Pulse Halsted Line

South Halsted Bus Corridor Enhancement Project

Pace Suburban Bus and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) are collaborating to improve public transportation along South Halsted Street. They’ve completed a study to evaluate transit needs and identify improvements to better service local communities while enhancing connections to the regional transit network. The project is now in the advanced conceptual design and federally-required environmental review phase following the procedures outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Halsted Line—Location

The project corridor consists of approximately 11 miles of South Halsted Street, from the Pace Harvey Transportation Center to 79th Street, and includes segments of 79th and 95th Streets that provide connections to the CTA Red Line 79th and 95th/Dan Ryan stations. The Project corridor will span from 79th Street in the City of Chicago to a southern terminus at the Pace Harvey Transportation Center near 154th Street in the City of Harvey, serving the communities of Harvey, Phoenix, Calumet Park, Riverdale, Dixmoor and the City of Chicago neighborhoods of West Pullman, Morgan Park, Roseland, Washington Heights, and Auburn Gresham.

What's New?

A planning study was initiated in early 2018 to evaluate the South Halsted corridor to identify potential bus improvements for the corridor’s 11,500 daily transit customers. Pace and CTA established a Corridor Advisory Group consisting of community leaders and agencies to get feedback and guidance on transit needs along South Halsted and potential infrastructure improvements to enhance bus service. A Corridor Evaluation, Recommendations, and Project Strategy Final Report was developed, which outlines roadway configuration alternatives, preliminary locations for enhanced stations, preliminary service and operating information, and project cost estimates. The next phase of the planning process, which includes refining design and conducting a review of environmental impacts as required by the federal government was initiated in October 2019.

Halsted Line—Project Process and Schedule

The South Halsted Bus Corridor Enhancement Project is led by Pace and CTA. A planning study was initiated in early 2018 to evaluate the project area and identify potential bus service improvements.  Pace and CTA established a Corridor Advisory Group (CAG) consisting of community leaders, elected officials, regional government entities, and transit agencies to help identify local concerns regarding transit access and mobility in the project area and provide guidance on solutions. With their help, a Corridor Evaluation, Recommendations, and Project Strategy Final Report was developed which outlines alternatives for infrastructure improvements, preliminary station locations, preliminary service and operating plans, proposed running way improvements, and project cost estimates. Pace and CTA will continue to meet with CAG members and communities at key milestones.

The project is following federal regulations to analyze potential environmental impacts. As part of the environmental review, Pace and CTA are seeking public input on the corridors' transit needs, service, running way and station enhancements. The team is also analyzing and document the project’s anticipated impact on air quality, ecological, archaeological, and historic resources as well as noise and vibration. Based on this, a refined final plan for bus enhancements will be developed.

Following the NEPA documentation, the project will enter the design phase where detailed designs will be developed for station locations and proposed running way improvements like dedicated bus lanes and queue jumps.

Stakeholder and public outreach is ongoing throughout the study process.

Current transit service in the project area is provided by CTA routes #108 and #8A and by Pace routes #348, #350, #352 and #359. Numerous other CTA and Pace bus routes overlap part of the corridor providing connecting services. The corridor also intersects with Metra’s Rock Island Line at the Gresham Station, Metra Electric Line at the West Pullman and Harvey Stations, and the CTA Red Line at the 79th and 95th/Dan Ryan Stations.

Halsted Line—Where are we now?

The environmental review process was initiated in October 2019. The project will follow federal regulations to analyze potential environmental impacts. As part of this process, Pace and CTA will seek public input on the corridor transit needs; service, running way and station enhancements; analyze and document the project’s anticipated impact on air quality, noise and vibration, as well as ecological, archaeological, and historic resources. Based on this, a refined final plan for bus enhancements will be developed. 

What will happen to my current bus service?

Proposed enhancements along South Halsted are intended to complement current bus services, not replace them. Current bus services in the project area include CTA routes #108 and #8A and Pace Routes 348, 350, 352 and 359. Possible improvements to your trip include faster and more reliable service provided by dedicated bus-only lanes, queue jumps, and traffic signal optimization and transit prioritization. In addition, updated passenger amenities and new and realigned bus stops will be provided to better serve the community.