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CTA announces 10-minute frequent-bus routes, smoking enforcement missions and new rider communications
Summary
Acting CTA president outlined a frequent-network rollout beginning March 23, targeted smoking enforcement informed by chatbot complaints, new rider newsletter and podcast, and ongoing Springfield advocacy with contingency scenarios if state funding isn’t approved.
Acting President Nora Lisonbee (presented as Acting President in the transcript) told the board March 12 the CTA will launch a set of bus routes in 2025 that will receive 10-minute-or-better service during the day, with the first eight routes starting March 23. Lisonbee said the change reflects improved hiring and reliability, noting the agency now has more bus operators than in 2019 and “our bus service is regularly hitting over 99% of scheduled delivery.”
Lisonbee described a directed enforcement effort on smoking in stations and onboard trains: CTA security and contractors will concentrate at stations identified by chatbot complaints, board members were told, with officers boarding trains to remove anyone smoking and issue citations as appropriate. Lisonbee said the goal is both enforcement and visible presence so riders “see that we know about the issue, that we care about it, and that we're working on it.”
The agency will also launch a monthly rider newsletter called CTA Connection (signup at transitchicago.com/newsletter) and a podcast titled Moving Experiences, Stories of the CTA to share employee stories and system updates. Lisonbee said the CTA will make it easier for customers to submit compliments about employees through the chatbot menu.
On advocacy, Lisonbee told the board she has been to Springfield twice in recent weeks and testified before the House Appropriations hearing and Transportation Working Group. She said the Regional Transportation Authority asked transit agencies to prepare scenarios that show the consequences of not receiving additional funding and stressed the CTA’s work to avoid any cuts. Lisonbee said those scenarios will be public and that the agency will emphasize equity, saying it will not “abandon our values” when modeling potential reductions.
Lisonbee also noted the agency’s employee recognition plans for Transit Employee Appreciation Day and urged riders and board members to use the chatbot to submit employee compliments and to share photos for internal recognition campaigns.
