03/06/00
The CTA Board Monday approved the establishment of an experimental bus service between the 69th/Dan Ryan Red Line 'L' station and a United Parcel Service facility in southwest suburban Hodgkins. The new service, which will target reverse commuters, is the first direct business service to be offered by CTA, although the CTA's #10 Museum of Science & Industry buses offer a similar type of service for museum visitors.
UPS will subsidize the cost of the six-month trial operation of the new route, which will start on Monday, March 27.
Buses on the new #169 69th to United Parcel Service route will be timed to serve shift changes at the UPS Hodgkins facility Monday through Friday. Buses are expected to leave the 69th/Dan Ryan station at 2:26 a.m., 8:18 a.m., 3:55 p.m. and 8:58 p.m. Regular CTA fares will be charged on the buses, which will make limited stops between the 69th/Dan Ryan station and Hodgkins.
"The partnership we have established with UPS will help the CTA carry out its mission to deliver quality, affordable transit services that link people, jobs and communities," said CTA Chairman Valerie B. Jarrett. "This is a win-win situation for everyone, with working people from Englewood, Hamilton Park, Gresham, and other South Side neighborhoods getting affordable, direct service to their jobs at UPS."
#169 buses leaving the 69th/Dan Ryan station will operate west on 69th to Halsted, south to 79th, and west to Archer. From there they will travel southwest to Willow Springs Road and north to the UPS facility. Stops will be made only on Halsted at 79th, and on 79th at Ashland, Western and Pulaski, where customers can connect with other bus lines.
Employers recognize the value of transit as an effective way to bring large numbers of employees to work," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. "Part of our strategy in rebuilding the CTA has been to develop innovative ways to serve markets that aren?t served by our traditional routes, and this new service fits right into that strategy."
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