West Side residents demand service be restored for CTA #16 Lake Street bus

Residents and business owners are demanding the city restore CTA bus service on Lake Street on the West Side.

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The CTA ended the lake Street #16 bus line, which serviced Lake Street from Austin to Fulton Market, in 1977, citing budget issues.

The bus provided service along the CTA Green Line from Clinton Street to Austin Boulevard, according to the self-dubbed as the Lake Street Transit and Safety Coalition.

Now residents want it back,

"There's no way for them to get downtown because there's the train; the elevators sometimes don't work or it smells so bad that they can't or for safety reasons," said Michelle Page, West Side senior residence manager.

Proponents of restoring the bus line say it would provide essential companion travel access along the CTA's Green Line L train. The closest east-west bus lines are blocks away on Madison or Grand.

Keith Hill, president of the CTA bus drivers' union, said with the closure of several Green Line L stations and nothing to link arterial streets to north-south rotes, there's now a transportation desert.

"In our community, the Black and brown, the service has been diminished, but they didn't cut none of these short stops in other communities," he said.

The group also pointed that other CTA rail lines that have nearby parallel buses to move between stations.

It's estimated that returning bus service to Lake Street could cost billions. In order for buses to return to Lake Street, the pillars that support the elevated tracks would have to be moved closer to the sidewalk so special buses can then navigate the street.

The group suggested it could be paid for with federal infrastructure money from the government. The Fulton Market Association supports the effort.

"Under our plan, you would then change to the mini-bus to get the mini to go west of Western," said executive director Roger Romanelli.

The economic development agency wants any new service to run from Clinton Street in the Fulton District Neighborhood to Austin on the West Side. Some take issue with that.

"If you all want this bus, you've got to do it the right way. Not just for your convenience. You're talking to this community. It's for their convenience right? You're making it to your convenience Fulton Market," said one resident named Robert.

Many just want to see a change for the good.

"We need the bus because other people can enjoy our community, but we can't enjoy our own community," said Brenda Alder, resident.

ABC7 has reached out to CTA for comment but has not yet heard back.