Chicago Transit Authority

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| xAxisTitle=Year

| yAxisTitle=Boardings (in millions)

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| x= 1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018

| y1= 430.0895,420.5727,421.183734,392.088602,370.335119,326.655953,331.5207,306.075585,302.115116,287.628293,290.530719,299.05849,302.089554,301.690748,303.295027,291.804434,294.030775,303.244197,298.433228,309.271311,328.199225,318.672798,306.023976,310.373063,314.423578,300.116357,276.116759,274.288766,259.05844,249.231171,242.1730

| y2= 174.436,168.6588,165.732575,147.608116,137.37283,135.369734,143.5791,135.461619,142.040486,151.010374,153.572705,166.477141,176.250504,181.692315,180.39963,181.135094,178.716456,186.759524,195.16931,190.272997,198.137245,202.569038,210.849081,221.58719,231.154339,229.116047,238.100054,241.676065,239.645812,230.204047,225.894953

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|caption=Annual passenger boardings on CTA buses and trains from 1988 to 2018{{Cite report|title=CTA - Ridership - Annual Boarding Totals |url=https://data.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/CTA-Ridership-Annual-Boarding-Totals/w8km-9pzd|access-date=2021-04-04|publisher=Chicago Department of Transportation|location=Chicago}}

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File:CTA HQ 4 (6591922233).jpg

The Chicago Transit Authority provides service in Chicago and 10 surrounding suburbs.

The CTA operates 24 hours each day and on an average weekday provides over 950,000 rides on buses and trains. It has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 127 routes traveling along {{convert|1,516|mi}}. Buses provide about 560,000 passenger trips a day and serve more than 10,000 posted bus stops. The Chicago Transit Authority's 1,560 train cars operate over eight routes and {{convert|224|mi|km}} of track. Its trains provide about 400,000 customer trips each weekday and serve 146 stations in Chicago and seven suburbs.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-15 |title=CTA Facts at a Glance - CTA |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515133926/https://www.transitchicago.com/facts/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=web.archive.org}}

Currently, the CTA provides regular service within Chicago and the neighboring suburbs of Forest Park, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Summit, Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Rosemont, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Park Ridge, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Lincolnwood, and Wilmette.

File:20141007 03 CTA Blue Line L @ O'Hare.jpg terminal at O'Hare International Airport]]

File:CTA Night.jpg in the Loop]]

File:CTA loop junction.jpg at the northwest corner of the Loop]]

The CTA accepts payment with a Ventra Card which can be purchased with a single-ride, 24-hour unlimited ride ($5), 3 day unlimited ride ($15), 7 day unlimited ride ($20), 30 day unlimited ride ($75), a Ventra disposable ticket, contactless credit or debit card, and certain smartphones. Unlimited ride Ventra cards/tickets are only valid for one passenger. CTA buses also accept cash. Up to three children under 7 can ride free with a fare-paying rider.

The CTA has many free and discounted fare options, for elementary, middle, and high school students, college and university students, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and military service members.

Only buses allow riders to pay directly with cash at a farebox. Exact fare is required, since no change is given. Since January 7, 2018, the bus full fare is $2.50, the senior/disabled fare is $1.25, and the student fare is $.75. No cash transfers are available. Previously, some rail station turnstiles accepted cash, but this feature has been removed in an effort to speed up boarding. Cash at rail stations is only accepted at Ventra Vending Machines to purchase Ventra cards and tickets.

The CTA no longer sells Transit Cards. All remaining Transit Cards must have been used by July 1, 2014.{{cite press release|title=Transitioning to Ventra|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/transition/|publisher=Chicago Transit Authority|location=Chicago|access-date=June 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620112639/http://www.transitchicago.com/transition/|archive-date=June 20, 2014|url-status=dead}} In its place CTA has adopted the Ventra Card system. The Ventra Card can be purchased online, Ventra Vending Machines at CTA rail stations, and at authorized retailers like Walgreens, CVS Pharmacies, and check cashing locations.

{{Main|Ventra}}

Ventra is an electronic fare payment system for the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace that replaced the Chicago Card and the Transit Card automated fare collection system. Ventra (purportedly Latin for "windy," though the actual Latin word is ventosa){{cite press release|last=Mancini Nichols|first=Chrissy|title=Talking Transit: Chicago transit gets open payment system|url=http://www.metroplanning.org/news-events/article/6548|publisher=Metropolitan Planning Council|location=Chicago|access-date=March 20, 2013}} launched in August 2013, with a full system transition slated for July 1, 2014.{{cite web|title=Ventra FAQ|url=https://www.ventrachicago.com/faq/|publisher=Chicago Transit Authority|location=Chicago|access-date=October 18, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Monifa|title=Ventra cards become only way to pay starting July 1|url=http://www.suntimes.com/26203756-418/ventra-cards-become-only-way-to-pay-starting-july-1.html|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|location=Chicago|publisher=Chicago Public Media|access-date=March 14, 2014|date=March 14, 2014}} The Ventra payment system includes several options of payment, including a contactless smart card powered by RFID, a single day or use ticket powered by RFID, any personal bank-issued credit card or debit card that has an RFID chip, and a compatible mobile phone. This includes Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay.{{cite web|title=Ventra|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/ventra/|publisher=Chicago Transit Authority|location=Chicago|access-date=October 18, 2013}} Ventra is operated by Cubic Transportation Systems.{{cite news|first=Jon |last=Hilkevitch |title=CTA's Ventra debit option rife with fees |date=March 20, 2013 |publisher=Tribune Publishing|location=Chicago|url=http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-met-cta-ventra-hidden-fees-0320-20130320,0,3911415,full.story |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411185138/http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-met-cta-ventra-hidden-fees-0320-20130320,0,3911415,full.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |work=Red Eye Chicago |access-date=March 20, 2013 }}

Riders using Ventra pay $2.25 for bus, $2.50 for rail (except Blue Line O'Hare station, $5). Disabled & seniors who are 65 or older pay $1.10 for bus, $1.25 for rail. Elementary and high school students 7–20 years old: Valid 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on school days pay $.75 during school hours and pay $1.10 during weekends and holidays. The two transfers, within two hours, from the start of a trip is free. After that, it is considered a new trip and the user is charged another fare.

Ventra readers on buses and rail station turnstiles can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices. Riders can pay a PAYG fare ($2.50) by touching mobile phones with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay—or any contactless bankcard with the contactless wave symbol.{{cite web |title=How-To: Paying with Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay |url=https://www.ventrachicago.com/how-to/mobile-wallet-apps/ |publisher=Chicago Transit Authority|location=Chicago |access-date=December 10, 2018 |language=en}}

As mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for all transit operators in the U.S., all CTA buses are accessible, with a ramp on every bus available for use upon request by anyone who has trouble with steps, even temporarily. The majority of train stations CTA operates have elevators or ramps to provide access for customers with disabilities. All trains are accessible, either through fully level boarding or a ramp to bridge the 3-4in height gap.

Notes:

• Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093005/http://www.afv2009.com/documents/TerranceMuellner042209.pdf Chicago Transit Authority Presentation on Alternative Fuels, April 20th, 2009, p. 4 (accessed 1 July 2009)], unless otherwise indicated.
• Some individual numbers may no longer be in service.
• See [http://web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/rosxcsl.html Chicago Transit and Railfan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616032943/http://web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/rosxcsl.html |date=June 16, 2012 }} for historic rosters.

File:20120521 13 Canal St. near Madison St..jpg

File:CTA 1333 interior.jpg

File:20130302 07 CTA Bus Shuttle.jpg

File:Chicago Elevated Train.jpg]]

File:Madison-Franklin bus stop - CTA Loop Link.jpg

File:Gerald Farinas Central Street CTA Station.jpg Central Station, Evanston]]

• Forest Glen Garage, 5419 W. Armstrong Avenue, (Elston/Bryn Mawr)
• North Park Garage, 3112 W. Foster Avenue, (Foster/Albany)
• Chicago Garage, 642 N. Pulaski Road, (Chicago/Pulaski)
• Kedzie Garage, 358 S. Kedzie Avenue, (Van Buren/Kedzie)
• 74th Garage, 1815 W. 74th Street, (74th/Wood)
• 77th Garage, 210 W. 79th Street, (79th/Wentworth)
• 103rd Garage, 1702 E. 103rd Street, (103rd/Stony Island)

• For a description of the 'L' cars, see Chicago "L" rolling stock.

• See [http://www.chicago-l.org/trains/assignline.html chicago-l.org] for car assignment sheets.

File:19680609 41 CTA Rapid Transit @ Kenton Ave. (5629455595).jpg

File:Chicago Marmon 9728 on route 85-Central Ave, 1968.jpg serving route 85-Central in 1968]]

In 1953, the CTA placed an order for Flxible buses after the latter's absorption of the Fageol Twin Coach Company.

Until 1973, CTA's fleet included a large number of electric trolley buses – or "trolley coaches", as they were commonly known at the time.Sebree, Mac; and Ward, Paul (1974). The Trolley Coach in North America, pp. 49–60. Los Angeles: Interurbans. LCCN 74-20367. In the 1950s, the fleet of around 700 trolley coaches was the largest such fleet in the U.S., and represented about one-quarter of CTA's total number of surface-transit vehicles (motor bus, trolley bus and, until 1958, streetcar). Possibly influenced by the 1967 Chicago blizzard, during which CTA trolley buses were unable to maneuver around abandoned automobiles without dewiring, CTA decided to discontinue trolley bus service. Trolley bus service was phased out in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and trolley buses ran for the last time on March 25, 1973.Murray, Alan (2000). World Trolleybus Encyclopaedia, p. 79. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks. {{ISBN|0-904235-18-1}}.

CTA buses were known as the "green limousine" or the "big green" — buses were one or more shades of green from the CTA's establishment until the end of the 1980s. With the delivery of the TMC RTS buses in 1991, a more patriotic color scheme was adopted, and the green scheme was fully phased out by 1996. A notable color scheme was the "Bicentennial" of about 1974 to 1976.{{Cite web|url=http://busdrawings.com/Transit/illinois/chicago/1974t8h5307a/7903.jpg|title=Harry Gershen photograph at busdrawings.com}}

CTA bought very few buses between the mid-1970s and the end of the 1980s. During this time, purchases were only made in 1979 (20 MAN/AM General SG 220 articulated buses), 1982-83 (200 Flyer D901 buses and 125 additional MAN articulateds), and 1985 (362 MAN Americana standard-length buses). Another aspect of this period was that with the exception of the 1979 and 1983 MAN orders, none of those buses had air-conditioning, a budget saving move by the CTA. The 1972-76 fleet of GM "New Look" buses, 1870 total, which were originally air-conditioned (although there were problems with the air-conditioning systems, eventually being disabled and sliding windows installed in the buses), composed the majority of vehicles in service into the early 1990s.

In 1995, the CTA placed an experimental order of their first 65 low floor transit buses from New Flyer Industries D40LF. In 1998, the CTA placed an order for 484 new low floor transit buses from Canadian bus-building firm Nova Bus. This executed move billed the CTA as Nova's American launch customer for the latter's signature product, the LFS series. This was also done to meet the "Buy American" requirements for buses in the United States transit bus market, since General Motors ceased bus production and Flxible went out of business. Lastly, these buses replaced buses that were built in 1983 and 1985 as these buses both lack air conditioning, aging, and not ADA compliant.

Today CTA's current fleet of buses is mostly dominated by New Flyer's D40LF, numbered 1000–2029, which replaced buses that were built in 1991 and 1995. In 2014, CTA ordered 400 new buses from Nova. The number increased to 425 after it exercised an option. The buses are numbered 7900–8324. The CTA exercised another option for an additional twenty-five buses, numbered 8325–8349, from Nova Bus. Nova Bus delivered an additional 600 new buses (numbered 8350-8949) which replaced the remainder of the older Nova buses that were delivered between 2000-2002, in addition to starting the retirement of New Flyer D40LF buses delivered between 2006-2009.

The rail orders of the CTA include the last railcar stock built by the Budd Company and rail cars built by Boeing-Vertol and Morrison-Knudsen.

The most recent order was from Bombardier who built the 5000-series from 2009 to 2015. Ten (10) prototypes of the 5000-series were received in 2009, and entered passenger testing in April 2010, with 396 more ordered once the tests were completed.{{cite press release|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=2601|title=CTA to Begin In-Service Testing of New Rail Cars|publisher=CTA|date=April 15, 2010|access-date=April 16, 2010}} On July 20, 2011, CTA announced the order of 300 more railcars, bringing the total ordered to 706 at a cost of about US$1 billion.{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/chicago-orders-300-more-5000-series-metro-cars.html | title=Chicago orders 300 more 5000-series metro cars | publisher=Railway Gazette International | date=July 20, 2011 | access-date=July 20, 2011}}

In 2014, the CTA received their first electric buses from New Flyer, making the CTA the first major U.S. transit agency to use the new wave of electric buses as part of a regular service.{{cite news|last1=Hilkevitch|first1=Jon|title=CTA testing 2 all-electric buses|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cta-electric-bus-met-20141029-story.html|access-date=June 14, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 29, 2014}}

{{See also|Chicago 'L'#Security and safety}}

After the September 11 attacks, CTA announced its "If you See Something, Say Something" campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/safety/default.aspx|title=CTA Security & Safety|publisher=CTA}} CTA has also installed a security camera network,{{cite press release|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?&ArticleId=562

|publisher=CTA|date=December 2, 2006|title=Mayor Daley, CTA and CPD Officials Test Mobile Security Network}} and a system to send real time images from cameras in buses directly to emergency responders.{{cite press release|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?&ArticleId=750|publisher=CTA|date=March 16, 2006|title=CTA to Test Mobile Security Network to Enhance Safety on System}}

CTA has also been actively prosecuting vandals, announcing on several occasions that felony convictions were obtained against persons who spray painted authority vehicles.{{cite press release|url=http://www.yourcta.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=119081|publisher=CTA|date=March 21, 2008|title=Vandal Sentenced to Prison for Defacing CTA Property}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{cite press release|url=http://transitchicago.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=130753|publisher=CTA|date=December 19, 2007|title=CTA Vandal Receives Felony Conviction for Criminal Defacement and Trespass}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The CTA installed GPS Bus Tracker systems on all buses starting with the 20 (Madison St) bus in 2006,{{cite web|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/mayor-daley-cta-launch-bus-tracking-pilot/|title=Mayor Daley, CTA Launch Bus Tracking Pilot|website=CTA|access-date=February 4, 2019}} before expanding it to other routes in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-expands-bus-tracker-program/|title=CTA Expands Bus Tracker Program|website=CTA|access-date=February 4, 2019}} The original claim justifying the addition of this technology was that it would reduce the issue of bunching buses. The system also allows riders to be able to determine the location of buses online.

A report prepared by the CTA claims that there was a decrease in bus bunching from 3.9% to 2.3% from 2007 to 2009, but the report neither demonstrated a direct connection between Bus Tracker and this reduction in bunching, nor did it show whether this was a temporary or permanent phenomenon.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagocurrent.com/articles/30889-Bus-bunching-down-40-since-2007-CTA-report-says|title=Bus bunching down 40% since 2007, CTA report says|author=Ben Meyerson|publisher=Chicago Current|date=December 16, 2009|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-date=May 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525202626/http://www.chicagocurrent.com/articles/30889-Bus-bunching-down-40-since-2007-CTA-report-says|url-status=dead}}

CTA has also made its Bus Tracker and other developer tools available,{{cite web|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/developers/default.aspx|title=Developer Center|publisher=CTA}} and is making Bus Tracker arrival data available through text messaging.{{cite press release|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=2531|title=CTA Bus Tracker Information Now Available On-Demand via New Text Messaging Feature|date=December 22, 2009|publisher=CTA}} One of the first applications of the Bus Tracker Developer Tools involved the installation of monitors showing the information in several businesses in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/CTA-Bus-Tracker-79211892.html|title=Bus Trackers Installed at Wicker Park Shops|publisher=NBC Chicago|date=December 14, 2009|author=Steve Bryant|access-date=December 22, 2009}} Using the developer API published by CTA, some augmented CTA bus tracking applications have been developed for mobile phones,{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/search/?q=cta&sec=iphone|title=Search Results for 'cta'|publisher=Apple.com|access-date=April 9, 2010}} and CTA has its own Transit App, CTA also has a bus tracker (Beta starting January 2011), and it can also be accessed through a computer, smart phone, text messaging, or any smart device.{{cite web|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/apps/|title=Transit App Center|publisher=CTA|access-date=May 10, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516185722/http://www.transitchicago.com/apps/|url-status=dead}}

The CTA is home to a collection of art – including mosaics, sculptures and paintings. More than 50 pieces of art are exhibited at over 40 CTA stations.{{cite web|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/art|title=Online Gallery - Public Art on CTA|publisher=CTA}}

According to the CTA, the original pieces of artwork contribute to each station's identity and enhance travel for customers.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Many of the pieces are a result of the Arts in Transit Program, which is funded by the Federal Transit Administration and coordinated locally through the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism and Culture. A number of other pieces were created through the CTA's Adopt-A-Station program and through partnerships with organizations such as the Chicago Public Art Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGyCzlkI_xw|title=Public Art on CTA - video|publisher=CTA}}

During the month of December and January, the CTA decorates some buses and trains as a Christmas theme to spread festive joy during the holiday season. Subway cars in the front have Santa and Santa's reindeer in the front, and on buses have many elves stationed on the front. During many sporting events, especially White Sox and Cubs games, the red line operates faster than usual.

In 2004, the CTA and the City of Chicago Public Art Program installed nine permanent works of art at eight renovated rail stations on what is now known as the Pink Line. The CTA has since created an ongoing program to showcase permanent works of art in conjunction with the City of Chicago Public Art Program. The Arts in Transit Program is funded by the Federal Transit Administration, and created opportunities to develop original artwork for station reconstruction projects along the CTA Red and Brown Lines. Artists were selected for each of the stations included in the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project and select renovated Red Line stations.

With the completion of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project in December 2009, original artwork was installed in each of the 18 renovated stations along the CTA's Brown Line. By combining the visibility and accessibility of the city's mass transit system with the creativity of Chicago's art resources, this program resulted in a successful public display of professional works of art designed with input from nearby communities. This program provided high-profile locations for public art and server as a gateway to communities served by the CTA stations. Media under consideration included, but were not limited to, mosaics, art glass, ornamental fencing, mixed-media artwork, and freestanding sculpture and furniture.

The CTA and the City of Chicago Public Art Program, administered by the Office of Tourism and Culture, encouraged and facilitated collaborations between artists, government agencies, the community and other partners. The City of Chicago Public Art Program accepted qualifications from local and national professional artists or artist teams capable of creating permanent public works of art for the CTA Arts in Transit Program for the renovated stations.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

From the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, they hosted an exhibition "Forecast Form: Art during the Caribbean Diaspora". The artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres's "Untitled", a photograph of a black bird flying in the grey sky was installed onto many "el" stations during the time the exhibition was held.

The Chicago Transit Authority produced a monthly television show, Connections, from May 2003 until March 2011. The show, hosted by Braydens Connections, was broadcast on City of Chicago Public-access television cable TV channels 23 & 49, as well as on Comcast's CN100 in the Chicago metropolitan area, including areas of Michigan and Indiana.

Connections featured news and information about the CTA and services it provides. Individual segments from Connections are available on CTA's YouTube channel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/CTAConnections|title = CTA Connections - YouTube|website = YouTube}}

{{Portal|Chicago}}

{{Div col}}

• Chicago "L"
• List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes
• List of Chicago "L" stations
• List of former Chicago "L" stations
• Transportation in Chicago
• Ventra

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Chicago Transit Authority}}

• [http://www.transitchicago.com Chicago Transit Authority] - official site
• [https://ctabustracker.com/ CTA Bus Tracker] website

{{Chicago L}}

{{Chicago Rail}}

{{Illinois public transit}}

{{Illinois railroads}}

{{USSubway}}

{{Chicago municipal government officials}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Illinois

Category:Rapid transit in Illinois

Category:Bus transportation in Illinois

Category:Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois)

Category:Transportation in Chicago

Category:1947 establishments in Illinois