CTA emergency bus inspections will cause delays

The Chicago Transit Authority is warning its bus riders to expect rush-hour delays because it has pulled many of its 60-foot articulated buses for inspection.

Acting president Dorval Carter said Thursday the North American Bus Industries vehicles were removed from the streets because of a structural crack in one them. The buses will remain out of service until an independent expert can inspect them.

The action will cause more crowding during peak rush hour periods because the CTA will have fewer buses available.

The NABI buses, sometimes called "accordions," represent 6 percent of CTA's bus fleet. NABI is just one manufacturer of articulated buses used in the CTA's fleet. The CTA recently began buying articulated buses from New Flyer of America, Inc. and those are not affected.