Chicago's South Side May Lose Number 31 Bus

Chicago's South Side got its 31st Street (number 31) bus back for some weekday service in 2016, but it's likely that service will be canceled again.

1 minute read

August 17, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Without a spike in ridership or a new funding source, the 31st Street bus (number 31) will likely be canceled. A pilot program in 2016 brought back service on a limited basis from 10 am to 7 pm weekdays.  "The No. 31 serves residents of the Bridgeport and Chinatown neighborhoods, and connects with Guaranteed Rate Field, Lake Meadows Shopping Center and the Illinois Institute of Technology. The 31st Street bus route was discontinued in 1997 over lack of ridership," Mary Wisniewski reports for the Chicago Tribune. Daily trips on the 31 average a little fewer than 300 a day. To be sustainable, the CTA says it needs to average 800 trips a day.

Advocates say a lack of morning rush hour and weekend service make it difficult for the bus to gain popularity. They also point out that it stops before Lake Michigan and the Mercy Hospital campus.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in Chicago Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today