The City of Chicago announced that the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) are launching Pop-Up Essential Bus Lanes as part of a pilot on two of the City’s highest ridership routes, Chicago Avenue (#66) and 79th Street (#79). These temporary, dedicated lanes will prioritize bus service for essential workers and other transit riders by converting travel lanes in both directions to 24-hour dedicated bus lanes. These lanes can help to reduce bus delays and bus bunching, which may lead to crowding and longer bus trips, both of which are counter to the City’s and CTA’s efforts to promote social distancing.  

The first phase of the City’s Pop-Up Essential Bus Lanes will convert 7.6 lane miles to dedicated bus lanes, providing nearly 20,000 transit riders with more reliable bus service each day. The temporary CTA bus lanes will be installed on three miles of 79th Street, from Cicero to Western, and for 4.6 miles on Chicago Avenue, from Laramie to Ashland. CTA and CDOT identified 79th Street and Chicago Avenue routes for the initial program rollout due to their high ridership and capacity to convert one of its two travel lanes to a bus-only lane. The bus lanes will be demarcated with temporary striping and signage. Under the pilot project, right turns will be permitted at all intersections and current curbside access will be maintained. Parking, loading zones and driveways will not be affected.