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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
At her joyful retirement party, the “Mayor” of the Armitage Brown Line station offers advice to live by for riders – and CTA brass
February 28, 2025
At CTA board meeting, interim president says she’ll tackle quality-of-ride issues, discussion of pilot to detect people and objects on tracks
At yesterday's CTA board meeting, new acting transit agency president Nora Leerhsen discussed issues she will prioritize in order to improve conditions on trains and increase ridership. These include addressing the problem of smoking on trains, and helping unhoused people who spend the night on the Red and Blue lines get access to shelters.
February 13, 2025
Pink station club: Tribune asks if redevelopment near United Center could lead to another new ‘L’ stop, which I proposed back in 2014
The Chicago Tribune editorial board members are probably not my biggest fans right now, since I recently pointed out questionable statements about bike lanes and Metra fares in their editorials.
February 10, 2025
Chicago Transit Board appoints acting president, discusses customer service and public safety
This week, the Chicago Transit Board appointed Dorval Carter’s Chief of Staff Nora Leerhsen to serve as the acting president for the agency, replacing the departing — and controversial — president until a permanent replacement is found.
January 16, 2025
