METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CTA Launches Campaign to Welcome Back Transit Riders

The “When You’re Ready, We’re Ready!” campaign highlights CTA’s affordable and convenient service to encourage people to take transit.

by METRO Staff
May 18, 2021
CTA Launches Campaign to Welcome Back Transit Riders

 

Credit:

CTA

2 min to read


The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has introduced a new, multi-faceted campaign, called “When You’re Ready, We’re Ready!” designed to welcome riders back to public transit.

The campaign will promote the affordability and convenience of the CTA, while also highlighting the agency’s safety and cleaning efforts.

Ad Loading...

“The CTA has provided essential transit for millions of riders throughout the pandemic,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. “Now, as employees start returning to their offices and people feel more comfortable shopping, going out to restaurants, and gathering with others, we want to remind them that our system is a convenient and affordable way to travel throughout the city.”

Throughout the pandemic, the CTA carried most of the region’s transit riders, especially essential workers and those who relied on its buses and trains to get them to medical appointments, the grocery store, and other necessary trips. Currently, the CTA is carrying more than 500,000 riders each weekday, a number that continues to grow as the city reopens.

The “When You’re Ready, We’re Ready” campaign will build on the agency’s robust customer engagement and outreach initiatives. The campaign will include updated customer signage and in-system ads in rail stations and vehicles, direct customer communications, outreach tools for the business community, social media updates, new customer incentives and promotions, special events, and advertising and marketing efforts. Through these efforts, the CTA will provide key information on mask requirements, cleaning activities, service and technology investments, and other key initiatives to support riders returning to transit.

The CTA will gradually introduce a variety of components of the “When You’re Ready, We’re Ready” campaign over the coming weeks.

Learn more about the campaign.

More Security and Safety

An image of a doorway on a public transit vehicle with a yellow outline overlay.
SponsoredAugust 18, 2026

How VaporVision™ Adds Value to Transit Door Systems

Wabtec engineers explain how the system improves doorway detection, strengthens diagnostics and gives transit agencies and OEMs greater operating flexibility.

Read More →
An Amtrak Cascades Airo Trainset at a station.
Railby Alex RomanAugust 14, 2026

FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak

Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.

Read More →
Layered Safety Strategies Take Hold in Chicago and Maryland
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanAugust 13, 2026

Chicago, Maryland Expand Non-Law-Enforcement Safety, Rider Support

The CTA and MTA are launching new programs aimed at de-escalation, crisis response, rider assistance, and greater transparency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
AI Powers Bus Lane Enforcement
Technologyby Alex RomanAugust 12, 2026

LA Metro, City of West Hollywood, and Partners Advance Smarter Bus Lane Enforcement

The award-winning partnership combines AI-powered detection with human oversight to improve bus reliability, accessibility, and enforcement efficiency.

Read More →
A man speaks with two Los Angeles Metro Ambassadors.
Security and Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 4, 2026

LA Metro Reports 57% Decline in Homelessness on Transit System Since 2024

The agency's latest homelessness count offers new data on how care-based services and cross-sector partnerships can complement traditional transit security strategies.

Read More →
An image of the white house with text overlayed reading "FTA Launches Transit Performance Dashboard."
Security and Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 24, 2026

FTA Launches 'Transit Moves America' Dashboard to Highlight Agency Safety and Performance

The online dashboard transforms National Transit Database information into a public-facing resource that allows users to compare transit agencies on key operational and safety metrics.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
LA Metro at State of the Agency event.
Managementby Alex RomanJuly 23, 2026

LA Metro Marks Banner Year, Sets Ambitious Goals for New Fiscal Year

Incoming LA Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined outgoing Board Chair Fernando Dutra and LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins to review accomplishments from fiscal year 2026, which included the opening of new rail extensions, advancement of major transit projects, expanded safety programs, and new rider amenities.

Read More →
TechnologyJuly 20, 2026

Building the Next Generation of Transit Technology

In this edition of METROspectives, Luminator CEO Magnus Friberg discusses the company's transformation, the growing role of AI and software, and what's next for transit technology.

Read More →
TTC streetcar on tracks

TTC Launches Camera Pilot to Curb Illegal Passing of Streetcars

During the pilot, the cameras will measure how often illegal streetcar passing occurs and test the technology's reliability for future automated enforcement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rider validating a tap payment on a Masabi validator.
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 17, 2026

Biz Briefs: Masabi Teams with St. Louis Metro and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Transdev, Hitachi, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →