Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Board awarded a $1.7 million lighting contract to Specialty Manufacturing Inc. LED lighting will replace existing fluorescent and LED interior lights in the more than 1,000 buses that are being overhauled.

The reconstruction will speed up round-trips between 95th Street and downtown and provide South Side customers with a smoother ride and fewer service interruptions through better reliability and on-time performance.

Was launched in 2011 to provide estimated train arrival times for all 145 rail stations across CTA’s eight lines. Estimated times are generated through a combination of scheduling information and data generated by software that monitors the signal system to indicate when a portion of track is occupied by a train.

Release in preparation for upcoming project that will completely rebuild the tracks and improve stations over a 10-mile stretch.

Delivery of the 40-foot vehicles is expected to begin in early 2014. As part of Chicago Transit Authority's bus modernization plan, the new LFS Smart Bus will replace older models of Nova LFS the agency has had in service for 14 years.

Designed to accommodate customers making rail-to-rail connections, as well as bus-to-rail connections.

The announcement is based on a year-long assessment of various BRT alternatives along Ashland and Western avenues. Through the results of this analysis, CTA and CDOT will prioritize BRT for Ashland Avenue to meet the needs of bus riders in this corridor.

Will enable Green Line tracks and stations to accommodate additional trains during the Red Line South reconstruction — a $425 million initiative that will completely rebuild the Red Line between Cermak/Chinatown and 95th Street over a five-month period beginning May 19.

Issued RFI bid to solicit responses from companies to determine the feasibility of implementing a modern cellular infrastructure system in the 11.4 miles of CTA’s Red and Blue line tunnels and underground facilities.

Also approves an intergovernmental agreement with City Colleges of Chicago for the transfer of two CTA buses to be used at Olive Harvey College for new transportation-related courses offered by its “College to Careers” initiative.