The Chicago Transit Board Tuesday approved the permanent extension of weekend service on X21 Cermak Express buses to North Riverside Mall and on #21 Cermak local buses. Also approved was the express operation of all #145 Wilson/Michigan and #146 Marine/Michigan buses between Belmont and Delaware. The changes make permanent the experimental service modifications that were implemented last August.
The changes on Cermak allow customers to make weekend trips to North Riverside Mall, at Cermak and Harlem, without having to transfer between buses at the 54th Avenue terminal. X21 Cermak Express buses operate east from the mall from about 7:40 a.m. until 7:40 p.m., and west from King Drive starting at 8 a.m. Saturdays and 7:45 a.m. on Sundays. After X21 Cermak Express service ends on Saturday nights, #21 Cermak local buses provide service to the mall until 10:30 p.m.
#145 Wilson/Michigan and #146 Marine/Michigan buses, which run express on Lake Shore Drive between Belmont and Delaware during the day on weekdays, will continue in express service during all hours of operation. #145 buses formerly made local stops on Sundays along Sheridan, Stockton and inner Lake Shore Drive from Belmont to Oak. #146 buses made the same stops evenings and all day on Sundays.
?The response from our customers has been extremely positive," said CTA Chairman Valerie B. Jarrett. ?As a result of the enhanced weekend service, we?re carrying an average of 246 additional customers a day on the X21 and #21 routes, and 260 more riders on the #145, #146 and #151 Sheridan routes. The added ridership tells us we?re moving in the right direction."
?We will continue to listen to our customers and find ways to better match our service to meet their growing needs," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. ?In doing so, we will not only increase customer satisfaction, but also generate new riders for the CTA."
For bus schedules, contact the CTA's Customer Service department at 1-888-YOUR-CTA, call the Transit Information hotline at 836-7000 (all local area codes), or log on to the agency's website at www.transitchicago.com.
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