The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) introduced service on its first line with elements of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Jeffery Jump, on Nov. 12. The line, funded with an $11 million FTA grant, replaces the former Jeffery Express route, while the Jeffery Local will continue to serve local stops.

The new service operates along Jeffery Boulevard between 103rd & Stony Island and Jefferson and Washington streets in downtown Chicago. It uses the first dedicated bus-only traffic lanes ever in Chicago, curbside between 67th and 83rd streets, and stops every half mile rather than the traditional quarter mile.

“The Jeffery Jump is a significant first step in offering faster, more reliable bus service for our passengers, shaving as much as 14 minutes off of a round-trip commute and for the same fare price as our traditional bus service,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.

In 2013, CTA will introduce additional elements such as transit signal priority and queue jumps. Traffic signal priority equipment will be installed in traffic signals between 71st and 83rd streets to extend green lights for buses. A queue jump or bypass lane will help Jump buses advance through the intersection of Jeffery and Anthony, where traffic bottlenecks can occur. Jump buses will also be outfitted with on-board Bus Tracker with LED display screens.