Chicago Transit Breaks Post-Pandemic Ridership Record

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provided 279 million train and bus rides over the course of 2023 — a year marked by steady growth in ridership and more-reliable service, according to the agency.

The increase was just over 14% year-over-year.

CTA’s Ridership Boost

Systemwide in 2023, the CTA provided nearly 36 million more rides compared to 2022. In 2023, bus ridership increased 15.5% over 2022. Rail ridership increased 13.4%.

Over the course of the year, the CTA also saw 27 days where ridership exceeded one million rides per day.

“Last year we experienced significant post-pandemic improvement and saw very good trends that we hope will continue, year-over-year, in 2024,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. “As we look toward meeting the ridership demands of this year — particularly on rail — we have set an aggressive goal of training 200 rail operators in 2024.”

Growing Post Pandemic

Like transit systems across the country, CTA has seen consistent ridership growth since the start of the pandemic.

CTA ridership dropped to around 20% in April 2020, and has gradually risen to just over 60% of pre-pandemic ridership.