The city’s transit agency made changes to its schedules to make wait times more predictable and streamline services on the most popular routes, but riders are still experiencing headways longer than before the pandemic.

Half a year into the Chicago Transit Authority’s redesigned service plan, rider complaints persist, writes Sarah Freishtat in the Chicago Tribune. “It’s not as convenient and streamlined as it used to be, especially for rush hour,” says one commuter. “The CTA is still running far fewer trains than scheduled on its two busiest lines, and the agency, like other transit systems around the country, continues to face bus and train operator shortages.”
Riders also express concerns about crime. “The Tribune found in December that the rate of violent crime on CTA trains began to drop in 2022 for the first time since the pandemic emptied public transit of many riders, but it was more than twice as high as the years before the pandemic.”
The agency changed listed wait times on its schedule and upgraded its trackers to limit ‘ghost buses’ in an effort to make headways more predictable and reliable. “CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the schedule changes don’t amount to running less service than before they were put in place, and they better match the actual service running.” But an ongoing operator shortage is making it difficult for the CTA to run more trains, and headways on some lines remain much longer than before the pandemic.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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