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CHICAGO BUS AND STREETCAR ROUTES
ROUTES 120-139
Most higher numbered routes were originally operated by the Chicago Motor Coach Co. (CMC), and most were assigned CTA route numbers which were 100 higher than the original CMC numbers. Additional routes were newly created by CTA.
120 North Western-Wacker Express
5/12/47 - CMC introduces bus route 58 Wacker-North Western Station
10/1/52 - renumbered route 158 after CTA takeover of CMC
4/9/56 - CTA introduces bus route 158A Wacker Express, serving train stations
1/27/75 - routes 158 and 158A restructured into routes 120, 121, and 125
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: various (until 6/24/2002)
Kedzie (6/24/2002-3/23/2008)
Archer(AM)/Kedzie(PM) (3/23/2008-present)
121 Union-Wacker Express
5/12/47 - CMC introduces bus route 58 Wacker-North Western Station
10/1/52 - renumbered route 158 after CTA takeover of CMC
4/9/56 - CTA introduces bus route 158A Wacker Express, serving train stations
1/27/75 - routes 158 and 158A restructured into routes 120, 121, and 125
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: various (until 6/24/2002)
103rd St. (6/24/2002-3/23/2008)
Chicago Ave.(AM)/Kedzie(PM) (3/23/2008-present)
122 Illinois Center-North Western Express
6/22/80 - introduced by CTA as bus route
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: various (until 6/24/2002)
Kedzie (6/24/2002-3/23/2008)
Archer(AM)/Kedzie(PM) (3/23/2008-present)
123 Illinois Center-Union Express
6/22/80 - introduced by CTA as bus route
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: various (until 6/24/2002)
103rd St. (6/24/2002-3/23/2008)
Chicago Ave.(AM)/103rd St.(PM) (3/23/2008-present)
124 Navy Pier
2000 - introduced by CTA as bus route for special events
6/22/2003 - becomes full time bus route, replacing extension of route 56 Milwaukee
Bus Garage: Kedzie
125 Water Tower Express
5/12/47 - CMC introduces bus route 58 Wacker-North Western Station
10/1/52 - renumbered route 158 after CTA takeover of CMC
4/9/56 - CTA introduces bus route 158A Wacker Express, serving train stations
1/27/75 - routes 158 and 158A restructured into routes 120, 121, and 125
Midday and Saturday service introduced 1/27/75
Saturday service discontinued 9/7/76
Midday service discontinued 4/26/98
Bus Garage: various (until 6/24/2002)
North Park (6/24/2002-3/23/2008)
Kedzie (3/23/2008-present)
126 Jackson
3/16/24 - introduced by CMC as bus route 26 Jackson
5/12/30 - service extended south to newly opened Adler Planetarium
10/1/52 - renumbered route 126 after CTA takeover of CMC
4/8/56 - route combined with route 6 Van Buren, with creation of one way streets
9/11/83 - Adler Planetarium service transferred to route 146 Marine-Michigan
Owl service introduced 1950's
Owl service discontinued 1980
Certain rush hour trips limited stops 11/26/28-11/30/75
Bus Garage: Wilcox (3/16/24-6/9/55)
Kedzie (6/9/55-9/2/79)
North Ave. (9/2/79-6/29/84)
Kedzie (6/29/84-present)
127 Jackson-Independence
3/16/24 - introduced by CMC as bus route 27 Jackson-Independence
10/1/52 - renumbered route 127 after CTA takeover of CMC
1/28/73 - discontinued
Operated from downtown to 14th/Independence.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Wilcox (3/16/24-6/9/55)
Kedzie (6/9/55-1/28/73)
127 North Western/Madison
1/24/82 - introduced by CTA
6/18/2006 - route revised to Madison/Roosevelt Circulator
6/15/2008 - discontinued
West terminal would be North Western Station, while east terminal changed over the years. From 10/19/87 until 10/31/94, east terminal was McCormick Place. And from 10/7/97 until 6/18/2006, east terminal was the Adler Planetarium. Route's final form was basically a loop via Roosevelt, Michigan, Madison, Ogden.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: 52nd St. (1/24/82-4/24/83)
77th St.(AM)/Archer(PM) (4/24/83-6/26/88)
103rd St.(AM)/Archer(PM) (6/26/88-6/24/2002)
77th St. (6/24/2002-6/18/2006)
Kedzie (6/18/2006-6/15/2008)
128 Wacker-Orleans
8/1/51 - introduced by CMC as bus route 28 Wacker-Orleans
10/1/52 - renumbered route 128 after CTA takeover of CMC
1987 - discontinued
Operated between Union Station and Merchandise Mart. Replaced in with route change for 41 Elston-Clybourn route, which was subsequently discontinued.
Operated rush hours only
129 West Loop/South Loop
6/1/48 - introduced by CTA as branch of 62 Archer as bus route, operating AM rush hours
9/9/72 - PM rush hour branch introduced, replacing discontinued route 2 Hyde Park
2/29/76 - renumbered route 129, renamed NW/Franklin
7/4/82 - route revised to serve Chicago Board of Education headquarters
12/12/98 - route revised to present form and renamed West Loop/South Loop
Route originally was a variation of Route 62 Archer, which had operated during morning rush hours from North Western Station and Union Station. Effective 9/9/72, Route 62 Archer afternoon rush hour variation introduced, entering downtown Chicago northbound via Michigan Ave., replacing discontinued Route 2 Hyde Park. Effective 6/18/78, morning southbound route revised to exit downtown via Michigan Ave. Route carried passengers as far south as Cermak/Michigan until 7/4/82, when route revised to carry passengers entire distance to and from Archer Garage. Route served Chicago Board of Education headquarters, at the time located on Pershing Road west of Ashland Ave., one mile east of Archer Garage.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Archer (until 3/23/2008)
Archer(AM)/Kedzie(PM) (3/23/2008-present)
131 Washington
3/16/24 - introduced by CMC as bus route 31 Washington
10/1/52 - renumbered route 131 after CTA takeover of CMC
9/13/81 - discontinued
12/20/82 - service restored
10/ 5/97 - discontinued
Operated between downtown and Austin Blvd. Effective 4/25/27 certain rush hour buses made limited stops only. But effective 2/14/54, route became "Washington Express", with all trips making limited stops except for certain local trips during rush hour. Local service was available at all times on paralleling 20 Madison route, no longer a competing service. Remaining local service discontinued effective 4/1/57. But more stops were gradually added, and the "express" label was dropped effective 2/15/76.
Sunday service discontinued 2/14/54
Saturday service discontinued 8/5/73
Midday service discontinued 9/13/81
Midday service restored 9/10/84
Midday service discontinued 2/2/92
Bus Garage: Wilcox (3/16/24-6/9/55)
Kedzie (6/9/55-9/2/79)
North Ave. (9/2/79-6/29/84)
Kedzie (6/29/84-7/3/94)
Chicago Ave. (7/3/94-10/5/97)
132 Goose Island Express
1/2/2007 - introduced by CTA as bus route
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Chicago Ave.
134 Stockton-La Salle Express
8/31/2003 - introduced by CTA as bus route
Route supplements route 156, providing express service serving Lincoln Park area.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Kedzie
135 Clarendon-La Salle Express
9/23/46 - introduced by CMC as bus route 56 Wilson-La Salle Express
10/1/52 - renumbered route 156 after CTA takeover of CMC
4/18/76 - renumbered route 135
8/31/2003 - discontinued west of Clarendon and renamed Clarendon-La Salle Express
Wilson-La Salle local and express service had used same route number, first assigned 156 by CTA. Zones of express operation on Lake Shore Drive have undergone various revisions through the route history. Operated west of Clarendon via Wilson to Ravenswood until 8/31/2003. Operated via La Salle St. south of North Ave./Lake Shore Drive until 8/31/2003, when revised to operate via Lake Shore Drive/Wacker Drive.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Ravenswood (until 6/9/55)
Limits (6/9/55-7/3/94)
North Park (7/3/94-present)
136 Sheridan-La Salle Express
3/25/62 - introduced by CTA as variation of 156 Wilson-La Salle Express as bus route
4/18/76 - renumbered route 136
6/22/80 - route revised to present basic form
Originally identified as a variation of Wilson-La Salle service, first numbered 156 by CTA. Basic variation operated via Sheridan north of Wilson, with supplemental service via Marine Dr. introduced 3/25/62. Zones of express operation on Lake Shore Drive have undergone various revisions through the route history. Operated via La Salle St. south of North Ave./Lake Shore Drive until 8/31/2003, when revised to operate via Lake Shore Drive/Wacker Drive.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: North Park
136 Douglas
3/23/24 - introduced by CMC as bus route 36 Douglas
10/1/52 - renumbered route 136 after CTA takeover of CMC
9/9/73 - discontinued
Operated from downtown via various streets including Ogden, Sacramento, Douglas, Central Park.
Weekend service discontinued 8/5/73
Bus Garage: Wilcox (3/23/24-6/9/55)
Kedzie (6/9/55-9/9/73)
For routes originally created as bus routes, listed are whether the route was originally created by the Chicago Surface Lines (CSL), Chicago Motor Coach (CMC), or by CTA.
Most routes created as streetcar routes had "owl" service, or operated 24 hours a day. Most routes created as bus routes never had owl service. Owl service is mentioned, although dates of introduction are not available. Much of the owl service was eventually scaled back or discontinued. Not mentioned are situations where only a portion of a route has owl service, or where hours of service are different for different portions of a route. All routes have generally operated at least throughout the daytime, 7 days a week, unless noted.