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Chicago Transit Authority CTA
Rating Details »
Category: Public Transportation [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near West Side567 W Lake Street
(between Clinton St & Jefferson St)
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 664-7200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clinton (Pink, Green)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
175 reviews for Chicago Transit Authority CTA
RE: Chicago Transit Authority CTA
I travel a lot to different cities throughout the US, and the Chicago Transit Authority CTA is by far the most pleasant , very economical on using it. Chicago has always been one of favorite cities. For a large city it does have small town heart.
I am too tired to fight. I am so so sick of riding the CTA, only to be best by delays, attitude and lies. I am so so sick of 18 minute drives taking and hour and fifteen minutes. I am so so sick of calling in to speak with a transportation manager to find out what the h#ll is going on, only to be told "he gone home." I am so so sick of freezing for 25 minutes during rush hour, as three buses decide to come at once. I am so so sick of train delays, re-routes and other foolishness which, to my naked eye, amounts to a series of 'workers' standing around not doing a d@mn thing. I am so so sick of the head-banging incompetence of any and everyone involved in decision making at the CTA. Look: it's easy. Balance your d@mn checkbook. People do it every day. Have drivers who don't like to work/do their job on time? You're in luck!! There are LOTS of people who are currently unemployed and would love to have a job. Looking for someone with transit experience to run things and not learn on the job? Perfect! Don't hire another friend with zero pertinent experience and expect a different outcome.
KEEP your bus tracker. Just run your GOT DANG BUS ON TIME and we won't need it!
You waste way too much of my time and money, CTA. I feel like a moron even writing this review. It's like screaming into the wind. I call, I show up in person, I go to meetings...nothing.ever.changes. If you can't get me to and fro in a reasonable amount of time, how the h#ll did you ever think you could handle the Olympics?
With every fiber of my being, I hate you.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/7/2009
O.M.G. I d@mn near lost my mind and had a psychotic episode at CTA headquarters!! Today's episode… Read more »
You know those self washing toilets that clean themselves after every use? That is what I recommend for the CTA trains. I mean, it seems to fit... people piss and shit in them so why not clean it out as such?
I lived briefly in Chicago and thought I was so damn cool for always riding around on these piss trains. My light pink Calvin Klein puffy coat eventually turned brown after a month of riding. Taking the train from Jefferson Park to Damen would ensure I'd at least exit with some dirt under my nails but still, I was true to you. True to you despite the fact that your trains and buses came inconsistently, sometimes one after another, sometimes a 40 minute gap in between. I also hated your outside platforms. WOOD?! How about I just break my neck now to avoid slipping on your wet platform later.
I recently headed back to Chicago and we took the "L" from O'Hare of Clark/Lake. You can smell the trains from baggage claim. I about puked when I entered and swore I sat in piss. Upon exiting at Clark/Lake, there are helpful signs indicating which way to head for one of the multiple transfer trains. CTA, you need to improve.
Where CTA wins kudos:
You run 24 hours a day. Way to help the homeless stay warm in the harsh winters!!
Cheaper than DC metro. You can buy a monthly pass and it's a flat rate no matter how far you go.
Easy to follow bus routes.
You guys have no idea how good you have it in Chicago. I have to drive 20 minutes to go anywhere and then deal with parking. Being able to just hop on a train and go places is a pleasure. I have spent much time in NYC and the cars and stations are much nicer in Chicago. The fares are a little more expensive but you can avoid gouging by buying a multiday pass. Its surprising how much cleaner these trains are than NY. I love the layout with the loop also. Very smart... I'll be taking CTA to the airport Tuesday and to explore the city tomorrow. I'm sure it will get me where I need to go.
OK, I am now slightly less angry with you. Though I am still not happy about waiting twice as long for the already-pokey Damen bus.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2009
Dear CTA,
Wow, I'm really looking forward to paying even more for your totally subpar service! I'm so… Read more »
I have now been a daily rider of the CTA for over a year now, and I have gotten a lot of experience with it. I generally say that service is pretty good, a lot of friendly workers and decently on time.
Lately though, especially on the 35th street bus, I have had a lot of problems with the drivers not paying attention, missing pickups, drop-offs and not actually driving, sitting through several lights for no reason causing two buses to be back-to-back. It seems like for all this money we are paying for fares, we could get some decent drivers or at least ones who will pay attention.
I hate you CTA. You always make me wait, freeze my buns off or make me sit in something that used to be inside another human being.
I'm a native of Chicago. I've been riding the CTA for over 20 years. And it has never been pleasant, clean or on time. I mean ONCE in a while, they'll run their shiny new buses through the nicer more influential areas of Chicago, but it always buckles in quality eventually.
I've been to many cities throughout the world and most cities, even post war-torn cities, have managed to build more efficient, clean and timely transit systems. I simply don't know why we can't get it together. Its not like we don't know winter is coming, its not like the streets are rearranging themselves like in the movie The Cube and its not like the transit habits of Chicagoans change all that drastically save for a festival or two in the summer and a sudden blizzard in the winter.
CTA, I simply can't stand you. You and your greasy hand rails.
:(
Background: I used to work in city/transit planning in NYC. The CTA, in my opinion, seems like an eager organization (as far as transit operators go) and does a decent job with their limited resources. They are generally pretty friendly, and they clearly put effort into customer service initiatives like Bus Tracker, the crisp automated announcements, and the hoards of customer service reps when they have service changes.
American city dwellers in general *love* to complain that America's metros don't run like their European counterparts, but nobody wants to put their money where their mouth is. Take Paris, a city that is roughly the same size (slightly smaller city, slightly larger metro area). The RATP gets $10 billion a year from the government to operate the rapid transit system, while the CTA gets less than 1/7th of that to work with.
So if we'd like to increase CTA's operating budget by 750%, I'm sure we too could have pretty stations, shiny new trains, and new lines being built. (In fact, that would be a great thing!) Or, you could pay $8 for a one-way ticket on London's (semi) privatized Underground.
That said, I find riding the quirky 'L' to be kind of awesome, kind of like a low-intensity roller coaster ride with great views. The 'L' needs serious expansion, and misses enormous swaths of the city. The CTA really ought to reconsider its line extensions on the Orange and Red and put those efforts into things like the Circle Line to create better interurban connections. Chicago is too spread out already--development should encourage density in the core, not push it even further out.
Oh. The farecard vending machines are horrendous.
As a middle-class resident of West Town, CTA works great for me. I can buy passes at my Blue Line stop, at either of the closest grocery stores, or the Currency Exchange down the street. I have the internet and a credit card, so I can even order a Chicago Card delivered right to my door with no hassle at all.
This summer, I took the bus or the train with my students every day. My students are from the real west side, and things weren't so easy for them. To get permits to use their reduced fare passes, they would have needed phone access, a guardian with the time and mobility to find, fill out and submit applications, two dollars, and an address for the permits to be sent to. At least two of those things would have proved insuperable obstacles to most of the children, and they would have spent the summer with their friends on the street corners. My kids are hardly thugs, but that's literally what their friends and siblings did all summer long. They just didn't have many options.
The reason my kids got to leave their neighborhoods this summer and go to the beach, to museums, to the library, to Chicago Sky games, to movies in the park and Chinatown and Pilsen and Lincoln Park, is that CTA stations are staffed by human beings. No individual is going to tell a group of schoolkids that they can't go play on the beach with their teachers. I felt bad for putting CTA employees in that position, but I also felt angry that CTA itself made it so incredibly difficult for us to follow the letter of the law.
You might think that if you paid the highest transit prices in the nation that the service would surpass other cities.
You would be wrong.
I don't believe that public transport should be privatized, and the CTA is a clear example of why not. If something is subsidized by government money, it should have to meet government standards, which (if they were to exist..) may prohibit exploiting minority populated areas, catering to more wealthy districts, and oh i don't know, filling with smoke every now and again.
The people who work for the cta have a lot to deal with and by no means is this problem theirs to bear. Raising the fare is maybe the only way to pay the staff a fair wage, and i understand this...but perhaps if money hadn't been mismanaged and quick fixes used for so long we wouldn't be paying for it now. Raising fares, more advertisements, and a gift shop? then why is there a DECREASE in service?
p.s. the cta's scam where you HAVE to buy a u-pass unless you are disabled is insane. I'm glad it is 85 a semester for something i ethically don't support, cool.
Two words... Dead Hookers.
Thats what the trains are filled with. That and drunk bums. To boot, they'll reduce services and raise rates at any opportunity.
However, for free they will entertain you. They put up the funniest signs on the blue line O'hare to downtown in under 45 minutes. I laughed until I soiled myself.
TOKYO 2016!!!!!!!
Ok, CTA employees restored my faith in humanity..... I am a flight attendant, and I take the good, OLE blue line to and from O'hare to my home in the loop. The Dearborn Street subway construction is getting really really old.
Last week, I was stuck on the train at Grand because there was a one track operation at Clark and Lake, because of said construction. we were at Grand for almost 30 minutes while we had to wait for O'hare bound trains to clear.
That's all well and good, and I, of all people, understand about delays, ect. But after 30 minutes of sitting there, I REALLY had to "powder my nose!" I walked off of the train and headed to the first car where the train operator was, and asked him how much longer we would be sitting here. He smiled and politely told me the situation, and that we would be waiting for at least 2 more O'hare trains to pass before we would be able to move. I asked him if there was any way that I could use the restroom upstairs. He then tried to find the supervisor to see if I could, but he had just disappeared down the tracks.
He told me that I had plenty of time to go and come back and the train would be still sitting at the station. He then told me to go up and tell the security guy that the conductor said I could use the bathroom at the station. I thanked him and ran up top.
The security guy wouldn't let me use the station bathroom, but he told me what restaurant I could go to and use theirs, and he promised to let me back in when I came back. Skeptical, but desperate, I followed his advice and off I went. When I came back, he DID remember me, and let me back down, and the train was STILL sitting there. I hopped back on the train in my same seat, and not 2 minutes later we FINALLY on our way.
Now I am sure the operator was getting bombarded with angry people wanting to know how much longer, long before I asked him myself. The fact that he calmly, and politely answered my questions and request impressed me. The fact that the security guy could have been a complete jerk and not let me back down to the train again, but didn't impressed me too. They didn't have to help me as much as they did, but the fact that they did. I wish the CTA had more employees like these.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2009
I am grateful that we have the CTA, but after using mass transit in, London, Paris, Brussels,… Read more »
Though I can for sure say that this isn't the absolute greatest transit in the world (Europe's got way more on us), I'm a huge, huge fan of the Chicago Transit Authority. I have been prompted to update my review after visiting their newly updated website (http://www.transitchic...) and being pleasantly surprised. I really love the format! It's very user friendly and very informative. I was on the website to try and find more information about bike racks at my local blue line station and everything I needed to know was there!! There were maps of stations, routes and specific information about the kind of bike racks located at my blue line station. That's exactly what I wanted to know!
The blue line is still great (albeit under construction to do some much needed repair/replacement of tracks) and runs quickly during the rush periods. I love the buses in this city, too. We really have one of the best and most extensive bus systems in this country. Have you ever been to New York? They have like three buses and it's super annoying (sure, they have way more trains, but still). Detroit has that one bus that sucks and who knows what is happening in L.A., but it ain't pretty. We really take our transit system for granted and I don't really know why. No other cities have the same kind of bus system as Chicago so suck it up and quit your complaining.
And just as a note, I'm as angry as you about fare hikes. It seems like they continually raise fares and don't really do anything. A lot of the money needs to go to the Brown Line overhaul because it costs way more than they ever estimated. I wish this wasn't the case, but I'll deal. I love our trains and buses because they get me from point A to point B quickly. Have you ever used the bus tracker? It's awesome!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2008
CTA is convenient and necessary. Aside from the occasional problems with late-ness, there's really… Read more »
The Bus lines and the Subway is a great way to see all of Chicago. I wanted to take a picture and dumb rude lady that worked for Securitas Security company told me I couldnt take a picture of the subway. Hello the Chicago subway is an iconic masterpiece. What a bitch....did I isten to her ? Hell no you know I took my pictures of the subway.....She wanted to feel important that rent a cop. anyways..... Loved riding the bus and the metro.
I heart the CTA, I wish we had half as good of a system in Seattle, but we don't, and for all you haters of the CTA try traveling a little and you will see how good you have it
I love the Visitors Pass we are here for the weekend and $14 for 3 days and it covers trains and buses, you can't beat that with a stick.
so we took the blue line into the City from O'hare then got on the Red Line to Addison and walked to our hotel on Broadway
that's the other good thing with all the rich and fattening food I will eat this weekend we walk a lot with using public transportation, and it allows us to see stuff you would miss if driving a car
Though this is the only source of transporation that gets me around Chicago, it is an unreliable and expensive method transporation that is simply unpleasant.
CTA trains called the "L" are expensive to ride. It costs $2 to ride the bus and $2.25 to ride the train. It is also unreliable in that you never really know when the bus or train is going to arrive. There is a set schedule for arrival times, but the trains never really seem to follow it. The trains are consistently experiencing delays. Many times I have been sitting on the train and the conductor comes on the intercom to once again apologize for the inconvenience and notify us that the train is experiencing technical difficulties. I understand if there are temporary difficulties, but difficulties almost everyday is unacceptable. I sit in the unmoving stopped train car for 10 minutes knowing that this will happen again tomorrow. The buses on the other hand are much more reliable time wise.
Other than cost and reliability, the "L" is very dirty. The tunnel at Jackson connecting the Red and Blue line smells like urine. They are constantly using chlorine to wash the tunnel floors, but even chlorine cannot cover the unbearable stench. Whenever I have to make the trek across the tunnel I hold my breath walking as fast as I can. Also some of the north side train stops have very little standing room. It is quite scary waiting for the train at those stops, because it seems so easy to fall right into the tracks. Riding the "L" is an unpleasant experience and if I were a tourist riding the "L" I would have a bad image of Chicago. The CTA really needs to revamp the entire system. But at the end the "L" gets me places .... unreliably, making a huge dent in my wallet, and making me want to spray the entire underground system with Lysol and Febreze.
Interesting Note - Enjoy the multitalents of the various acts scattered across the different train stations. The Jackson Red line and Blue line stops offers quality entertainment while waiting for the train that never seems to come.
I love public transportation mostly for the entertainment value. It's not reliable, cheap, or fast but I will allow a little extra time in my day because I am guaranteed to witness at least one random act of stupidity that raises the bar each and every time I ride.
I never expect for it to come from a bus DRIVER though. Usually the driver is my go-to guy (or gal) if I ever feel unsafe. If shit's going down, I slowly inch my way toward the driver.
However, last Thursday on my way home from work, the bus pulled to my stop and I headed to the front door. As I left, I gave a friendly salutation to the driver, "Thanks a lot! Take care!"
His response still gives me the creeps. "Oh baby, you take care too, I'll be thinking about *you* *allllll* night"
Yuck.
Honestly, after riding the MTA and DC Metro, the CTA looks a lot better to me.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2009
As far as mass transit goes, the CTA is really not THAT bad. Especially the train. The bus is an… Read more »
I have been riding the CTA since I was in the womb.
I'm a born-and-bred Chicagoan who grew up in a family of six with one car. We know and still depend on the CTA.
I have been taking it first to school, then work daily for the past six years. I've had a few near-mishaps on the Blue Line and survived a fire on the Red Line, but what occured last week makes me disgusted.
My brother takes the Blue Line (Forest Park branch) to UIC where's he's a part-time Sophomore.
Last Wed. afternoon he was riding in his train car, alone, around 1 pm reading his books. Two men entered his car from another through the emergency doors. This was while the train was in motion between the Oak Park and Harlem stops.
The first guy threatened by brother for his wallet, or he'd "kill him." My brother acted too fast and punched the guy without thinking. The second came up, strangled him till he went unconsious and took only his wallet, which had no plastic and only $40 in cash.
The Oak Park police found him unconsious at the Forest Park station, and he came to and had stitches done at Rush Hospital Oak Park.
CTA isn't returning calls or responding to our emails. It was only an aggravated assualt and battery.
Honestly, I know its a big city. There's always crime, and desperate times produce desperate acts. But can the CTA bring back the conductors from years past? At least acknowledge a crime this grave occured?
I can't believe Daley now wants Huberman as the head of the CPS. Well, I can, it is Chicago.
At the risk of sounding like a total crackpot, I'm in love with the CTA. To put some perspective on this, I come from a city that has no practical public transit system (Houston, TX). So, when I travel to other cities with decent public transit options, I simply fall under a powerful spell.
While the spell is potent, it is not complete. Most of the buses are relatively clean but I'd wash hands at the first chance. Most of the elevated lines are noisy inside the train, standing outside underneath on the street, or on the platform. The subway stations are dirty and noisy - I wouldn't eat off the floor and I'd pause before picking up anything that fell on the ground. "Do I really need that?" would be my question. All of it is pretty old and gritty except for the Brown and Green lines. Everyone uses the system to get around.
But, all a great bargain at $2.25 for a full-priced ride. I cashed in further by buying a 3-day pass for $14 at the airport. A great value to reacquaint myself with Chicago since my last visit was about 12 years ago. They have 1-day, 7-day, and 30-day passes, too.
On a whirlwind bromance with Chicago over a long weekend, I saw/did the following items during my 2.5 days with an assist from the CTA's mix of buses, subway, and elevated trains:
* Took the Blue line from O'Hare into the city to the hotel.
* Took the Brown line to the Paulina station for lunch at Pho's Hot and Spicy Thai.
* Hitched a ride on the 152 Addison bus afterwards and jumped off in front of Wrigley Field while the Cubs home stand was going on.
* Viewed the Art Institute, Millennium Park, and the Cloud Gate sculpture (aka the Bean).
* Took the 12 Roosevelt bus to University of Illinois-Chicago to Jim's Original Hot Dog where I learned to eat off an outside ledge like the locals.
* Picked up a free map with all of the bus lines at the Chicago Waterworks Visitor Center. (You can also get one at the Chicago Cultural Center.)
* Checked out the Buckminster Fuller and Alexander Calder exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
* Rode the 151 Sheridan through Lincoln Park to the Halsted terminus.
* Rode the Red line north to Loyola station then the 155 bus along Devon Avenue for an Indian lunch at Viceroy.
* Met fellow awesome Yelper, Jenny H, at the Diversey Brown line station then we took the 76 Diversey bus to Hot Doug's http://www.yelp.com/bi... on Saturday. We were first in line at 10 AM.
* Took the Green line out to Oak Park to check out the Unity Temple, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
* Ended up by mistake at the Garfield station when I hopped on the wrong bus and the driver didn't notice I was still on his bus as he headed towards the garage on the south side. Luckily, we spotted the error in time for him to pull off the freeway to make an impromptu stop outside this rail station for my repatriation back to the city. (Lesson learned: Do not be the last passenger on a route. Or, be sure to make a lot of noise. So much for blending in.)
While my Chicago Yelp colleagues may have a love-hate relationship with the CTA, I'm a fan. It got me around the city and allowed me to see a wonderful variety of neighborhoods (some pretty, some not) and people (some pretty, some not, some simply stunning). Now, I'm not just a fan of the CTA, I'm a fan of the city of Chicago.
Ugh, Ugh, and Ugh....that's what I've got to say when it comes to the rate hike in January.
My monthly transit pass just ran out yesterday and when I paid my friends at Jewel and my friends at the Currency Exchange place a visit, they both said they aren't selling any more monthly passes until the "new" rate cards come out, but they couldn't tell me exactly what date that will be...hrm...this seems a bit shady and weird that a price hike will occur now, considering gas prices are so low.
Thanks CTA for once again nickel-and-diming the working people who depend upon your services to get around this great city, since owning a car and parking are outrageous!
As someone who's coming from a different Metro city with unsatisfactory transit systems, I really liked CTA trains and busses. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I was giddy as a girl when it came to riding the El Trains. I really enjoyed myself and would definitely do it again.
I feel like I've been seeing less problems on the CTA and believe it or not, more on Metra! I got stuck on the BNSF to La Grange for 40 minutes because of signal problems! Plus one of my coworkers was late of couple times because of problems on the rock island. They want to be the CTA for Halloween this year haha.
I heart the bus tracker as I said in my old review. My pershing bus only comes every 20-25 minutes but it always comes at the same times - 650am, 710am and 735am. The bus tracker is spot on accurate too. So I've been getting to work in 18 minutes, including the transfer, for the last two weeks. It's really unreal. Too bad the way back isn't as great. It's always a 10 minute wait at least for the pershing bus on the way back from the 35 archer stop, meaning I'm better off walking because I can walk 6 blocks in 10 minutes. Oh well at least I'm never late to work.
All in all, because of the bus tracker, you are way better off taking buses. Plus, if the train breaks down you are stuck on it. If the bus breaks down another will come to get you or you can at least get off.
I never mentioned the west side trains in my old review because of a lack of riding them. I've been taking the Pink Line a lot lately and I love it! New clean stations, working heaters, no sketchy characters and it's fast. Comes pretty often too. No complaints here.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/10/2008
Here's my reason for the three stars - southwest side service gets 5 stars. Anything on the north… Read more »
You know, I'm just going to go straight down the middle and say that the CTA is A-OK. I've traveled to a bunch of cities, both domestically and abroad, and I can tell you that the CTA system (El and buses) are pretty darned good. Sure, a bunch of times some bus lines suck or the El can't run on time, but also a good number of other times, everything works out just fine.
I think that since we're dealing with a psuedo-government agency and one that is, has been, and will be underfunded, the fact that things run on time and you usually have relatively considerate employees (try having their job and see if YOU can even muster a smile), we have to give the CTA some props for being a decent and massive organization.
In no other city that I have lived or visited have the trains and many of the bus lines run 24 hours a day. In other cities, trains cost you based on the distance you travel, often ending up in $7 fares.
I'll take $2, or even $2.25, and all night service, over any of that.
While it's not 100% reliable, no public transit system in a city the size of Chicago can be. Plus, with the slow zones reduced to tiny bits of track, the Blue line is like the Zoom line now.
CTA, I love you.
To say I was born on the CTA is an exaggeration. To say I rode the CTA before I was able to walk is not.
Rating the CTA is almost impossible for me. It's like an aging relative -- sometimes it has good days, sometimes it has bad days. Are the good days good enough to make up for the bad days? For me, yes.
It's unfortunate that the CTA is a victim of our corrupt political system. No one in power is really vested in fixing the CTA. Its perpetual budget crisis is due in part to mismanagement from within, but primarily from the fact that politicians have more to gain from a transit system that is at least partially broken -- and which they can use to feed voters on both sides -- than one that works smoothly. Oh jeez, here I am on that soapbox again.
There are things to hate about the CTA. The 22 Clark bus is a mystery. It runs on whatever schedule it likes, and has done so for at least 15 years. The construction crews, which always seem to consist of at least twice as many men necessary to do the job, are a constant annoyance. But the CTA allows me to live in Chicago without a car, and is one of the things that has kept me here so long.
You know what I hate most about the CTA? People. And by "people," I don't mean CTA employees, despite the occasional rude driver. I mean the fuckwads who ride the system. The people who won't move to the back of the bus, or who stand in the exit door when there's plenty of room, or who spread themselves out over several seats. This is the latest development -- people who don't there stuff on the seat next to them, but the seat in front of them. WTF! Unfortunately, we live in a world of jerks, and there's nothing the CTA can do about that. Which is why I feel free to chew these idiots out whenever possible.
From the annals of urban insanity:
On an eastbound 80 CTA bus on Irving Park. We're pulling over at green lights and letting the light turn red rather than proceeding through the intersections.
That was so weird I asked the driver: "Why are you stopping at green lights?"
He says: "This bus is three minutes early."
I ask: "That's a bad thing?"
He says: "Early bus is like no bus at all, man."
I ask: "Is the bus ahead of you on time or late?"
He says: "Late, like most of 'em are."
I ask: "So, if the bus ahead of us is late and we're early, don't we sort of become the new 'on time' ?"
He says: "Uh,...oh...maybe. Lemme think about that at the next green light."
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/13/2008
Five stars for fast and friendly.
I had a defective Chicago Card Plus. It wouldn't work despite… Read more »
There's a common theme on Yelp for a reason, the CTA is only a moderately serviceable public transportation system. Compared to other cities, it's crap.
Likes:
For the most part, one can get nearly anywhere in the city on public transportation. Comparatively, the price is low and that's good.
Dislikes:
How can your financial mismanagement be so awful? How can it be a reasonable plan to NEVER clean or paint train stations? How can you justify the racist policies (look at the frequency of stops on the North Side compared to the South)? There are so many simple things that the CTA could do to make the ride better, and encourage fewer people to drive, but mostly the CTA is mismanaged and has too many employees who are under-supported, under-trained, and provide poor service. Get it together CTA. If Chicago DOES get the olympics, it'll be thanks to Barack Obama. If Chicago DOES NOT get the olympics, it'll be because of the CTA.
I am from Michigan. I had heard of this thing called "public transportation," but of course I assumed it was a myth, like sidewalks and foreign cars.
Then I moved to Chicago and saw this mythical beast... I fell in love immediately.
So as much as people complain about the CTA it still gets you where you need to go.
Honestly, I know it's not perfect and sometimes it lets me down, but I heart the CTA. Without it, I honestly couldn't get around without a car and since I can't drive due to a medical condition, I'd be shit up a creek.
I want to kill the 22 bus most days, but I'll live since I get what I pay for....
A lot of people bitch about the CTA, but try going to city like Milwaukee or Atlanta or Tampa and getting around on the public transit there. Shit ain't happening.
I'd give my beloved CTA a full five stars, but I've seen people puke and masturbate on the trains, and sometimes memories like that just don't sit right.
ah-right ah-right....it's FINE! Gets me to where I gotta go....but the expresses should be on the http://bustracker.com site!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2008
The express busses from Diversey to Wacker....the 134 and 143 to be exact ...USED to come every… Read more »
My brief experience with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) reminded me of NYC's MTA in format, availability, and efficiency. The staff I interacted with were professional and got me where I needed to be.
The CTA is convenient if you happen to live or work near a stop (if you don't have a car, they're kind of necessary). We took the Metro, via the Blue Line, both to and from O'Hare. While in town, we bussed from Navy Pier to a stop near our hotel. On the way home, I had to take a detour, ending up on a CTA shuttle for a bit. (Of course, when the CTA isn't available, one can always hail a taxi, especially if out late.)
Besides being very confused with how to pay for their Metro cards (uh, don't ask), we got ourselves three-day passes, perfect for weekends and worth it for out-of-towners, especially since they can pay for rail AND bus service. Give them a try if you've never!
For all its faults, and there are many, the CTA rocks. I don't know how I would survive in a city that didn't have a public transportation system. Really, I am an impatient person and if I had to drive everywhere and fight for parking regularly I'd probably be in jail for road rage. So thanks CTA for keeping me on the right side of the law.
I've been riding the CTA my whole life, way back before the days of the fare cards, Chicago Cards and those now defunct tokens. I remember the days of A & B trains and the conductor announcing each stop, which sounded like someone screaming into a mic with a mouth full of rocks. All I can say is kudos for all of the improvements, it's definitely made things more efficient and rider friendly!
I know people know people are frequently dogging the CTA, but seriously people, like John B, most of my complaints are with the riders. Use some common courtesy once in a while! Here are some tips:
* Say excuse me, don't just push by people
* If the bus is filling up, put your crap on your lap
* Don't clog the front of the bus or stand under the back sensor so the door inevitably jams and the driver has to come fix it
* If the bus or L is crowded and there's an empty seat you're standing in front of take it; I don't care if you get off at the next stop, it creates room. Or move so someone else can.
* Get up for the pregnant, elderly and handicapped
* Tourists and infrequent riders do a little up front research, we all hate when you stand in the doorway playing 20 questions with the driver while we all wait.
My 2 favorite things about the CTA? Chicago Card and Bus Tracker. Seriously, like other Yelpers have said the #11 has become my new BFF since getting added to bus tracker, and thanks for doing it just before winter too! Now please go and get the other routes I ride on bus tracker - double time!
Bottom line: Despite some of its faults and sometimes smelly buses or trains the CTA is great.
TIP: If you lose/break your Chicago Card, or if it blows out of your hand and gets run over by a train, you can order one online for pick-up or delivery OR you can go to the CTA office in the West Loop and get a new one on the spot.
TIP: This trip planner works way better than the Google one http://tripsweb.rtachi.../
The first thing I noticed when riding the CTA buses and trains is that they are far cleaner than in most cities. Nonetheless, there is a large room for improvement when it comes to the convenience and promptness of the transportation. If you're waiting at a bus stop for the 146, 147, and 151 for instance, you may see five 151 buses, and three 147 buses before you ever get the 146. It can be very aggravating. Also, it would be nicer if they had more train lines. In most cases, you have to take 2 buses to get to your destination in terrible Chicago traffic. Fact is, the train stops are scarce and in order to make transfers you have to go downtown to the Loop, which can be very inconvenient. Also, you can wait on a station at the Loop that serves 4 different lines and never know when your train will get there.On the bright side, the bus drivers are very friendly for city employees. I've been on buses in many major cities in the US and Latin American countries and Chicago has the friendliest drivers by far.
This is based on the facilities at Lake Street. I had to go here to pick up my new CTA Chicago Plus Card. I did order a replacement since the one I had for over 2 years stopped working. I waited for a month for the new card to show in the mail. It never did so I went to the headquarters to pick it up.
The CTA building is very nice and modern! The lady at the window that helped me was new and didn't really know what was going on. She was able to give me my new card and added a transit check that I had to my account. I left a happy camper with my new card that actually works now!
I love the CTA and all public transportation for that matter. What I don't love though is how most public transportation in the United States pales in comparison to urban areas across the pond.
Why can't the CTA add a circle train line? One that goes from University of Chicago to Western Ave, shoots up Western till the Brown Line and then cuts back to the lake and hits the Red at like Bryn Mawr? You know how awesome that would be?
Go to Berlin and comapre their U-Bahn and S-Bahn to the antiquated CTA and you will drool with envy. Imagine being able to leave Rogers Park and be at O'Hare in 30 minutes. If the Circle Train line existed you could. It would alleviate the need to ride on one of the East West bus lines during G R I D L O C K rush hour traffic and get you from the Red line to the blue without having to go all the way downtown.
Aside from my vexation due to not having a Circle Line I really do heart the CTA. Based on what it does offer it is way convenient (Why aren't the trains on bus tracker?) , affordable (even with the fare increase it still beats car payments, car insurance, oil changes, parking, gas, and sanity from driving in Chicago), reliable (many 247 buses) and the 'inspiration' for one of the greatest bands of all time (Chicago - originally named Chicago Transit Authority).
CTA, I heart you - just add a circle line and I'll give you five stars!
Yeah the CTA is f'd up financially. YEah they periodically bandy about disaster scenarios to scare up support for more $$$. Here's a fact most folks don't want to admit: you pay way less for a ride on this than you actually should. Go to DC, or the Metro in Paris, or SanFran, or Milan or anywhere else with an even comparable service....those are better but are also more expensive. That said, we have pretty damn good public transportation for what we pay.
Shit, I personally love that i can go weeks without touching my car and not miss it. Would love to see 'em bring back streetcars as well. Pretty much 24/7 there is a city employee whose job it is to take my drunk ass home. This is a beautiful thing for 2 bucks a pop.
Well, the people from Chicago, will tell ya, it is just like any public transportation like any other major city~
And with the age that shown from its wooden track and several stations, it has actually been keeping up fairly in great shape!
From the point of view of a business traveler~
CTA is MUCH quicker and efficient compares to the buses~
And just $20.00, you can ride however and wherever you want for 7 Days! with all public transportations.
In the bittering Chicago weather condition, some station even provides cozy services of the "Warming Zone"
How does that work? Well, with a semi open space, there will be several heating lights ready to heat you up, at the press of button.
Still~ nothing beats the bittering wind of Chicago!
ok...I dont think i have express my opinion enough on yelp yet.
But, here it goes...CTA you SUCK!!!
Seriously, do i have to wait 1+ hrs for the darn southbound 9 ashland bus. I totally feel sorry for the bus driver who heard smack, from every passenger who he ended picking up from Addison to Chicago Ave.
66 Chicago Ave you are no better.
This is a poor mans form of cheep transportation, I'm a poor man. But, Hell!! can you help me out. For me time is money getting to work late doesn't help.
I have quit using crappy CTA services do to lack of organization, cooperation and intelligence.
Yeah...I was the one, after that Sox game, who pissed on the green line platform you darn right you deserved it.
One last thing CTA...your MA'MA!!!
See now you gots me all mad
