On Monday, March 28th we will be introducing a few schedule changes in an effort to adapt and optimize routes as construction for the new transportation center continues.
Route 0E - Transfer Center Express
The express route connecting the downtown transfer center with the transfer point at Junction Circle is crucial for linking passengers to and from the west side routes, so it’s absolutely vital that the route is able to stay on time to ensure transfers. Though its lack of intermediate stops allows it to manage a higher average speed than most other routes, there are other factors that can affect its on-time performance:
The actual path it takes through the city (vehicle traffic, stopping for passing trains, timing of traffic lights, etc.)
How long it takes passengers to get on or off the bus
2-minute holds at either transfer point
Beginning March 28th, we will make the following changes in an attempt to mitigate these issues:
New outbound and inbound paths that tests have shown to be quicker
Increasing service frequency from every 30-minutes to every 15-minutes on weekdays to spread out passenger load, and thus decrease load/unload times
2-minute holds no longer apply to this route on weekdays
Route 7 - West Washington / White Oaks Mall
This route services the most riders per day but also has trouble making it downtown on time. After analyzing stop-level data we’ve identified a cut in Route 7’s inbound path that could save drivers several minutes and get them downtown quicker by only slightly decreasing frequency of service on a small portion of the route. Currently, when the 7 leaves White Oaks Mall it takes Wabash to W. White Oaks, to Iles, to Koke Mill, to Jacksonville Road onto Monroe, then to Durkin Drive. With this change, the 7 will take Iles to Veterans Parkway straight to Monroe. If you currently catch the 7 on Koke Mill at a northbound bus stop, you will need to board the bus before the mall at a southbound stop. This may add extra time to trips for some, but will make transfers more reliable for all.
Route 8 - South Grand / MacArthur
Due to lack of ridership, service in the Jerome area will be replaced with a path that services Wabash Avenue, creating a direct route from that stretch to/from downtown, while also establishing more opportunities to transfer between the 8 and the 13, 15, and 16. This new path reduces the route by over a half mile so some time checks will be moved up as well.
All Downtown Transfer Center Routes
We will be begin using a new configuration at the downtown transfer center on the 28th to optimize how each route enters and exits the lot. Unfortunately, this is something we will need to do periodically over the next few years to accommodate construction along the 10th Street rail corridor.
Here are the stops each route will be using:
Bus Stop B - 1, 2, 5, 7, 12, 901, 902, 903, 905
Bus Stop C - 4, 8, 9, 10
Bus Stop D - 0E, 3, 11, UA routes
Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming weeks.
