INFOGRAPHIC BOARD #1 Why Build Bus Rapid Transit on Western and Ashland? Enhancing these corridors with Bus Rapid Transit can benefit many people. 1 in 4 Chicagoans live within walking distance (˝ mile) of the Western or Ashland corridors. FOOTNOTE #1 – Sources: CDM Smith Purpose and Need Statement for the Western & Ashland Corridors Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, August 2012; U.S. Census 2010. For purposes of analyzing demographic characteristics, the project study area was defined as Census tracts within a quarter mile of the Western and Ashland Avenue Corridors (bounded by Howard and 95th Streets to the north and south) as well as all tracts between the two Avenues. This area has a population of 677,306, or 25% of Chicago’s total population of 2,719,879. Census Block data from the 2010 shows that the population within a half-mile of Western and Ashland Avenues (the area bounded by the Howard and 95th Streets, and by California and Racine Avenues on the East) is 616,058, or 23% of Chicago’s total population of 2,719,879. Ashland and Western have the 2nd & 3rd highest annual CTA bus ridership. Ashland #9 bus had 10 million boardings in 2011. Western #49 bus had 9 million boardings in 2011. FOOTNOTE #2 – Source: Annual Ridership Report: Calendar Year 2011, Chicago Transit Authority, 2012. Ridership data for #49 Western bus route does not include #49A or #49B. The #79 was the bus with the highest annual CTA bus ridership in 2011, with 10.4 million boardings. These corridors are well-suited for Bus Rapid Transit. On Western, buses make up less than 1% of vehicle traffic during the morning rush hour, but carry 18% of the people travelling. FOOTNOTE #3 – Source: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012. Traffic counts are for the intersections at Jackson. Person counts assume average of 1.3 people per car. On Western, the percentage of people travelling that are bus riders is 18% during the morning peak; 12% during the evening peak, and 15% daily. On Ashland, the percentage of people travelling that are bus riders are 14% during the morning peak; 13% during the evening peak, and 14% daily. On Ashland, buses make up less than 1% of the vehicle traffic daily, but carry 14% of the people travelling. FOOTNOTE #4 – Refer to Footnote #3. Western and Ashland are wide enough to construct Bus Rapid Transit: 70 feet curb-to-curb. Constructing Bus Rapid Transit will make a more complete street that works better for all users. FOOTNOTE #5 – Source: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012. There is some variability in street width along the corridor, but both Ashland and Western Avenues are approximately 70 feet curb-to-curb in most sections. Bus Rapid Transit can greatly improve the transit experience along these corridors. Riding Bus Rapid Transit would save the average commuter 50-65 hours per year, compared to current buses. This adds up to $650-$850 for each bus commuter each year or $25-$32 million annually for the corridors’ bus commuters combined. FOOTNOTE #9 – Sources: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012; Annual Ridership Report: Calendar Year 2011, Chicago Transit Authority, 2012. Ranges represent projections for the different alternatives presented. Calculations utilize average trip lengths (2.5 miles for Ashland, 2.9 miles for Western); current bus speeds (8.7 MPH for Ashland, 10.1 for Western); projected speeds for BRT (13.5 – 15.9 MPH for Ashland, 15.6 – 18.4 MPH for Western, depending on alternative) average hourly wage for the area ($12.98 per hour); assumes average commuter makes 500 trips per year. A trip between Fullerton and 79th: * On the Red Line is 33 minutes * On the current Western #49 bus is 72 minutes * On the current Ashland #9 bus is 83 minutes * On Western Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 40 minutes * On Ashland Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 46 minutes FOOTNOTE #10 - Same as Footnote #8. Ashland trips: Ashland at 95th to Illinois Medical District with Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 48 minutes. The same trip using current transit is 70 minutes. Ashland at Fullerton to Midway with Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 49 minutes. The same trip using current transit is 64 minutes. FOOTNOTE #6 – Sources: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012; Google Maps and Directions. Trip times include estimated walk times as appropriate for some segments. “Current transit” includes bus, rail, or both, as appropriate to the current fastest transit option. Western trips: Western at Addison to Illinois Medical District with Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 25 minutes. The same trip using current transit is 43 minutes. Western at 63rd to O’Hare with Bus Rapid Transit is projected to be 76 minutes. The same trip using current transit is 99 minutes. FOOTNOTE #7 – Refer to Footnote #6 Graphic shows a map comparing speeds and travel times for the proposed Western Bus Rapid Transit, proposed Ashland Bus Rapid Transit, and the Red Line. The average speed for the Red Line is 21 miles per hour. The average speed for proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Western is 18 miles per hour. The average speed for proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Ashland is 16 miles per hour. On the Red Line, trip times are as follows: * From Berwyn to Lawrence, 2.0 minutes * From Lawrence to Sheridan, 4.5 minutes * From Sheridan to Addison, 2.5 minutes * From Addison to Fullerton, 4.0 minutes * From Fullerton to North/Clybourn, 2.5 minutes * From North/Clybourn to Clark/Division, 2.5 minutes * From Clark/Division to Chicago Ave., 2.5 minutes * From Chicago Ave. to Roosevelt, 7.0 minutes * From Roosevelt to Sox-35th , 6.0 minutes * From Sox-35th to 47th , 3.0 minutes * From 47th to Garfield, 2.5 minutes * From Garfield to 63rd , 2.0 minutes * From 63rd to 79th , 5.0 minutes * From 79th to 87th , 2.0 minutes * From 87th to 95th/ Dan Ryan, 2.0 minutes On proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Western, trip times are as follows: * From Berwyn to Lawrence, 2.0 minutes * From Lawrence to Irving Park, 3.5 minutes * From Irving Park to Addison, 1.5 minutes * From Addison to Fullerton, 5.0 minutes * From Fullerton to North Avenue, 3.5 minutes * From North Avenue to Division, 1.5 minutes * From Division to Chicago Ave., 1.5 minutes * From Chicago Ave. to Roosevelt, 6.5 minutes * From Roosevelt to 35th , 8.0 minutes * From 35th to 47th , 5.0 minutes * From 47th to Garfield, 3.5 minutes * From Garfield to 63rd , 3.5 minutes * From 63rd to 79th , 6.5 minutes On proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Ashland, trip times are as follows: * From Irving Park to Addison, 2.0 minutes * From Addison to Fullerton, 5.5 minutes * From Fullerton to North Ave., 4.0 minutes * From North Ave. to Division, 2.0 minutes * From Division to Chicago Ave., 2.0 minutes * From Chicago Ave. to Roosevelt, 7.5 minutes * From Roosevelt to 35th , 9.5 minutes * From 35th to 47th , 5.5 minutes * From 47th to Garfield, 4.0 minutes * From Garfield to 63rd , 4.0 minutes * From 63rd to 79th , 7.5 minutes * From 79th to 87th , 4.0 minutes * From 87th to 95th , 4.0 minutes FOOTNOTE #8 – Sources: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012; GoRoo trip times; CTA scheduling information. Red Line times reflect 2010 speeds, before slow zones along the Dan Ryan worsened, and therefore more accurately reflect the Red Line speeds after the upcoming construction on the south Red Line to eliminate those slow zones. The Red Line times reflect the fastest times during a day; rush hour and midday can often be longer due to dwell times. INFOGRAPHIC BOARD #2 How Will Bus Rapid Transit Benefit My Community? Emissions per passenger mile is smaller for buses than for cars. Per passenger mile, a bus emits .46 lbs. of CO2 Equivalent, and a car emits .85 lbs. of CO2 Equivalent. Every time someone decides to take a CTA bus instead of a car, we reduce pollution and climate-changing emissions. FOOTNOTE #1 – Source: Paying for Public Transportation: the Optimal, the Actual, and the Possible, Justin David Antos, Masters Thesis for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 2007. Chapter 3: “Measuring the Energy and Air Emissions Benefits of Transit.” Bus Rapid Transit is faster than regular buses. For proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Western the average speed ranges between 15.6 and 18.4 miles per hour, depending on the design alternative chosen. The current bus on Western has an average speed of 10.1 miles per hour. For proposed Bus Rapid Transit on Ashland the average speed ranges between 13.5 and 15.9 miles per hour, depending on the design alternative chosen. The current bus on Ashland has an average speed of 8.7 miles per hour. The average speed for the ‘L’ train (on the Red Line) is 19-21 miles per hour, depending on the extent of slow zones. FOOTNOTE #2: Source: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012. Bus Rapid Transit can increase the appeal, capacity and economic competitiveness of a corridor. More people will be able to conveniently reach businesses and jobs along the corridor with Bus Rapid Transit. Some trips that used to take 30 minutes will take 15 minutes. Customers with an approximate 2-mile trip can reach a local business along the corridor by transit in 15 minutes currently. With proposed Bus Rapid transit, this distance would expand to approximately 4 miles but still be a 15-minute transit ride. FOOTNOTE #3 - Sources: CDM Smith Western and Ashland BRT Alternatives Analysis, 2012; Google Maps and Directions. Examples of 4 mile trips that are currently 30 minutes that could be 15 minutes with BRT speeds: Western & Roosevelt to Western & Fullerton; Western & Roosevelt to Western & 47th St. The street space needed for 30 people in cars is much greater than the street space needed for 30 people on a bus. Streets that have high-quality transit make room for more people to travel with less congestion. Bus Rapid Transit can be built quickly and affordably. FOOTNOTE #4 – Source: GAO-12-811, “Bus Rapid Transit Projects Improve Transit Service and Can Contribute to Economic Development: Report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate,” U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 2012. Safety: In New York City, Bus Rapid Transit improvements made the streetscape more pedestrian-friendly, and traffic injuries dropped by 21%. FOOTNOTE #5 – Source: “Select Bus Service M15 on First and Second Avenues: Progress Report,” New York City Department of Transportation and MTA New York City Transit. Select Bus Service on 1st/2nd Avenues in Manhattan included a number of pedestrian-oriented streetscape treatments, and approximately a year later they found there had been a 21% reduction in traffic injuries in sections where full treatments were used. Bus Rapid Transit Attracts Investment. $4-5 billion is being invested along Cleveland’s Bus Rapid Transit route — for revitalizing or adding new housing, retail, and expanding institutions like universities, museums, and hospitals. FOOTNOTE #6: Refer to Footnote #4.