Eleven bus routes to see additional service as CTA continues steady return to pre-pandemic scheduled service levels
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) customers will see more scheduled bus service across the region beginning with the start of service on Sunday, August 25— the latest step in the agency’s efforts to provide more frequent and improved bus service. Nearly a dozen bus routes are receiving additional service, as the CTA continues to add more bus operators into service -- the result of the agency’s aggressive recruitment and hiring efforts.
“With this latest change, we’ve improved service on 59 bus routes this year—bringing our bus system back to 98% of pre-pandemic scheduled service levels,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “The CTA is committed to continuing to work to make our bus service more frequent and reliable, building on our significant recruitment and hiring successes, and we are still on track to fully restore pre-pandemic scheduled bus service by the end of 2024.”
The changes to the bus schedules are implemented as part of the agency’s quarterly scheduling process, whereby bus employees are able to “pick” their work assignments at designated times throughout the year. The scheduling process is included in the collective bargaining agreement with the union representing bus employees.
The following routes will see weekday increase in service:
- #21 Cermak
- #22 Clark
- #24 Wentworth
- #53A South Pulaski
- #62 Archer
- #77 Belmont
- #87 87th
- #94 California
- #146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express
- #152 Addison*
- #156 LaSalle
*The #152 Addison will also receive Saturday service increase.
The CTA has seen increased in ridership on routes that have received additional service throughout the year. Ridership on routes receiving additional service in March went up 21% year-over-year during June and July. Ridership on the routes that received additional service in June was up 18% year-over-year during June and July.
Routes that did not receive service adjustments this year have also seen 12% higher ridership year-over-year during the same period.
Later this fall, CTA will also look to improve scheduled rail service as new operators are added following the successful completion of their training. Rail services will be added across rail lines on both peak and off-peak hours.