Evanston Bus Company

From HistoryWiki

Evanston Bus Company Soundex Code B200

In 1923 the North Shore Line acquired the Niles Center Transit Company.

The Evanston Bus Company began operating bus service in Evanston in 1924 and lasted until 1973, when the Evanston Bus Company ceased operations after a lengthy strike. And because neither the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) or PACE did not exist as the time, the CTA was the only agency suited to operate bus service in Evanston. CTA continues to operate most of this service.

Then in 1929, the Niles Center Transit Company was sold by the North Shore Line, becoming the Evanston and Niles Center Bus Company.

In 1930, the Evanston Bus Company was merged into the Niles Center Transit Company.

In 1937, the Evanston Railway Company merged with the Evanston and Niles Center Bus Co., to become a new Evanston Bus Company.

In 1973, the Evanston Bus Co. ceased operations after a lengthy strike. The CTA started operating routes in Evanston that were subsidized by the city, because, at that time, there was no suburban agency to assume the operations. North Suburban Mass Transit District (Nortran)(formerly United Motor Coach Company) eventually assumed certain other routes in the area. These are now part of the Pace North Shore and Northwest Divisions.

Evanston Bus Company Bus Routes

1 - Sherman Avenue - traces its roots to the only streetcar route in Evanston, operating between Howard St. CTA terminal and Crawford/Central. Streetcar service introduced by Chicago North Shore Street Railway Co. in 1893 from Chicago, extending as far north as Emerson. Service north of Emerson introduced in 1897 by Evanston Electric Railway. Both companies merged into Chicago Consolidated Traction Co. in 1899, sold to County Traction Co. in 1910, sold to Evanston Railway Co. in 1913. Converted to buses 11/9/35. Portions of CTA routes #201 and #205 most closely resemble this route.

2 - Ridge Avenue - operated between Howard St. CTA terminal and downtown Evanston (Davis/Sherman). Introduced 4/26 by original Evanston Bus Co. The southern portion of CTA route #203 would operate over this route until 6/22/2003, when it would be replaced with the southern portion of CTA route #201.

3 - Main-Grant - operated between South Blvd. and Grant/Prospect. Introduced on Main on 1/28/24 by original Evanston Bus Co. as its route #1, extended 5/28 onto Grant. A portion of this route operated via Greenwood, where service was introduced 1/28/24 by original Evanston Bus Co. as its route #2. And another portion of this route operated via Davis, where service was introduced 1/28/24 by original Evanston Bus Co. as its route #3. The northern portion would be covered by CTA route #203 until 6/22/2003, when it would be replaced with the northern portion of CTA route #205. And the segment serving South Blvd. would be covered by CTA route #202, until discontinued 6/22/2003. But no service was ever operated by CTA over most of the southern portion of this route.

4 - Emerson - operated in a loop northwest of downtown Evanston. Introduced 1/28/24 by original Evanston Bus Co. as its route #4. There is little resemblance to any CTA bus route, except CTA would serve Emerson Ave., first with route #202, and effective 6/22/2003 with extension of route #93 from Chicago.

5 - Skokie - rush hour bus between Central St./Green Bay Rd. and Hamlin/Foster in Skokie, operating primarily via McCormick Blvd. Introduced in 1942. No similar route presently exists.

6 - Fowler-Main - operated between Chicago/Main and Church/Fowler. Introduced during 1950's or 1960's. This route would basically be covered by CTA route #202 until 6/22/2003, when replaced with route #200.

7 - Dodge-Howard - operated between Howard St. CTA terminal and downtown Evanston (Davis/Sherman). Introduced 3/8/47. CTA route #204 would most closely resemble this route until 6/22/2003, when replaced with extension of route #93 from Chicago.

8 - Evanston-Old Orchard - operated between downtown Evanston (Davis/Sherman) and Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, using Church St. in Evanston and Golf Rd. in Skokie. Service on Church was originally created in 1920's by Niles Center Transit Co., which later became part of Evanston Bus Company. Route was #6. Service on Golf Rd. introduced in 1946 by American Coach Co., operating between Davis St. station and Glenview Rd. and Waukegan Rd. New route #8 to newly opened Old Orchard shopping center introduced 8/22/56. New route largely duplicated original route #6, which was discontinued 5/10/57. Effective 3/18/74 after the Glenview Bus Co. ceased operations, United Motor Coach Co. introduced "Emergency Routes" #2 and #3, reintroducing service over this segment, and operating beyond Old Orchard to areas previously served by the Glenview Bus Co. Emergency Route #2 evolved into Pace route #212, while part of Emergency Route #3 eventually became Pace route #220. Those Pace routes would be discontinued effective 3/5/2005 as part of a major restructuring of north suburban Pace routes. Route #212 would then be redundant to route #208 and recently expanded CTA route #205.

9 - Evanston-Irving Park-Cicero - operated via various streets between downtown Evanston (Davis/Sherman) and the shopping area of Irving Park/Cicero/Milwaukee on Chicago's northwest side. Acquired 1959 from American Coach Co., original route had been introduced in 1941 from Harrison St. and Crawford Ave. to Irving Park/Cicero/Milwaukee via Crawford Ave., Oakton St., Lincoln Ave., and Cicero Ave. Pace route #216 was introduced 11/73 by United Motor Coach Co., replacing portions of this route, discontinued 8/25/86. No similar route presently exists.

10 - Old Orchard (via Crawford Ave.) - operated between Howard St. CTA terminal and Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie. Acquired 1959 from American Coach Co., service on Crawford Ave. north of Oakton St. was part of a route introduced in 1941, originally operating 3 blocks north of Golf Rd. to Harrison St. Pace route #215 was introduced 11/73 by United Motor Coach Co., exactly following this route.

11 - Old Orchard (via Oakton and Niles Center Rd.) - operated between Howard St. CTA terminal and Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie. Acquired 1959 from American Coach Co. Route was actually very similar to CTA route #97, and was perhaps considered redundant.

12 - Irving Park and Cicero to Old Orchard/Edens Plaza - operated between those points primarily via Cicero Ave./Skokie Blvd. Acquired 1959 from American Coach Co., their original route #1 had been introduced in 1941 from Harrison St. and Gross Point Rd. to Irving Park/Cicero/Milwaukee via Harrison St., Crawford Ave., Oakton St., Lincoln Ave., and Cicero Ave. Pace route #216 was introduced 11/73 by United Motor Coach Co., replacing portions of this route, discontinued 8/25/86. Present route most closely resembling this route is CTA route #54A, extended north to Old Orchard effective 6/11/79.

13 - Evanston-Glencoe - operated between those towns via Green Bay Rd. Introduced around 1959. Service is now provided by Pace route #213, introduced in 1974.


Photos

RPWRHS photo C036-019 shows two buses on Howard Street, An Evanston Bus Company bus is eastbound to the Howard Street Station while a CTA 155 Devon bus is westbound crossing Clark Street. Notice the Howard Bowl, 1777 W. Howard Street, the 2,999-seat Norshore Theater, 1749 W. Howard Street, and the Howard Street Station, 1649 W. Howard Street]] in the far background.