CTA's Loop Link Bus Service Gets First Weekday Test
The city says Chicago's new Loop Link project is doing what it was intended to: speed traffic through downtown, reports WBBM's Regine Schlesinger.
The Loop Link along Washington, Madison, Canal and Clinton is aimed at shaving an average of seven-and-a-half minutes of the time of six bus routes. It provides dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes along with large canopy bus stations.
CTA president Dorval Carter says the Loop Link helped move the buses more quickly through the Loop this morning.
"The buses are moving faster and are moving through much more smoothly than they would have if we were going through the same traffic everyone else is going through," Carter said.
Some critics say it comes at the expense of drivers who have just two lanes along Washington and Madison. To that, Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld says, "along the Washington and Madison corridors, half of the people moving in vehicles are on buses. Buses provide a critical backbone for moving people around the city and especially around the Loop."
Jervon was waiting for a bus at Washington and LaSalle. He's reserving judgement.
"Nothing in ever in Chicago goes as they plan so I hope it does, but we'll have to wait and see," he said.
The project costs $41 million, most of which is being paid for by the federal government.