Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Transit Authority
	File:CTA logo.svg Logo of the Chicago Transit Authority
Company type	Independent governmental entity
Industry	Public transportation
Predecessor	Chicago Rapid Transit Company, Chicago Surface Lines, Chicago Motor Coach Company
Founded	October 1, 1947; 79 years ago in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Headquarters	Chicago, United States
Area served	Chicago and nearby suburbs including Forest Park, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Summit, Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Rosemont, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Park Ridge, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Lincolnwood, Wilmette
Products	Bus service, rapid transit ("L" train) service
Parent	Regional Transportation Authority (one of three service boards)
Website	www.transitchicago.com

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is responsible for operating public transportation in Chicago, Illinois, along with several nearby suburbs. It manages both the Chicago "L" train network and the CTA bus system. In , the transit network recorded a total ridership of , with an average weekday usage of as of .

Established as an independent governmental entity under Illinois law, the CTA commenced service on October 1, 1947, following the acquisition and merger of the assets from the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines streetcar operations. The agency expanded its reach in 1952 by acquiring the Chicago Motor Coach Company, which had previously been owned by John D. Hertz, thereby creating a consolidated transit system. Presently, the CTA functions as one of three service boards financed by the Regional Transportation Authority. Its operations are coordinated alongside commuter rail services provided by Metra and suburban bus and paratransit services offered by Pace.

Operations

Serving Chicago and ten adjacent suburban communities, the Chicago Transit Authority operates continuously throughout the day and night, accommodating over 950,000 rides on an average weekday across its bus and rail networks. The bus fleet consists of roughly 2,000 vehicles running along 127 routes covering , generating approximately 560,000 passenger trips daily and stopping at more than 10,000 designated locations. The rail division deploys 1,560 train cars over eight lines spanning of track, facilitating close to 400,000 weekday trips with access to 146 stations situated within Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

The CTA's operational footprint encompasses Chicago as well as suburbs including Forest Park, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Summit, Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Rosemont, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Park Ridge, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Lincolnwood, and Wilmette.

Fare collection

Payments for CTA services are accepted through the Ventra Card, which offers various fare options such as single rides and unlimited ride passes valid for 24 hours ($5), three days ($15), seven days ($20), or thirty days ($75). Additionally, disposable tickets are available alongside contactless credit/debit card payments and compatible smartphone wallets. Unlimited ride Ventra passes are intended for use by one individual only. Cash fares are accepted on buses where up to three children under seven may ride free when accompanied by a paying passenger.

Special fare discounts and complimentary programs are provided for students, seniors, persons with disabilities, and military members.

Cash

Cash payments are accepted exclusively on buses via fareboxes that require exact change; no change or cash transfers are issued. Since January 7, 2018, full fares have been set at $2.50; seniors and disabled passengers pay $1.25; students pay $0.75. Rail stations no longer accept cash at turnstiles to expedite boarding processes; cash transactions can be made only at Ventra Vending Machines for purchasing cards.

Transit Cards

The CTA phased out Transit Cards by July 1, 2014, transitioning fully to the Ventra Card system. Ventra Cards can be acquired online, at Ventra Vending Machines located in rail stations, or through authorized retailers such as Walgreens and CVS.

Ventra

Introduced in August 2013 to replace both Chicago Card and Transit Card systems, Ventra is an electronic fare payment platform that supports contactless smart cards utilizing RFID technology, single-use RFID tickets, bank-issued contactless credit/debit cards, as well as compatible mobile payment solutions including Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Managed by Cubic Transportation Systems, Ventra completely supplanted previous fare media by July 1, 2014.

Under Ventra’s fare structure, bus rides cost $2.25 while rail trips are priced at $2.50 (with a $5 fare applicable at Blue Line O'Hare station). Seniors aged 65 or older and riders with disabilities pay $1.10 for bus fares and $1.25 for rail travel. Students between ages 7 and 20 pay $0.75 during school hours (5:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. on school days) and $1.10 on weekends and holidays. The system allows two free transfers within two hours from the beginning of a trip; any additional journeys require payment of new fares.

Contactless payments

Ventra readers installed on buses and rail turnstiles support contactless transactions directly from mobile devices. Passengers can pay a pay-as-you-go fare ($2.50) by tapping smartphones enabled with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or any contactless bank card displaying the wave symbol.

Equipment

All CTA buses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and are fully accessible, featuring ramps that can be deployed upon request. Elevators or ramps are available at most train stations, while trains provide level boarding or ramps to cover the 3-4 inch gap between platform and train.

Active bus fleet

Year	Manufacturer & Model	Length	Engine Type	Numbers	Assigned Garages	Notes
2006–2009	New Flyer D40LF	40 ft (12 m)	Diesel	1000–2029 (1,030 buses)	74th, 77th, 103rd, Chicago, Forest Glen, Kedzie, North Park	Numerous units are currently being phased out.
2008–2009	New Flyer DE60LF	60 ft (18 m)	Diesel-Electric Hybrid	4000–4207 (208 buses)	103rd, Kedzie, North Park
2012–2013	New Flyer DE60LFR		Diesel-Electric Hybrid	4300–4332 (33 buses)	103rd, North Park
2012–2013	New Flyer D60LFR		Diesel	4333–4399 (67 buses)	North Park
2014	New Flyer XE40	40 ft (12 m)	Electric	700–701 (2 buses)	77th	\* Both vehicles have been out of operation since 2021
2014–2019	NovaBus LFS		Diesel	7900–8349 (450 buses)	74th, 77th, 103rd, Chicago, Forest Glen, Kedzie
2019–2022	Proterra Catalyst BE40/ZX5		Electric	600–624 (25 buses)	74th, Chicago
2022–2025	NovaBus LFS		Diesel	8350–8949 (600 buses)	74th, 77th, 103rd, Chicago, Forest Glen, Kedzie, North Park	\* Replaced the entire 6400 series and initiated retirement of the 1000 series

Notes:

Information sourced from Chicago Transit Authority Presentation on Alternative Fuels (2009), unless noted otherwise.
Certain individual bus numbers may have been retired.
For historical fleet details, refer to Chicago Transit and Railfan resources.

Bus garages

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

Currently Operating "L" Train Cars

For comprehensive information on 'L' train cars, refer to Chicago "L" rolling stock.

Model Series	Production Years	Manufacturer	Service Lines	Disabled access	Total Units
2600-series	1981–1987	Budd Company refurbished by Alstom, 1999–2002	Blue, Brown, Orange	Yes	459
3200-series	1992–1994	Morrison-Knudsen	Blue, Brown		255
5000-series	2009–2015	Bombardier Transportation	Green, Pink, Purple, Red, Yellow		712
7000-series	2019–present	CRRC Sifang America	Blue		400 (initial order) 846 (including all options)
9000-series	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined		300 (initial order) 246 (including all options)

Car assignments are detailed at chicago-l.org.

Historical Background

In 1953, after acquiring the Fageol Twin Coach Company, CTA placed orders for buses from Flxible.

Up until 1973, CTA maintained one of the nation's largest electric trolley bus fleets, accounting for roughly 25% of its surface transit vehicles. Operational difficulties during the severe 1967 Chicago blizzard—when trolley buses faced challenges navigating around blockages—prompted the gradual discontinuation of trolley bus service by March 25, 1973.

Known as the "green limousine" due to their distinctive green paint scheme, CTA buses retained this appearance until the late 1980s. The introduction of RTS buses from Transportation Manufacturing Corporation in 1991 brought a new patriotic color palette that completely replaced the green livery by 1996.

Between the mid-1970s and late 1980s, CTA’s bus acquisitions were limited: MAN articulated buses were purchased in 1979 and early 1980s, followed by MAN Americana standard models in 1985. To manage costs, most lacked air-conditioning. Despite air-conditioning issues, GM "New Look" buses from the early 1970s remained a mainstay into the early 1990s.

Modernization efforts began in 1995 with a trial order of low-floor New Flyer D40LF buses. By 1998, CTA became Nova Bus’s inaugural U.S. customer through a substantial order of low-floor LFS series vehicles aimed at compliance with Buy American provisions and replacing aging non-ADA-compliant buses.

Currently, New Flyer’s D40LF models dominate the fleet (units numbered 1000–2029), supplanting older units from the previous decade. Between 2014 and subsequent option exercises, over 400 Nova Bus LF Series vehicles were acquired to expand and modernize the fleet further while initiating retirement of older buses.

Railcar procurement includes models from Budd Company, Boeing-Vertol, Morrison-Knudsen, and most recently Bombardier Transportation’s 5000-series produced between 2009 and 2015. The first ten prototypes began service trials in April 2010; overall orders exceeded 700 cars at an approximate cost of US$1 billion.

In a pioneering move in 2014, CTA became the first major U.S. transit agency to introduce electric buses into regular operation using New Flyer electric models.

Safety and Security Measures

In response to the September 11 attacks, CTA launched the "If you See Something, Say Something" initiative. It also implemented a surveillance camera system and established technology transmitting live bus camera footage directly to emergency personnel. The agency has actively pursued legal action against vandals, securing felony convictions for individuals who defaced CTA property.

Technology

Beginning in 2006 with the 20 (Madison St) route, the CTA implemented GPS Bus Tracker systems, gradually extending this technology to additional routes by 2008. The primary objective was to mitigate bus bunching and offer passengers real-time bus location information online. According to a CTA report, bus bunching rates declined from 3.9% to 2.3% between 2007 and 2009; however, the report did not confirm a definitive cause-and-effect relationship or long-term consistency.

The CTA provides public access to Bus Tracker and developer resources, including arrival information through text messaging. Early uses featured installation of display monitors within businesses in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Leveraging the CTA’s developer API, numerous mobile applications have been created; additionally, CTA offers its own Transit App along with a beta version of Bus Tracker accessible via desktop computers, smartphones, text messages, and smart devices.

Public art

The CTA showcases a portfolio of more than 50 artworks such as mosaics, sculptures, and paintings across upwards of 40 stations. These original creations contribute to distinct station identities and enhance the overall rider experience. Many pieces are funded through the federally supported Arts in Transit Program, locally managed by Chicago’s Office of Tourism and Culture. Other contributions stem from the CTA’s Adopt-A-Station initiative and collaborations with groups like the Chicago Public Art Group.

Seasonal Events

During December and January, select buses and trains are adorned with holiday-themed decorations featuring imagery of Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves to engage passengers. For major sporting events—especially White Sox and Cubs games—the Red Line increases operational speed to better accommodate elevated ridership.

Arts in Transit

Since 2004, the CTA in partnership with the Chicago Public Art Program has installed permanent artworks at renovated stations, starting with nine installations on the Pink Line. Supported by the Federal Transit Administration, the Arts in Transit Program integrates original artistic works into station renovation projects along the Red and Brown Lines.

Upon completion of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project in 2009, each of the 18 refurbished stations received distinct art installations. This effort utilized Chicago’s transit infrastructure as a prominent venue for professional public art created with community collaboration. The media employed include mosaics, art glass, decorative fencing, mixed media pieces, sculptures, and functional art elements.

Managed by Chicago’s Office of Tourism and Culture, this program encourages partnerships among artists, government bodies, communities, and stakeholders. It issues calls for proposals from both local and national artists qualified to produce permanent works for CTA stations.

2023 MCA Chicago Brief Installation

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presented Forecast Form: Art during the Caribbean Diaspora. During this exhibition, artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s "Untitled" photograph—depicting a black bird against a gray sky—was displayed at multiple "el" stations throughout the city.

TV show

From May 2003 until March 2011, the Chicago Transit Authority produced a monthly television program titled Connections. Hosted by Braydens Connections, it was broadcast on City of Chicago public-access channels 23 and 49 as well as Comcast’s CN100 within the Chicago metropolitan area, reaching parts of Michigan and Indiana.

Connections delivered news updates regarding CTA services. Selected episodes remain accessible on the CTA’s YouTube channel.

External links