IL HJR0029

Calls upon the Chicago Transit Authority to relaunch the 31st Street bus route running from Cicero Avenue to the Lake Front for 3 years to serve Little Village, McKinley Park, Armour Square, Bridgeport, Cicero, South Loop, and Bronzeville neighborhoods.

Identifies a 3.25-mile gap in east-west bus service between Cermak Avenue (22nd Street) and 47th Street, leaving approximately 300,000 residents without adequate public transportation access.

Notes the CTA cut the 31st Street bus route in 1997 due to low ridership, but population in the area has grown significantly to 201,047 people within a half-mile of the proposed route.

Highlights new and existing anchor institutions in the area (Little Village High School, U.S. Cellular Field, McCormick Place, Soldier Field, Field Museum, Aquarium) that would support ridership.

References that the Regional Transportation Authority received $1,067,659 in federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) funds in 2009 to operate the bus route for 3 years but has not yet matched this with local funding.