CTA drops capacity limits on buses and trains in Chicago

With Chicago’s entry into the final phase of City Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Open Chicago initiative, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has launched a new Transit Ambassador program – the latest component in the agency’s efforts to help welcome back transit riders as they resume their previous day-to-day activities. In addition, the CTA is also lifting all capacity limits on its buses and trains.

Wearing specially designed T-shirts, CTA’s Transit Ambassadors will be deployed to various stations across the system throughout the remainder of the month. The Ambassadors, who are CTA employee volunteers, will greet riders, answer questions and hand out information on the various measures the agency is taking to provide what it calls safe, clean comfortable transit experience.

“We’ve made a number of improvements over the last year-and-a-half, and deploying friendly, knowledgeable Transit Ambassadors throughout the system, is just one of the many ways we are working to help riders feel at home as they resume traveling our buses and trains,” said Dorval R. Carter, Jr., CTA President.

“The pandemic required many of our customers to work remotely, socially distance and stay at home for more than a year. Now that the city is opening up, we want to warmly welcome customers back and remind them that CTA is the convenient, affordable and safe choice to get around the city.”

Additionally, with the City of Chicago and State of Illinois transitioning to Phase 5 of the reopening efforts and removing capacity restrictions, the CTA is eliminating passenger capacity limits on buses and trains. Now, all vehicles will be able to run at full capacity.

The CTA had enacted limited capacity and social distancing policies during the pandemic. However, it claims also was the only major transit agency in the country to run at full service, in order to provide safe travel for essential workers and other riders making essential trips.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the CTA has enhanced the cleaning regime of its stations and vehicles, with new technologies and procedures. The authority says each vehicle is cleaned before going into service and throughout the day, in addition to routine deep cleanings.

In an effort to help re-enforce the federal mask mandate for public transportation, the CTA also has free masks available on every bus and at every rail station. The CTA has also distributed nearly 30,000 Travel Healthy Kits – each containing a reusable cloth mask, a 2 oz. bottle of hand sanitiser and a healthy travel tips guide – at various stations throughout the system.