Chicago's Increased Operator Pool Leads to Expanded Bus Service

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) customers are getting more scheduled bus service across the region — 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.”

Bus Schedule Changes, Ridership

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 CTA has seen an increase 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.

CTA Planning to also Boost Rail

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 during both peak and off-peak hours.