Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CTA reports summer ridership gains, public funding boost from RTA
Summary
Acting CTA leaders reported higher summer ridership and stronger July revenues; the Regional Transportation Authority allocated $74 million toward CTA public funding marks for fiscal 2026, officials said at the Sept. 10 board meeting.
Acting President Norliff said CTA ridership grew 4% year over year across June, July and August, producing roughly 3 million more rides this summer than in 2024. "This strong ridership growth is driven by significant growth in rail ridership," Norliff said, adding that rail ridership rose about 7% and that the Red Line North, the O'Hare branch and the Loop Elevated were major drivers.
The agency's chief financial officer, Tom McCall, reviewed July financial results, saying system-generated revenues for the month were positive versus both last year and the board's budget. "Total system generated revenue year to date through the first seven months of the year [is] $10.4 million positive to budget, $18 million better than where we were last year," McCall said. He reported operating expense variance favorable to budget and noted a one-month additional payment to the injuries-and-damages reserve.
Board members asked for detail about an RTA allocation flagged in the financial presentation. McCall said the Regional Transportation Authority's mark-setting process established public funding levels for next year's budget and included $74,000,000 allocated toward CTA for 2026. "That is 2026 funding," McCall said. "...It shows up in those public funding marks for budgeting for next year."
McCall also told the board CTA expects to finalize a power purchase agreement this month and report at the October meeting. He said non-farebox revenue has benefited from stronger investment income this year. Passenger fares and passes for July were "ahead of where we projected for the month," McCall added, and July ridership patterns helped one-day and 30-day pass sales.
Why it matters: CTA leaders said the ridership and revenue trends provide short-term fiscal breathing room as the agency moves into a budget season marked by ongoing funding uncertainty. The RTA allocation will be incorporated into the public funding marks used to develop the CTA's 2026 budget.
