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CTA plans Pulaski realignment, California extension and wider frequent‑network rollouts
Summary
The Chicago Transit Authority’s service planning team proposed a realignment extending the 53 Pulaski, truncating 53A, and routing the 93 California through Kedzie to close a two‑mile gap, plus multiple frequent‑network and late‑night span increases. The committee placed the two ordinances on the omnibus and the board approved them.
The Chicago Transit Authority presented a package of route changes aimed at improving connections on the West Side and closing gaps on the California corridor, then placed those changes on the board omnibus for approval.
CTA Chief Planning and Innovation Officer Molly Poppy told the Strategic Planning and Service Delivery Committee the key items were: extending the 53 Pulaski about 6.5 miles to lay over at Ford City Mall; truncating the 53A so the pair provide better Orange Line access; and routing the 93 (California/Dodge) through Kedzie and California to meet the Blue Line at Logan Square, closing roughly a two‑mile service gap between Kimball and Western. The 53 extension was presented as part of the frequent network (10 minutes or better) and estimated to add about 2,000 rides with an annual operating cost incorporated into the 2025 budget of roughly $3,600,000. The 93 extension, including added Sunday service, was estimated to add about 1,000 rides with an annual cost of about $2,200,000.
Why it matters: planners said the Pulaski change improves multimodal connections, creates a better layover for operators (allowing the 82 Kimball‑Homan to use improved terminal space), and responds to rider and institutional input — including a student survey from Daley College that identified transportation as a barrier to attendance. The California change aims to reduce transfers and improve access to Lane Tech and nearby neighborhoods.
Details and system context: Poppy and Elsa Gutierrez, CTA vice president of service planning and scheduling, framed the changes inside the agency’s frequent network expansion. They said the CTA launched eight frequent routes in spring 2025 and planned four more to begin Sunday the 15th (Madison, Cottage Grove, Cicero and Chicago Avenue). The frequent network was described in testimony as operating at 10‑minute or better service; presenters said the service increases would most noticeably improve midday, evening and weekend service. The package also included several non‑ordinance span and owl extensions: a 5‑mile evening extension of the No. 4 Cottage Grove, nighttime extensions for the 53 owl and 66 Chicago overnight service, and span extensions for routes 18, 147 and 157 to better serve late‑evening riders and hospital shift workers.
Board discussion and next steps: Directors praised outreach to community partners and unions. Director Ortiz and others urged staff to include projected fare revenue impacts in future briefings; staff said the operating cost figures presented were net of some truncations but did not include estimated additional fare revenue from new rides. Committee members asked the agency to emphasize the changes as service improvements when publicizing them.
Formal action: the committee moved to place the two ordinances (53/53A Pulaski realignment and 93 California extension) on the omnibus for board approval. The motion to place the ordinances on the omnibus was moved by Director Lee and seconded by Director Ortiz and passed on a roll‑call vote. The committee then moved and passed a motion to approve the omnibus for board approval (moved by Director Raquel, seconded by Director Lee). The items will be submitted to the full board as part of the omnibus package.
