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A trio of Red Line Extension hearings are allowing the public to “Meet the Contractor”
The $5.7 billion Red Line Extension is moving closer to becoming a reality, more than half a century after it was first promised to Far South Siders. The CTA is holding three "Meet the Contractor" sessions this month to provide updates and answer questions about the project.
April 10, 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
Dystopia or Utopia? Chicagoland transit officials discuss worst and best possible outcomes as we approach state funding deadline
Want to urge state legislators to properly fund Chicago-area transit during their spring 2025 session, so as to prevent drastic service cuts in 2026? The Active Transportation Alliance recommends going to the webpage "Support the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act!" to send letters to your state reps.
March 27, 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
ATA’s Advocacy Connect session discussed Sunday’s CTA Frequent Routes bus launch, state legislation efforts, and 25 mph speed limit push
The Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted one of its monthly Advocacy Connect online lunchtime talks. This time the focus was on the CTA's Frequent Bus Network plan, several State transit- and biking-related bills, and the campaign for a 25 mph speed limit.
March 21, 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
A better way to run a railroad: The transit reform opportunity
A combination of governance and operational reforms could deliver the transit system riders deserve
March 7, 2025
10 minute version: CTA promises shorter headways on 20 bus routes. There are a *bunch* of reasons riders hope the plan will work out.
The CTA recently announced it's launching a "Frequent Network" with ten-minute or shorter headways all day, seven days a week. The initiative includes 20 high-ridership bus lines citywide dubbed "Frequent Routes," starting with eight lines mostly located on the South Side. Some transit advocates say they're excited about the new initiatives, and have their fingers crossed that the increased service will be dependable, and free from the much-loathed "bus bunching" phenomenon.
March 5, 2025
At her joyful retirement party, the “Mayor” of the Armitage Brown Line station offers advice to live by for riders – and CTA brass
Last month, the grassroots transit advocacy group Commuters Take Action held a retirement party for controversial CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. While he did go out on a high note by securing $1.9 billion from the feds for the $5.7 Red Line Extension, he was highly unpopular with many riders due to the system's issues with unreliable service, crime, and sanitation. So the celebration was a tongue-in-cheek affair, and needless to say, the guest of honor was a no-show.
February 28, 2025
