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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The South Halsted Corridor from 79th Street in Chicago to south suburban Harvey is one of the area’s busiest bus corridors, with CTA and PACE serving 11,500 rides a day.
How to best serve those commuters will be the focus of a meeting Thursday at the Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.
Far South Side public transit commuters will get the chance to share their take on the South Halsted Bus Corridor Project at the 5-8 p.m. meeting hosted by PACE and the CTA.
The two agencies will share the results of a study created to evaluate transit needs on the Far South Side. It’s meant to complement the planned Red Line expansion from 95th Street to 130th Street. The study covered 11 miles of South Halsted Street, from the PACE Harvey Transportation Center to 79th Street.
With the help of a Council Advisory Group — made up of local community leaders — CTA and Pace set out to address service gaps during off peak hours, extended travel times and transit connectivity.
The proposed plan includes creating dedicated bus lanes out of existing parking and driving lanes, station improvements and limited stop service.
The South Halsted Corridor may also serve as a potential route for Pulse, a new rapid transit service offered that promises wifi-equipped vehicles and easily accessible stations with weather protection.
Funding for the study was provided by Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency’s United Works Program, Cook County’s “Invest in Cook” program and operating funds from Pace and CTA. The agencies are looking into federal funding for construction once it’s underway.
Thursday’s public meeting will be held in an “open house” format, with PACE and CTA giving information about the purpose and goals of the project, the environmental review process, proposed bus routes and connections and potential transit infrastructure improvements.
There will also be a pre-recorded audiovisual presentation, and opportunities to review project exhibits and speak with project team members on a one-on-one basis.
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