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ChicaGo Dash

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FoundedOctober 6, 2008
Service areaValparaiso to Chicago
Service typeexpress bus service
DestinationsValparaiso, Downtown Chicago
Stations1 (Valparaiso Village Station)
Fleet3 buses
OperatorThe Free Enterprise System[1]
Websitechicagodash.com

ChicaGo Dash is an express bus service between Chicago and Valparaiso. It is jointly run by the City of Valparaiso and Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission, with substantial financial support from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. It was launched on October 6, 2008.[2]

History and Current Operations

ChicaGo Dash travels between Valparaiso's Village Station and Millennium Park, stopping west of LaSalle Street Station at Lakeside Bank and near the LaSalle Street/ Wacker Drive intersection.[3]

The service is rush hour only – it makes two trips from Valparaiso to Chicago in the morning, at 6:00 am and 6:40 am (arriving at 7:31 am and 8:15 am). It returns from Chicago to Valparaiso at 4:40 pm and 5:25 pm (arriving at 6:20 pm and 7:15 pm). In May 2009, V-Line introduced a shuttle service between Dune Park South Shore Line station and the Village Station later in the evening to supplement ChicaGo Dash and provide additional commuting options[4]. It was scheduled to remain in place for the remainder of 2009. As of February 1, 2010, the shuttle service has been canceled. Instead, ChicaGo Dash monthly pass holders have been issued a $10.00 voucher. It can be used to take the South Shore Line train and/or taxi back home. The shuttle was eliminated due to low ridership.[5]

In May 2009, ChicaGo Dash launched a special summer Saturday service. The bus left the Village Station at 10:00 AM and arrived at the Water Tower Place at 12:05 pm making stops at the Millennium Park and Navy Pier. The bus left the Water Tower Place at 6:00 pm, arriving at the Village Station at 8:00 pm[6].

On August 17, 2009, ChicaGo Dash extended its Saturday service into the fall and added a second bus. Its schedule was designed to attract Valparaiso University students who may have been interested in going to the city in the evening. The new bus left the village station at 3:00 pm and returns in midnight, making the same stops as the other bus[7]. The weekend route made a stop at Valparaiso University's Harre Union at 9:15 am and 2:15 pm before arriving at the Village Station. This section of the route was essentially a free shuttle service - once they reached the Village Station, passengers had half an hour to buy tickets to go the rest of the way[8]. On the same date, ChicaGo Dash added a third bus to the weekday service. It left the Village Station at 7:15 AM, arriving at Millennium Park at 8:20 am. It left Chicago at 3:40 pm.

On November 12, 2009, ChicaGo Dash decided to cancel the second Saturday bus, citing low ridership. On December 27, 2009, Saturday service was canceled completely in spite of sharply increased ridership in the preceding weeks[9][10]. The city may resume Saturday service during spring. The third weekday bus remains in place as of January 2010.

Valparaiso officials are currently considering adding a stop at Hobart.[11] During the Spring of 2010, Hobart officials conducted surveys of Hobart population to determine whether or not there is enough interest in the stop.[12] The city of Hobart is currently in the process of finalizing the lease for the prospective stop, and a test run is currently slated to occur some time in October[13]

ChicaGo Dash fare is $7.50. Riders can also buy 10-rides ($70.00) and monthly passes ($230.00).[14] Tickets can be purchased at the Village Station or on the bus.

Valparaiso Village Station / Franklin House

Valparaiso Village Station serves as ChicaGo Dash's Valparaiso station. It is located in the previously unused northern portion of Franklin House pub building (58 South Campbell Street). The station includes a waiting room, a ticket counter and an ATM machine. The station is opens ten minutes prior to boarding and remains open until the bus leaves.

ChicaGo Dash riders can transfer to V-Line's Yellow Line route at Lincolnway and Campbell intersection less than a block north of the station building and to Brown Line route at Indiana/Campbell intersection south of the building near Northfolk Southern railroad tracks. Riders can also transfer to Red Line route Friday-Sunday at the same location as the Yellow Line route.

See also

References

  1. ^ Inaugural Valparaiso bus to Chicago a hit
  2. ^ CityTalk Newsletter (Fall 2008 issue)
  3. ^ http://chicagodash.com/station/station.htm
  4. ^ http://chicagodash.com/news/news.htm
  5. ^ http://www.chicagodash.com/news/Newsletter011510.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.chicagodash.com/schedule/schedule.htm#SUMMER
  7. ^ http://www.chicagodash.com/news/ValpoUpgrades.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.chicagodash.com/news/Newsletter082509.pdf
  9. ^ http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/1956533,vworx1224.article
  10. ^ http://dailyme.com/story/2009122400002855/dash-ends-saturday-service-season.html
  11. ^ http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.com/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=49704
  12. ^ http://nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/article_af328b13-c9d6-52d2-8dba-7a374ceb6538.html?mode=story
  13. ^ http://www.nwitimes.com/mobile/article_da740a2d-1aeb-5f78-8d1e-d12de9c4070d.html
  14. ^ http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/1841511,flu-workforce-1023.article
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