CTA to Extend Pilot of New Bus Service on 31st Street Through March 2018

The Chicago Transit Authority has announced it will continue a pilot of new bus service on 31st Street for another six months, following healthy demand for the service from customers.

The Chicago Transit Board approved the extension of the pilot service on 31st Street between Ashland Orange Line and 33rd/King Drive from September 2017 through March 2018, which will provide CTA with more time to promote the service and allow the agency the ability to evaluate ridership over a longer period to time while continuing to collect feedback from the customers and residents of the communities along the route.

The #31 pilot is among a series of improvements that have been implemented by Mayor Emanuel and CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. to improve CTA bus service systemwide. Other service enhancements include the expansion of bus service on the South Side, the restoration of express service on Ashland and Western avenues, launch of Loop Link, and new pilots that allow customers to prepay bus fares before boarding to increase bus service reliability. 

Buses operate on 31st Street Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every 30 minutes between the Ashland Orange Line station and the Lake Meadows Shopping Center at 33rd Place and King Drive. The route offers transit connections to schools, shopping centers and entertainment, including Guaranteed Rate Field. The route also provides connections to the Orange, Red and Green lines and several north-south bus routes.

The 31st Street pilot follows the expansion of CTA service on the #35 31st/35th route in 2013, when CTA extended the route and added weekend service to the 31st Street beach during the summer months.

At the end of the #31 pilot in March 2018, CTA will determine whether to conclude the pilot, extend it or make the service permanent.