Chicago transit authority

For the band or album named Chicago Transit Authority, see Chicago (band). Quincy "el" Station serving the Brown Line, Purple Line and Orange Line The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), founded on October 1, 1947, provides bus and rail mass transit services to the citizens of Chicago and several of the city's inner suburbs. Contents 1 History 2 Operations and service area 3 Chicago Transit Board 4 Revenue 5 Employment 6 Fare collection 6.1 Paying with cash 6.2 Paying with transit cards 6.3 Paying with Chicago Cards 6.4 Recent fare changes 7 Bicycles on the CTA 8 CTA Folklore 9 See also 10 External links History In 1914, all street railways in and immediately around Chicago consolidated to become Chicago Surface Lines (CSL). In 1924, another amalgamation of small companies, made up of Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Co. (formed in 1892), Lake Street Elevated Railroad Co. (1893), Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad Co. (1895), and Northwestern Elevated Railroad Co. (1900), all consolidated to form the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT). These two consolidated companies eventually became the foundation for the CTA. The CTA was created by an act of the Illinois legislature in 1947. At the time of its formation the CTA assumed operation of most of the city's local transportation services, after acquiring the properties of the Chicago Surface Lines (streetcars and electric buses), the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (elevated and subway trains). In 1953 The CTA took over the Chicago Motor Coach Company (gasoline buses) depite protests from the company. The Regional Transportation Authority was created in 1974. In 1983, the Regional Transportation Act was amended. In addition to creating Metra out of the regional commuter rail lines and Pace out of the suburban bus companies, it transferred some budgetary control of the CTA to the RTA. Since then, CTA has been required to have a 51% farebox recovery ratio and have its 5-year capital program approved by the RTA. CTA is free to set service levels and fares within those guidelines. In 1997, after the Clinton Administration cut Federal operating assistance to the CTA, the CTA was forced to cut 10% of its bus service. In 2005, the CTA faced a budget crisis with a shortfall of $55 million. The CTA claimed the shortfall was the result of an outdated transit funding formula and began to persuade Illinois lawmakers to modify the formula. Without additional funding, the CTA threatened to cut service by 36% and raise fares for cash paying riders. In late May, the Illinois State Legislature responded with a bailout of $54 million which led CTA to cancel the proposed service cuts and fare increases for that year. However, the CTA has described the assistance as a "band-aid" and claims that a re-worked funding formula is necessary in order to prevent future budget shortfalls. Operations and service area Chicago 'L' Chicago Transit Authority   Red Line   Orange Line   Yellow Line   Green Line   Blue Line   Purple Line   Brown Line   Pink Line edit this box The CTA operates the second-largest public transportation system in the United States in the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs. On an average weekday, its vehicles accommodate more than 1.43 million riders: 476,000 by heavy rail, 952,100 by bus and 7,700 by demand response (American Public Transit Association, 2005). A CTA bus on Michigan Avenue. CTA has about 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes, 12,000 posted stops and 2,273 route miles. CTA's 1,188 rapid transit cars operate on seven routes and 222 miles of track, serving 144 stations in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Rosemont, Forest Park, Oak Park and Cicero. Chicago is one of the few American cities that provides rapid transit service to two major airports. From downtown, the CTA's Blue Line takes customers to O'Hare International Airport in about 40 minutes and the Orange Line takes customers to Midway Airport in about 30 minutes. CTA train stations are manned by at least one Customer Assistant. Access to trains is done through a station house consisting of the Customer Assistant's booth, fare card vending machines, turnstiles, and access to the train platform. Some stations include unmanned fare card only entrances with rotating gates. One disadvantage of these entrances is that the rotating gates can be forced allowing fare dodgers to gain entrance to the station without having to jump turnstiles. Chicago Transit Board The governing arm of the CTA is the Chicago Transit Board. The board consists of seven members appointed by the Mayor of Chicago and the Governor of Illinois. The Mayor's appointees are subject to the approval of the Governor and the Chicago City Council; the Governor's appointees are subject to the approval of the Mayor and the Illinois State Senate. CTA's day-to-day operations are directed by its President. Revenue The CTA generates revenue from farebox collections and also receives supplemental funding for operating expenses from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). CTA Budget 1999 Operating Budget $795.9 million Capital Budget $235.0 million CTA Budget 2000 Operating Budget $841 million Capital Budget $409 million CTA Budget 2001 Operating Budget $869 million Capital Budget $477 million CTA Budget 2002 Operating Budget $915 million Capital Budget $495 million CTA Budget 2003 Operating Budget $925 million Capital Budget $539 million Employment The Chicago Transit Authority employs more than 11,000 people. Fare collection The CTA allows riders to board a bus or train and pay with cash, coins, transit cards, or Chicago Cards. Paying with cash As of January 1st, 2006, only buses will allow riders to pay with cash and/or coins. The cash fare is $2.00, and cash transfers are no longer available. Some rail station turnstiles accepted cash but the CTA has gotten rid of this feature (it slows boarding). Paying with transit cards Transit cards are sold at all rail stations and at the CTA's headquarters. There are two types of transit cards: stored-value and unlimited rides. Unlimited ride cards can be purchased at the CTA headquarters and from vending machines at select CTA Stations (O'Hare on the Blue Line, Midway on the Orange Line, and Chicago on the Red Line), as well as from a variety of retail outlets throughout the Chicago area, such as currency exchanges. They are available for one day ($5), two days ($9), five days, seven days, and thirty days. There are also reduced fare cards available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, Chicago Public School students, and students of certain area universities as well. There are plans to install fare card and transit card vending machines at downtown Metra train stations (Union Station, the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the LaSalle St. Station) in early 2006. Paying with Chicago Cards Main article: Chicago Card The Chicago Card (along with the Chicago Card Plus) is a contactless smart card, powered by RFID, used by riders of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to electronically pay for bus and train fares. Fares paid with the Chicago Card are less expensive than they are for other riders; $1.75 for a one-way fare, and $0.25 for transfer to up to two other rides within two hours of initial fare. Recent fare changes As of January 1, 2006, the CTA significantly altered its fare table. Prior to this change, all fares paid for either by cash, magnetic-striped card, or Chicago Card were $1.75 one-way and $0.25 for a transfer good for two additional rides within two hours. Cash fares on buses were increased to $2.00 for each ride, with no transfers available for cash customers and cash no longer being accepted by L turnstiles. Customers paying with the magnetic-striped Transit Card now pay $1.75 on buses, $2.00 on the L, and $0.25 for transfers. Riders paying with the Chicago Card continue to pay their fares at the old rate of $1.75 one-way and $0.25 for transfers. To clarify, the transfer is charged to the card when paying for the second ride; the deduction is not automatic. See the CTA's guide for easy to digest information. Bicycles on the CTA Bicycles are allowed on the CTA at all times except during rush hour (weekdays, 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM) and on various holidays in which rider traffic is especially heavy (the 3rd of July for Independence Day Fireworks, Venetian Night). Riders are encouraged to place their bikes in the one section of each train carriage where there is extra room for wheel chairs. The seats found in this space can be raised to allow more space. Drivers have the discretion to deny access to anyone with a bike if they decide that conditions are too crowded. All CTA buses are now equipped with bike racks in front which can accommodate two bicycles. On buses, if there is insufficient space in the racks, riders will have to wait for another bus or make other transportation arrangements: no bikes are ever allowed inside the buses. Metra trains and Pace buses are under different management and as of 2006 do not generally allow bikes, with the exception of Metra trains on weekends. CTA Folklore CTA buses were known as the "green limousine" or the "big green" - buses were one or more shades of green from the 1950's through the 1980's when a more patriotic color scheme was adopted and the older buses were gradually painted or phased out. A notable color scheme was the "Bicentennial" of about 1974 to 1976. From 1976 through 1990, the only bus purchases made for regular CTA routes were approximately 200 Flyers and 460 MANs. The 1972-76 fleet of New Looks (numbering 1870) comprised the majority vehicles in service into the early 1990's. One exception to this was the purchases in 1979 and 1983 of the "big bend" articulated buses. These buses ran on the busiest routes, including high-profile downtown routes such as Michigan Avenue and Express routes such as those using the Stevenson Expressway. Riding in the "bend" could give a rider extra thrills because the ride was very bouncy. See also Chicago 'L' List of Chicago El stations Samuel Insull - early pioneer in Chicago rapid transit. His Chicago Rapid Transit Co. was the predecessor to the CTA. Mass transit in Chicago Transit fares External links Chicago Transit Authority - official site, including a trip planner, and system maps. Keep Chicagoland Moving - official CTA site to encourage support for mass transit funding. Ask Carole - the blog of CTA Chairman Carole Brown. Chicago "L".org - the Internet's largest resource for information on Chicago's rapid transit system. ChicagoBus.org - a site covering CTA bus operations. Bill Vandervoort's Chicago Transit and Railfan CTA page - unofficial enthusiast's site. Yahoo! Groups CHICAGOTRANSIT - a Chicago Transit mailing list discussing CTA and its sister agencies. Midwest Unrest - a site by a group that tried to organize a fare strike to get the CTA to delay cuts in December 2004. Chicago Card reloading locations Official Chicago Card website Search Term: "Chicago_Transit_Authority" Categories: Intermodal transportation authorities | Transportation in Chicago | Bus transit | RTA | Chicago Transit Authority | Contactless smartcards | Fare collection systems

Headaches ahead for Chicago transit Authority riders