r/cta 14d ago

Complaint Thread Monthly Complaint Thread

7 Upvotes

Public transportation isn't perfect. This is a place to let off some steam. As always, please speak from your own experiences. Take control of what bothers you and send your experience to the CTA via their feedback page.


r/cta 10h ago

Chicagooo! The CTA has some dancers!

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357 Upvotes

Posted by official CTA accounts leading up to the BTS concert last Thursday / Friday. The Yoongi Marry Me sign really gets me, and means that either one of the drivers is an ARMY or the social media person is an ARMY


r/cta 10h ago

I like trains I love the CTA and what it’s done for my new work commute!

110 Upvotes

I have no one else to talk to about this so I figured I would post it here to other train/CTA enthusiasts!

I moved here 9 months ago originally working from home! that job came to an end over this summer (startup job) and I found myself working up in Evanston that required me to have my car with me during the week. I have to travel to different places/buildings for my new job but thankfully everywhere I need to drive to for the job is located in Evanston!

during my first week on the job the commute to and from Evanston was absolutely draining me. the stop and go traffic to and from work was just making me lose my ever loving mind and I already have anxiety about being on time for work so being there earlier is for the better! I realized that if I just paid for covered monthly parking in downtown Evanston and took the purple line back home, I would get home in a solid 15-20 minutes VS an HOUR!!!

this morning was my first train commute to work and I got to my car in Evanston in 15 minutes!!!! I was so happy I almost cried lol

coming from a state that basically banned public transit, (shoutout the evil that is indiana 🙄) I feel so incredibly lucky that I don’t have to waste so much commuting time every day!! I get more time to myself in the evening, and I no longer have major anxiety about being late for work!

I love this city so much and I know all public transit isn’t perfect, but I really value having more of my personal time back and now I don’t have to worry about parking either.

we are so lucky to have the CTA and thank you for reading this if you made it here! I just love Chicago so much and moving here has been the best decision i’ve ever made for my mental health :)


r/cta 3h ago

Discussion Ashland Bus??

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29 Upvotes

Not these poor saps (see: me) waiting outside in this heatwave without any data or WiFi connection wondering when a northbound 9 or x9 is supposed to pull up.

Finally went inside a building to get on WiFi and check the app…

(See pic)

Ppl are gonna pass out/ get sick waiting for this bullshit.

Not cool, cta (literally)

Anyone have any insight here?


r/cta 3h ago

Discussion What was your experience today?

14 Upvotes

Twice I used the blue line which was delayed each time, then I waited 10 minutes on a bus that was cancelled due to unknown reason .


r/cta 30m ago

CTA Service Change Is the purple line getting a late express update?

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Upvotes

I’ve never seen a purple line train this late going express this is cool


r/cta 10h ago

I like trains Help ID the FINAL 25 signals for the book!

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17 Upvotes

Tracks of the Chicago L is almost complete for these signals!

After 11 months of research, mapping, and documenting the Chicago L, I’m down to the final 25 signal IDs out of 800+.

🔵 19 signals on the Blue Line
Between Belmont and LaSalle (see images)

🟢 6 signals near the 61st Upper Yard
Between the former 61st station and King Drive (see image)

The Blue Line tunnel signals have been particularly difficult to identify via cab-view videos.

If you have clear photos, cab-view photographs, or firsthand knowledge of these signals and their IDs, I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

Just 25 signals remain.

Help me identify these final 25 and complete the book! 😊 Thank you!

P.S. If you’re CTA rail operator/track workers, signalman, etc… who can’t comment publicly, feel free to DM me privately.


r/cta 21h ago

Discussion Well it's official, the RTA is no more

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61 Upvotes

the website got replaced (apologies in advance for the lack of editing)


r/cta 1d ago

Discussion Farewell To The Regional Transportation Authority (1974-2026)

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160 Upvotes

I will miss the RTA and their retro logo.

That is all. 😔 😟


r/cta 1d ago

Quick question ☝️ Why don’t CTA trains have live GPS trackers?

24 Upvotes

Is there any particular reason this hasn’t been implemented? I’m sure there is of course. I just don’t know it.


r/cta 10h ago

rant The CTA 9000 train is the vehicle equivalent of an ant mimicking spider that eats the comfier old trains so it can have the tracks to itself.

0 Upvotes

I hope the next time it purges its condensation it comes out sharp.


r/cta 2d ago

I like trains heritage fleet @ pulaski 🟠

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203 Upvotes

haven’t seen one of these before (only moved to chi this year) and got pleasantly surprised by its toot toot


r/cta 2d ago

today I saw… saw this train while dancing at the house music festival

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199 Upvotes

can someone tell me more about it? i’d love to ride it one day 😁


r/cta 1d ago

Ventra Help Help with Regional Connect Pass

3 Upvotes

Hi! I’m trying to buy a regional connect pass for the first time, but when I went to add it the app said that that option was not available for my account. I have a positive balance so I am confused what the problem could be…has anyone dealt with this?


r/cta 1d ago

Quick question ☝️ 331 Cumberland bus * every 30 mins*

1 Upvotes

Why does the 331 sometimes take so long or appear to become a ghost bus during the day and especially during rush hour? I was waiting in the rain for over an hour and a half, and I remember the route was recently improved. I’m curious why these delays or missing buses seem to happen so often. Is there a reason for this?


r/cta 2d ago

Quick question ☝️ is orange line ever getting newer cars?

34 Upvotes

the orange line is my home line and the only one still using 2600 series as its sole rolling stock. google only gives me a vague “it’ll update eventually”, so i was wondering if there was anything more specific about when it’ll update to at least a mixed fleet?

dgmw, i like the 2600s, but the inside of the newer series all feel so much more open comparitively


r/cta 1d ago

Discussion What’s up with bus times after 9pm?

9 Upvotes

Whenever I go into the Ventra app or the cta bus tracker website, they just don’t show any en route busses that come past 9pm. Is it because it’s night time and there’s less commuters?


r/cta 3d ago

today I saw… weird guy on the 151 bus today

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233 Upvotes

What is He


r/cta 3d ago

Chicagooo! Here is a CTA-inspired lofi beats album.

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11 Upvotes

r/cta 3d ago

Quick question ☝️ 49B reliability?

7 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm about to move right off Western (across from Rosehill) and was basically wondering whether in your experience the 49B is pretty reliable? I've lived near Andersonville for the last few years and am well used to the 50 and the 22 (where NB 50 is usually fine, SB 50 typically runs late/ghosts, and the 22 in either direction simply won't come until you've made a blood sacrifice and/or promised your firstborn).

I don't think I realized just how far my new place is from foster or the square, and I'll be almost totally reliant on the 49b to connect to other buses or the brown line. Am I cooked?


r/cta 4d ago

rant Pace stop was in the wrong spot on google maps and I missed a bus on Wednesday because of this and had to wait 45 minutes for the next one

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65 Upvotes

r/cta 4d ago

Station appreciation Western blue line elevator everybody

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49 Upvotes

r/cta 4d ago

I like trains Chicagoland Transit Accessibility Animation Made With GIS

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176 Upvotes

Made using ESRI ArcGIS pro, GTFS feed data, TIGER/Line road data, and a python toolbox made by ESRI.

Links to data sources, transit python toolbox, and youtube tutorial I used:


r/cta 2d ago

rant I always put my bag on the seat next to me, even during rush hour

0 Upvotes

I live in the Humboldt park area but work up north. Every time I get on a bus or a train in the north side, I sit down and put my backpack on the seat next to me. The bus or train fills up and people still stand. Doorway, aisle, hanging on the pole right there. Packed and that seat stays empty.

I’m Afro-Latino. On the North Side you notice it. You’ll watch people take a worse spot before they take the one next to you.

I know the bag is rude. Bags don’t get a seat. I’m doing it anyway. If the bag is there, I can tell myself I just didn’t want anyone next to me. That’s on me. That’s selfish and I can live with that.

If I move it and they still won’t sit, then I don’t get to tell myself that anymore. I’d rather look like the guy hogging a seat than feel like no one wanted to sit next to me bc of my race.


r/cta 4d ago

Discussion Number of inaccessible stations by line as of late august 2026

56 Upvotes

Blue Line: 18/33 (55%)

Red Line: 7/33 (21%)

Purple Line: 6/8 (75%)

Green Line: 2/31 (6%)

Pink Line: 0/14 (0%)

Brown line: 0/19 (0%)

Orange line: 0/8 (0%)

Yellow Line: 0/2 (0%)

Edit: Forgot the loop stations whoops
Loop: 2/7 (29%)

Excluding State/Lake since it’s closed for the time being