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At a relatively peaceful, productive meeting, CTA board approved bus route changes, Narcan machines, track safety pilot
In some ways, today's CTA board meeting wasn't as dramatic as the May one. Unlike last month, Ald. David Moore (17th) wasn't there warning the directors that they would be "backbiting snakes" if they didn't support Mayor Brandon Johnson's pick for the new agency president. That person was the City's current chief operating officer John Roberson, the alder's former chief of staff.
June 11, 2025
Ald. Moore insists that CTA board members who oppose Mayor Johnson’s prez pick, the alder’s ex-COS, would be “backbiting snakes”
"He's a cold-hearted snake... he don't play by rules"
May 15, 2025
Living, working, and talking transit: The agency launches its new podcast “Moving Experiences: Stories of the CTA”
Chicago Transit Authority has joined the podcast fray.
May 13, 2025
Advocates asked mayor, CTA board to delay hiring new prez. Johnson reportedly had already chosen one. Special meeting ended without vote
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
May 9, 2025
CTA: “9% increase in Blue, Yellow service started on 4/20.” Commuters Take Action: “That’s a pipe dream.”
By now you know the drill. The CTA announces that it's significantly increasing scheduled bus and/or train service in an effort to restore or surpass 2019 pre-COVID service levels. Streetsblog later asks the transit data whizzes at the grassroots transit advocacy group Commuters Take Action (CTAction) for their POV on the claim.
April 26, 2025
CTA board approves expansion of contract for gun-detecting security cams, amends contract for universal one-day transit pass
CTA Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan said that the artificial intelligence-assisted security cameras the transit agency started to pilot last August led to six arrests, including for a robbery in progress.
April 10, 2025
Turning (wheels) 54: Spending my birthday checking out the new 10-minute scheduled headways on the CTA’s #54 Cicero bus route
Earlier this month, the CTA announced it was launching a "Frequent Network for Buses," with runs scheduled to show up every 10 minutes or less, all day, seven days a week. The plan called for providing shorter headways (waits between runs) on 20 high-ridership bus lines by the end of 2025, with upgrades to four more routes each quarter.
March 26, 2025
No more Blue Line blues? Advocates weigh in on CTA’s promise of increased service on Forest Park and O’Hare branches this spring
Last Monday, St. Patrick's Day, it appeared there may be a bit of good luck for Chicagoland straphangers.
March 20, 2025
At CTA board meeting, talk of funding doomsday scenario, bus lane enforcement contract, new concessions / newsletter / podcast
As Streetsblog readers are well aware, the CTA, Metra, and Pace currently face a combined $770 million budget gap next year as federal COVID-era subsidies run out, but ridership is currently still only around 65 percent of 2019 levels.
March 14, 2025