CTA announces name for Jeffery Boulevard BRT route

By On September 18, 2012 · 14 Comments

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Photo of the new bus livery (paint scheme) courtesy of Chicago Transit Authority. 

It’s the Jeffery Jump.

The Chicago Transit Authority describes the name for the Jeffery Boulevard bus rapid transit service in a press release issued this morning. Jeffery Jump replaces the 14-Jeffery Express route. The press release is quoted in part:

The Jump service is branded to communicate the way this service allows commuters to “jump” ahead of traffic and get a “jump start” on their morning and evening commutes  Jeffery Jump buses uses will be visually distinguishable from other CTA buses—wrapped in bright blue with the Jump logo.

The previously announced service will operate from 103rd Street on the south side to Metra’s Ogilvie and Union Stations downtown, saving an estimated five to seven minutes off of morning and evening commutes. The new service is scheduled to begin in November 2012. Road work to prepare Jeffery Boulevard for Jump service has already begun.

Two stations, located at 71st and Jeffery and 100th and Paxton, will have unique sidewalk and crosswalk designs and a large canopy for protection from the weather. Curb bump-outs will limit the need for buses to merge in and out of traffic in order for customers to board.

Bus rapid transit partners in Chicago have simultaneously launched a new website, BRT Chicago. There are three routes in the works: Jeffery Jump, Central Loop BRT, and Western-Ashland Corridor BRT.

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  • AdamHerstein

    Seems appropriately named, since they jumped the gun on BRT.

    • http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

      I’m not sure if your comment is a critique on the setup of this BRT, or just a mild joke.

      • Jennifer

        Yes.

      • AdamHerstein

        Both. The Jeffery Blvd bus service should never have been called BRT in the first place if all the CTA is doing is adding a rush hour bus lane. If that’s the case, then the #22 is also BRT, since it also has a rush hour bus only lane. I appreciate that the CTA is looking into true BRT at Ashland, Western, and the Loop, but they shouldn’t be calling Jeffery BRT when it’s not even close.

        • http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

          The Jeffery Jump has many features of BRT. It has unique branding, transit signal priority, and nicer bus stops. BRT is a spectrum of features.

          • AdamHerstein

            Correct, but shaving seven minutes off of a 71 minute trip can hardly be considered “rapid”. Even Mr. Claypool himself admitted this was not true BRT. Still, it’s nice to see the CTA making an effort for BRT. Hopefully, Jeffery Blvd will be a success, and true BRT can be implemented in the Loop and Ashland or Western. Hopefully it will make those streets a bit skinnier and more pleasant for bikes. Right now, I avoid Western and Ashland like the plague – they are practically highways.

          • http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

            It’s not only travel time savings for people who ride the entire length. That travel time savings will be realized for anyone who rides the transformed segments of the route (which doesn’t even make up half the route length). Additionally, travel time reliability will be improved. That means, you can be sure your trip will have the same duration (in the rush period) day after day.

          • AdamHerstein

            Makes sense. Jump is certainly an improvement over traditional bus service, I just wouldn’t call it BRT quite yet.

  • jared.kachelmeyer

    5-7 minutes off the whole route? Doesn’t seem like much. How long does the whole route take now?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1136058783 Eloise Mason

    I don’t know why they keep calling it ‘BRT’ — what this really is, is an improvement on the existing concept of express bus routes (the 14X, etc). Signal priority and having dedicated lanes is a great addition to express busses — which will only stop every 1/2mi or so — and therefore will definitely ‘jump’ long-distance commuters past local service.

    But ‘Rapid Transit’ is a totally different thing than express busses (which are, in themselves, wonderful things to have, of course). Truth in advertising, please, instead of just grabbing ‘BRT’ as a new buzzword that all ‘with it’ and ‘happening’ transit agencies have to use.

    • http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

      We’re going to start calling it “Jeffery Jump” from now on.

    • John Greenfield

      Actually, CTA planners, and Forest Claypool himself, acknowledge that the Jump is not true BRT, but a step in the right direction.

  • John Greenfield

    Can’t wait for the launch party soundtrack:
    “Jump Around” by House of Pain
    “Jump” by the Pointer Sisters
    “Jump, Jive and Wail” by Louis Prima
    “Jump” by Kris Kross
    “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones
    “Jump in the Fire” by Metallica
    “Jump Back” by Rufus Thomas
    “Jump” by Van Halen