Commuter advocates, CTA weigh in on Chicago transit issues

Public transit ridership in Chicago is only about half of what it was pre-pandemic, but some commuters find buses and trains aren’t dependable.

By Brenda Ruiz
CTA train on the West Side
A CTA Green Line train travels West away from downtown Chicago in this 2017 file photo. A proposed ordinance before the Chicago City Council seeks to draw more investment near transit lines and bus stops on the South and West sides while also preserving multi-family housing near transit on the North Side. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press
CTA train on the West Side
A CTA Green Line train travels West away from downtown Chicago in this 2017 file photo. A proposed ordinance before the Chicago City Council seeks to draw more investment near transit lines and bus stops on the South and West sides while also preserving multi-family housing near transit on the North Side. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Commuter advocates, CTA weigh in on Chicago transit issues

Public transit ridership in Chicago is only about half of what it was pre-pandemic, but some commuters find buses and trains aren’t dependable.

By Brenda Ruiz
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Frustrated over transit delays, some Chicago transit advocates have created a way to report so-called “ghost” buses and trains on their own. The Chicago Transit Authority has said both issues are due to a staffing shortage and that it’s making efforts to hire as fast as possible.

Reset talks to advocates about their concerns and checks in with the CTA to discuss what’s being done to improve the system.

GUESTS: Fabio Gottlicher, organizer with Commuters Take Action

Jose Manuel Almanza, campaign organizer for Transit for All Chicago

Brian Steele, CTA spokesperson