plant a half hour before and continuing through each shift change. At other times, buses will use the existing terminal at the mall.
"Delivering quality, affordable transit services that link people, jobs and communities is our mission at CTA," said CTA Chairman Valerie B. Jarrett. "We?re happy to make it easier for employees to reach their jobs more directly on our buses."
Buses on the #10 Museum of Science and Industry route provide direct service from North Michigan Avenue and State Street downtown to the museum on the lakefront at 57th, operating daily during the summer and on weekends year-round.
Starting Sunday June 25th, #10 buses will start their trips on Chestnut just west of Lake Shore, go north on Lake Shore to Walton, and make their first stop on Michigan at Delaware, instead of at Chicago Avenue, adding two stops north of the Water Tower that are convenient to a dozen area hotels.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday, September 4, #10 buses will operate every 20 minutes on weekends, and every 30 minutes on weekdays. The first bus will stop on Michigan at Delaware southbound at about 9 a.m. The last bus will leave the Museum of Science and Industry northbound at 6:10 p.m.
Other CTA improvements planned within the next several weeks include keeping 13 currently part-time 'L'-subway stations and station entrances open all hours trains are in service; running #6 Jeffery Express buses earlier each morning and later from downtown every night; operating Brown Line trains to the Loop until midnight on weekends, and extending service to the 63rd Street and North Avenue beaches daily during the summer swimming season.
?The CTA is constantly working to strengthen its service by developing innovative ways to serve new markets," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. "The changes we?re making on the #10, #54B, #79 79th and other routes are aimed at attracting new customers and making our service more convenient for everyone."
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