The Chicago Transit Board at its monthly meeting has passed an ordinance which provides permanent extended weekend service to the Loop on the Brown Line. In doing so, the CTA concluded an experimental service pilot program that brought Brown Line trains to the Loop on Sundays and holidays for the first time since 1952.
On weekends, the Brown Line's hours of operation from Kimball to the Loop will now match those of the Orange Line, with trains running on Saturdays from 5:20 a.m. until midnight, and on Sundays from approximately 7:25 a.m. until midnight.
Chicago Transit Board Chairman Valerie B. Jarrett said, "This is a move that makes sense. Since beginning this enhanced service schedule last July we have not only met, but exceeded, our ridership projections. Our ridership continues to increase and we are responding by making changes that better match our service to the growing needs of our customers."
The CTA reports that as of September 2000, ridership at Brown Line stations has increased since last year at this time: on Saturdays by 7 percent from 18,125 to 19,484, and on Sundays by a whopping 67 percent, from 6,238 to 10,771.
CTA President Frank Kruesi says the ridership increase can be summed up in two words ? customer satisfaction. ?The comfort of having additional travel options, coupled with easier ways to make connections to other 'L' lines, has led to a higher level of customer satisfaction and increased ridership. Thanks to a rediscovery of transit, more customers now see public transit as an easier, low-cost and more convenient travel option not just for commuting, but for other trips as well."
The agency expects that extended weekend service on the Brown Line will have a direct impact on customers who live in the Lake View, Old Town and River North communities, as well as those needing to make trips to Illinois Masonic Hospital, De Paul University, Moody Bible Institute and other points of interest.
For travel information, CTA customers may call 836-7000 from any area code or visit the CTA's website at www.transitchicago.com, for station-specific Brown Line rail schedules.