Chicago Transit Authority

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This article is about the mass transit system. Please see The Chicago Transit Authority for the album and Chicago for the band.
Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Transit Authority offers bus and rapid transit routes throughout the city, as well as to some suburban destinations.

The CTA is a municipal corporation that started operations on October 1, 1947 upon the purchase and combination of the transportation assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines streetcar system. In 1952, CTA purchased the assets of the Chicago Motor Coach Company, which was under the control of Yellow Cab founder John D. Hertz, resulting in a fully unified system. Today, the CTA is one of the three service boards financially supported by the Regional Transportation Authority.

Contents

[edit] About

The Chicago Transit Authority has over 2,000 buses in its fleet.
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The Chicago Transit Authority has over 2,000 buses in its fleet.
Chicago Transit Authority trains serve as both elevated rapid transit, and as subway trains in parts of the city.
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Chicago Transit Authority trains serve as both elevated rapid transit, and as subway trains in parts of the city.
Chicago Transit Authority also serves Chicago suburbs. Purple Line stations such as Central, pictured above, connect Evanston and Wilmette residents to The Loop.
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Chicago Transit Authority also serves Chicago suburbs. Purple Line stations such as Central, pictured above, connect Evanston and Wilmette residents to The Loop.

The Chicago Transit Authority covers Chicago city limits and forty surrounding suburbs. The CTA provided 492,405,118 rides in 2005, an increase of 17,454,157 rides, or 3.7 percent, over 2004. Gains were especially evident on the CTA’s rail system, which recorded its highest ridership since 1985. CTA has now achieved ridership increases in seven of the past eight years. [1] It operates twenty-four hours each day and on an average weekday, 1.6 million passengers access its buses and trains. The Chicago Transit Authority has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes traveling along 2,273 route miles. Buses provide about one million passenger trips a day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. The Chicago Transit Authority's 1,190 train cars operate over seven routes and 222 miles of track. Its trains provide about 500,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations in Chicago. The Chicago Transit Authority employs more than 11,000 people to operate the entire system.

[edit] Fare collection

The CTA allows riders to board a bus or train and pay with cash, transit cards, or Chicago Cards.

[edit] Paying with cash

Only buses allow riders to pay with cash. The fare is $2.00, and cash transfers are not available. Previously, some rail station turnstiles accepted cash but this feature has been removed in an effort to speed up boarding.

[edit] Paying with transit cards

Transit cards are sold at all rail stations and at the CTA's headquarters. There are two types of transit cards: stored-value and unlimited rides. Unlimited ride cards can be purchased at the CTA headquarters and from vending machines at select CTA Stations (O'Hare on the Blue Line, Midway on the Orange Line, and Chicago on the Red Line), as well as from a variety of retail outlets throughout the Chicago area, such as currency exchanges. They are available for one day ($5), two days ($9), five days, seven days ($20), and thirty days ($75). There are also reduced fare cards available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, Chicago Public School students, and students of certain area universities as well. There are plans to install fare card and transit card vending machines at downtown Metra train stations (Union Station, the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the LaSalle Street Station) in early 2006.

[edit] Paying with Chicago Cards

Main article: Chicago Card

The Chicago Card (along with the Chicago Card Plus) is a contactless smart card, powered by RFID, used by riders of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to electronically pay for bus and train fares. Fares paid with the Chicago Card are less expensive than they are for other riders; $1.75 for a one-way fare on buses and $2.00 on trains, and $0.25 for transfer to up to two other rides within two hours of initial fare.

[edit] Bicycles on the CTA

Bicycles are permitted on CTA buses during all operating hours, and on CTA trains every weekday except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (0700-0900) and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (1600-1800) On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, bicycles are allowed on trains all day. If you board the train with your bicycle before the hours listed above and your trip extends into those hours, the CTA allows you to finish your trip. If trains are crowded, the use of trains by cyclists may be restricted by the rail operator as appropriate. Bicycles are not permitted on trains July 3rd due to Independence Day celebrations. Folding bikes may be brought aboard CTA trains and buses during all operating periods, including rush hour.

A maximum of two bicycles are allowed per train car; if the train consist is four cars in length, a total of eight bicycles are allowed on that train. However, this rule is not enforced widely throughout the system.

Transit operators have the discretion to deny access to anyone with a bike if they decide that conditions are too crowded. The CTA's entire bus fleet is now equipped with bike racks in front which can accommodate two bicycles. All CTA trains accept bicycles, although bikes are discouraged on rail cars with "blinker doors". Only standard-size bicycles are allowed on all CTA vehicles; tandems are not allowed.

Helpful tips and the full guide to transporting bicycles on CTA trains can be found at http://www.transitchicago.com/welcome/biketran.txt.

[edit] Equipment history and folklore

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 through 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.

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 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 1983 MAN order, none of those buses had air conditioning, a budget saving move by the CTA. The 1972-76 fleet of New Looks, 1870 total, which were originally air conditioned (although there were problems with the air-conditioning systems, resulting in their eventually being disabled and sliding windows installed in the buses), comprised the majority vehicles in service into the early 1990's.

The heavy rail orders of the CTA include the last railroad stock built by the Budd Company and one of the few examples of rail cars built by Boeing-Vertol. The next order is from Bombardier.

[edit] Active bus fleet

Series Model Years Length Assigned Total Notes
5300-5769 Flxible Metro 1991 40' 1, 7, A, C, K 470 1
4400-4875 TMC RTS 1991 40' 1, 6, 7, K, P 476
5800-5865 New Flyer D40LF 1995 40' P 65
6000-6329 Flxible Metro 1995 40' 1, 6, F, K 330
6400-6883 NovaBus LFS 2001-2002 40' 7, A, C, F 484
7500-7725 NABI 60LFW 2003-2004 60' 1, 7, K, P 226
4915-4924 Orion I 2005 40' 1 10 1, 2
1000-1629 New Flyer D40LF 2006-2007 40' 7, A, K 630 3
500-544 Optima Opus 2006 30' 1, F 45 3, 4

[edit] Notes

  • 1: Retirement in progress.
  • 2: Ex-Pace, used in Hyde Park for University of Chicago routes.
  • 3: On order, or in the process of being delivered.
  • 4: Features a modified livery.

• Some individual numbers may no longer be in service.

[edit] Bus garages

  • 1: 103rd Garage
  • 6: 74th Garage
  • 7: 77th Garage
  • A: Archer Garage
  • C: Chicago Garage
  • F: Forest Glen Garage
  • K: Kedzie Garage
  • P: North Park Garage

[edit] Recently retired bus fleet

Series Model Delivery Retirement Length Total Notes
3500-3875 Flxible New Look 1965 1991 40' 30
1000-1524 GMC New Look 1972 1991 40' 525
7400-7944 GMC New Look 1973 1996 40' 545
9000-9599 GMC New Look 1975 1996 40' 600
9600-9799 GMC New Look 1977 1996 40' 200
7000-7019 M.A.N Articulated 1979 1994 55' 20
9800-9974 Flyer D901A 1983 2002 40' 175 1
1600-1624 Flyer D901A 1983 2002 40' 25 1
7100-7224 M.A.N Articulated 1983 2004 55' 125
4000-4361 M.A.N Americana 1985 2004 40' 362
4900-4914 TMC RTS (Narrow) 1991 2005 40' 15 2
701-755 GMC New Look 1994 1996 40' 55 3
7300-7413 M.A.N Articulated 2001 2004 60' 114 4
7800 NABI 45C-LFW 2005 2005 45' 1 5, 6

[edit] Notes

  • 1: Some still used today as work buses.
  • 2: Some still used today as training buses.
  • 3: Ex-Pace, used during Green Line renovation.
  • 4: Ex-Seattle King County.
  • 5: The 7800 series never made it past the prototype stage. NABI ceased production of these buses before the CTA order could be produced.
  • 6: Featured a modified paint scheme.

[edit] Upcoming bus order

Series Model Delivery Length Total
New Flyer DE40LF 2007 40' 20

[edit] Bus routes

CTA currently operates the following bus routes:

  • 1 - Indiana-Hyde Park
  • 2 - Hyde Park Express
  • 3 - King Drive
  • X3 - King Drive Express
  • 4 - Cottage Grove
  • X4 - Cottage Grove Express
  • N4 - Cottage Grove (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • N5 - South Shore Night Bus (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 6 - Jackson Park Express
  • 7 - Harrison
  • 8 - Halsted
  • 8A - South Halsted
  • 9 - Ashland
  • X9 - Ashland Express
  • N9 - Ashland (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 10 - Museum of Science and Industry
  • 11 - Lincoln
  • 12 - Roosevelt
  • 14 - Jeffery Express
  • 15 - Jeffery Local
  • 17 - Westchester
  • 18 - 16th/18th
  • 19 - United Center Express (Special Events Only)
  • 20 - Madison
  • X20 - Washington/Madison Express
  • N20 - Madison (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 21 - Cermak
  • 22 - Clark
  • N22 - Clark (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 24 - Wentworth
  • 26 - South Shore Express
  • 28 - Stony Island
  • X28 - Stony Island Express
  • 29 - State
  • 30 - South Chicago
  • 33 - Magnificent Mile Express
  • 34 - South Michigan
  • N34 - South Michigan (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 35 - 35th
  • 36 - Broadway
  • 37 - Sedgwick
  • 38 - Ogden/Taylor
  • 39 - Pershing
  • 40 - Chinatown/Pilson Weekend Shuttle (Memorial to Labor Day Only)
  • 43 - 43rd
  • 44 - Walace-Racine
  • 47 - 47th
  • 48 - South Damen
  • 49 - Western
  • 49A - South Western
  • 49B - North Western
  • X49 - Western Express
  • N49 - Western (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 50 - Damen
  • 51 - 51st
  • 52 - Kedzie/California
  • 52A - South Kedzie
  • 53 - Pulaski
  • 53A - South Pulaski
  • 53AL - South Pulaski Limited
  • N53 - Pulaski (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 54 - Cicero
  • 54A - North Cicero/Skokie Blvd.
  • 54B - South Cicero
  • X54 - Cicero Express
  • 55 - Garfield
  • 55A - 55th/Austin
  • 55N - 55th/Narrgansett
  • X55 - Garfield Express
  • N55 - Garfield (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 56 - Milwaukee
  • 56A - North Milwaukee
  • 57 - Laramie
  • 59 - 59th/61st
  • 60 - Blue Island/26th
  • N60 - Blue Island/26th (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 62 - Archer
  • 62H - Archer/Harlem
  • N62 - Archer (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 63 - 63rd
  • 63W - West 63rd
  • N63 - 63rd (Night Owl Service)
  • 64 - Foster-Canfield
  • 65 - Grand
  • 66 - Chicago
  • N66 - Chicago (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 67 - 67th-69th-71st
  • 68 - Northwest Highway
  • 69 - Cumberland-East River
  • 70 - Division
  • 71 - 71st/South Shore
  • 72 - North Ave.
  • 73 - Armitage
  • 74 - Fullerton
  • 75 - 74th-75th
  • 76 - Diversey
  • 77 - Belmont
  • N77 - Belmont (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 78 - Montrose
  • 79 - 79th
  • N79 - 79th (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 80 - Irving Park
  • X80 - Irving Park Express
  • 81 - Lawrence
  • 81W - West Lawrence
  • N81 - Lawrence (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 82 - Kimball-Homan
  • 84 - Peterson
  • 85 - Central
  • 85A - North Central
  • 86 - Narrgansett/Ridgeland
  • 87 - 87th
  • 88 - Higgins
  • 90 - Harlem
  • 90N - North Harlem
  • 91 - Austin
  • 92 - Foster
  • 93 - North California/Dodge
  • 94 - South California
  • 95E - 93rd-95th
  • 95W - West 95th
  • 96 - Lunt
  • 97 - Skokie
  • X98 - Avon Express
  • 100 - Jeffery Manor Express
  • 103 - West 103rd
  • 106 - East 103rd
  • 108 - Halsted/95th
  • 111 - Pullman/111th/115th
  • 112 - Vincennes/111th
  • 119 - Michigan/119th
  • 120 - North Western/Wacker Express
  • 121 - Union/Wacker Express
  • 122 - Illinois Center/North Western Express
  • 123 - Illinois Center/Union Express
  • 124 - Navy Pier
  • 125 - Water Tower Express
  • 126 - Jackson
  • 127 - Madison/Roosevelt Circulator
  • 128 - Solder Field Express (Bears Games Only)
  • 129 - West Loop/South Loop
  • 130 - Grant Park Treasures (Summer Weekends Only)
  • 134 - Stockton/LaSalle Express
  • 135 - Clarendon/LaSalle Express
  • 136 - Sheridan/LaSalle Express
  • 143 - Stockton/Michigan Express
  • 144 - Marine/Michigan Express
  • 145 - Wilson/Michigan Express
  • 146 - Inner Drive/Michigan Express
  • 147 - Outer Drive Express
  • 148 - Clarendon/Michigan Express
  • 151 - Sheridan
  • N151 - Sheridan (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 152 - Addison
  • 154 - Wrigley Field Express (Cubs Night/Weekend Games Only)
  • 155 - Devon
  • 156 - LaSalle
  • 157 - Streeterville
  • 165 - West 65th
  • 168 - UIC-Pilson Express
  • 169 - 69th-UPS Express
  • 170 - U of Chicago-Midway
  • 171 - U of Chicago-Hyde Park
  • 172 - U of Chicago-Kenwood
  • 173 - U of Chicago-Lakeview Express
  • 174 - U of Chicago-Garfield Stations
  • 192 - U of Chicago Hospitals Express
  • 200 - Main Shuttle
  • 201 - Central/Ridge
  • N201 - Central/Sherman (Night ''Owl'' Service)
  • 205 - Chicago/Golf
  • 206 - Evanston Circulator

[edit] L rolling stock

Numbers Manufacturer Built Assigned Notes
2201-2352 Budd Company 1969-1970 Blue, Pink Lines 1
2401-2600 Boeing-Vertol 1976-1978 Green, Purple Lines
2601-3200 Budd Company 1981-1987 Blue, Red, Pink, Purple Lines
3201-3457 Morrison-Knudsen 1992-1994 Brown, Yellow, Orange Lines 2
5001-? Bombardier 2008-? 3

[edit] Notes

  • 1. Original order 2201-2350; several units wrecked and mates renumbered.
  • 2. 3457 mated with a former 2600 series car, renumbered as 3458.
  • 3. On order, prototypes expected in mid-2008.

[edit] Revenue

The CTA generates revenue from farebox collections and also receives supplemental funding for operating expenses from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). In 2006, CTA generated 53% of its operating budget internally, mostly from fares but also from advertising, parking, and other services; it received $524 million from the RTA, $479.5 million of which stemmed from sales tax receipts collected in the Chicago region.

1999 Budget
Operating Budget $795.9 million
Capital Budget $235.0 million
2000 Budget
Operating Budget $841 million
Capital Budget $409 million
2001 Budget
Operating Budget $869 million
Capital Budget $477 million
2002 Budget
Operating Budget $915 million
Capital Budget $495 million
2003 Budget
Operating Budget $925 million
Capital Budget $539 million
2004 Budget
Operating Budget $935 million
Capital Budget $757 million
2005 Budget
Operating Budget $996 million
Capital Budget $688 million
2006 Budget
Operating Budget $1.037 billion
Capital Budget $371 million

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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