The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) outlined a range of bus service enhancements that will take effect this Sunday with the start of the new winter bus schedule. 

New bus service improvements include adding four bus routes to the Frequent Network, as well as enhancements to routing, hours of service, and/or frequency on eight other routes throughout the region.

More Frequency on CTA

The Frequent Network was launched in March to provide more than 2.3 million riders with a dedicated network of key routes throughout the CTA service region, operating every 10 minutes or sooner between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends. 

An estimated 70% of the CTA service area is now within half a mile of a frequent bus route.

“Early this year, we committed to riders that we would expand the Frequent Network to 20 routes by year’s end, and I am thrilled that we are fulfilling that promise,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “CTA service is the strongest it has been in years, and these investments are a sign of our readiness to provide the travel experience our riders deserve.”

The Frequent Network improves service throughout the day, but riders will see the most improvements during midday, evening, and weekend hours. 

According to agency officials, the Frequent Network builds on CTA’s Bus Vision Framing Report, which analyzed CTA bus service and identified much-needed service improvements on weekends, evenings, and midday​ to better serve riders, predominantly low-income and minority riders.

The Bus Vision Project

The next phase of the Bus Vision Project will provide people in the service area an opportunity to share their input on how CTA bus service can better serve their communities and the attributes of CTA bus service that are most important to them, such as frequency, hours of operation, routing, and access to service, among other features. 

In addition to expanding the Frequent Network, the CTA will extend service on two routes and add or enhance service on five more routes, beginning December 21.