Chicago Transit Authority

I never take buses, so I won’t talk about them but I always take the train like I’ve been doing most of my life. Only common concerns are driving to get to Midway and being at a train stop during congested hours primarily. I refuse to drive because of the photo red light/​speed traps (scams)… The day I will give CTA 5 stars is when they have no budget crises or any Chicago problems in general not related to CTA and extend the Orange line to Ford City or Further, along with a circle line or adding more stops to help the needs of others in need of transportation.

After reviewing my Ventra card activity after our 5 day stay in the Windy City, we tallied 32 bus rides and 8 L rides total. Without any major issues on our travels using CTA, I can say that I am a fan. We got full value out of the $ 28 7-​day pass Ventra card. If you don’t want to mess around with the refunded $ 5 card fee when you purchase at a machine, you can go to the ventra website prior to your trip and they will mail your card to you without the $ 5 charge. I would go to the Ventra website anyway if you’re unfamiliar with the system. There is plenty of helpful information and videos which will probably answer any questions you may have.
We didn’t spend a dime on a rental car, cab, or UBER. We never worried about things like taking a wrong turn or getting lost. We didn’t have to drive around in circles to find parking nor did we have to follow anyone to their parking spot. We were never late. And we didn’t pay one parking fee, especially the bend-​you-​over hotel overnight parking fee.
From our Magnificent Mile hotel location to any of our destinations, we never had to make more than one transfer and we never had to walk more than two or three blocks. Google Maps was an invaluable tool that I used to get from point A to B that never let us down. We were able to find exact departure and arrival times, stop locations, and bus/​train numbers using the app.
Yes, it is public transportation so there are some unsanitary areas. You’re sure to find some homeless and just general Shady McGradys hanging out. I was always aware of my surroundings and I never felt threatened or in danger.
I’ll have no problem using CTA on my next trip to Chicago and the hundreds I save will be used for a nice dinner or to upgrade to a hotel in a more convenient location.

Its 55 degrees in Chicago we all know what that means! Get ready to roast alive on your commute downtown because these idiots blast the heat in the overpacked cattle cars!!! Completely unnecessary.
Makes riding the redline even more terrible than usual.

The Green Line is so much worse than the Red Line
The Green Line takes you through one of the worst parts of the City Of Chicago like Garfield Park, & Austin DO NOT TAKE THIS TRANSIT SYSTEM!!! I guarantee you that you would be saving your own self from being a Violent Crime victim. People say that the Howard red line is very bad, i rather be in the Red Line than the Austin Green Line through the West Side. If you take the green line it can take you Through the South Side as Well even Very Bad Areas Like Washington Park, Fuller Park, and Englewood DO NOT TAKE THE RED LINE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT!!!

I don’t have to take the CTA everyday. I don’t live in Chicago but then again I don’t take the TTC everyday and I do live in Toronto. Seeing so many negative things here about Ventra, the CTA and such all I can say is the citizens of Chicago that are customers of the CTA and Ventra… as bad as you think you have it be happy you don’t have to rely on the TTC.
I like the CTA and I’ll tell you why:
–The CTA is NOT the most expensive city transit to use in North America (Toronto is based on cost of passes, basically the foundation of your ridership)
–The CTA doesn’t get ripped off by fares in a sense of having an automatic payment system whether Ventra or Tap and Pay using your own bank/​debit/​credit card etc.
–The CTA has 2×24 hours subway lines (red and blue)
–The CTA has 2 airports served by CTA rail system (in Toronto we don’t even have one TTC train service our main airport and the other airport is on an island)
–The CTA has a wide rail coverage system over a vast area in 2 subway lines and 4 to 6 elevated lines depending on how you want to count the Brown/​Purple/​Red/​Yellow extensions in the North.
–The CTA has a lower ridership than Toronto but about double the quantity of rapid transit (subway/​elevated train) stations than Toronto and can charge LESS to operate the system.
My wife and I spent the last 5 days in Chicago and were either walking or using the CTA and over the entire 5 days because we bought 7 days passes it cost us a combined 56 dollars in CTA fares using Ventra. This included a ride back and forth from O’Hare airport multiple bus rides all over, the L etc. One cab ride from O’Hare to Magnificent Mile would have cost more than 56 dollars.
The CTA is convenient, easy to learn, easy to use and quick service while being affordable and feasible to use as opposed to taxis, Über etc.

This morning (June 22, 2015) between 8:00am and 8:03am, at the North Ave & Long bus stop (going eastbound). I was patiently waiting for the bus when… as it came, totally just passed me up! I managed to run to it’s next stop (North ave & Lockwood, eastbound). When on, the bus driver was very inconsiderate, unconcerned, and refused to give me his badge number, or employee ID of any kind. The number written on the bus was 6797, the Ventra register on the bus had the 4-​digit number of 1063. Completely dissatisfied with this his service, and others like him. Quite frankly, I’m fast, and can catch the bus even if they routinely miss their mark, but I write this because: WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HE’S PASSED UP, with no concern. This needs to stop.

A huge THANK YOU to the overnight worker who found my wallet on the platform and turned it in on the night of June 16, 2015! And also to the lovely lady in the booth (black lady with short dark hair with purple highlights) who held on to it in case I came back for it the next day, which I did. I wish I had gotten their names. It helped restore my faith in people.
As for the person who stole money and credit cards from my wallet, but kindly left the rest alone, I hope it was worth it. I feel sorry for you.

First off, it’s public transportation. Thus, expect all of the things and people that comes with that.
However, it’s public transportation and it’s awesome to pay so little to get around, specially as an out-​of-​towner! Once we figured out the color and directions of the trains, we got to go everywhere at any time!
I was even able to take the trains back to O’hare at the end of my trip for a 6 AM flight! Total spent on the trains for my trip including to and from the airport? $ 35. Awesome.

***I really enjoy riding the CTA because it connects the city so well; it is easy to hope on it and get to all kinds of attractions and restaurants in a consistent time; this stations lets out to popular Chicago restaurants like Avec, Blackbird, Grace, and Sepia***
I am not sure what the parking situation is in this area; this station is on the edge of downtown so maybe parking is not that expensive around here.

Passengers beware — it seems that CTA has allowed the blue line from O’Hara to turn into a homeless shelter. This morning @ around 8 am there were at least 8 homeless men sleeping under blankets in one car. No effort was made to remove them — Unsafe!

I HATE CTA! I’m waiting on the 115 and one pulls up, I get on and pay. Then a lady gets on and says is this the 111 or 115? The driver says 111 and I say it says 115 — the driver says oh sorry.
REALLY CTA, are you that broke that you have to charge people twice? Your drivers are lazy and no NOTHING ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE! CTA SUCKS!!!

I’m a big fan of trains, and when I’m in Chicago I appreciate that I can always take the El/​Subway from either major airport to and from my usual destinations. Fares have remained low. (I now live in the San Francisco area, where commuter train fares are charged by distance, and most rides are quite expensive by comparison to Chicago.) While CTA doesn’t necessarily run according to its timetable, it has so many routes and they run so often that most of the time (other than late at night), there is rarely too much of a delay. The buses and trains are pretty clean compared to many years ago.
I am not a fan of the new Ventra fare system where you have to pay an initial $ 5 deposit plus your fare, and then go online to get the $ 5 back. Pain in the @$$. (I may not have this quite right; it was quite difficult to figure out, and I’m a tech professional.)

Yes, numerous Chicago citizens MUST rely on CBS services which is most assuredly a ‘defenseless’ position for any individual. The shame comes in how this corporation annually and consistently raises the costs of commuting with expected vigilance, these days.
They began such fare increases back in the ’70’s but in the ’70’s raised the fares twice in one year! That management crew was then ousted and shamed [by the media & citizens] for their overt and apparent attempt to siphon money from the corporation into their own pockets.
New management under the African-​American female [whose name I fail to recall at this time] promised to never raise fares unjustly and without proper notice to the citizens. But within a period of 2 measly years the new management reneged on that promise citing ‘increased operational expenses’ for old, worn out bus fleets and need for new fare boxes and transitioning from paper transfers to new CTA Fare Cards which the citizens did not mind, that time.
Today I can only pray that the corporation is better at managing the corporation and not increasing fares as high as in the past.

It’s been a long time coming, but I finally remembered to review the gruesome, inefficient, Chicago Transit Authority Corporation. The services provided by the CTA truly epitomize the essence of incompetence.
From the rampant crime in almost every station, to the recurring smell of urine in almost every station, there isn’t anything remotely enjoyable about riding the CTA except for the occasional El ride with an empty car and a nice view. Unfortunately, most of us city dwellers are forced to ride it, because who wants to pay for parking or a cab every single day?! I sure as hell do not.
Ventra has been a nightmare; I am routinely charged extra by the machines, and despite writing complaints, I am never refunded. Further, the trains are consistently overcrowded with uneven run times, making the commutes last longer. Efficiency is not the CTA’s strong suit. Also, who remembers the moron who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed a train into the O’Hare escalator?!
There is really nothing good to say about the CTA. It’s a shame so many of us are so reliant on it. It’s like the airlines or cable companies — we hate them, but we are forced to use them! Damn monopolies… The dysfunctional inner workings illustrate even further how the government should not run companies like this. Public trans, unlike our parking meters, should absolutely be contracted out!

After spending three days on the CTA, I’m impressed. Yes, it’s a little slow and it’s old. Could it use updates? Sure. However, it functions getting people out and around the city. I commuted in from the Rosemont station. My favorite line is the Brown Line. I rode the Brown, Red and the Blue Lines. The Red Line is definitely a lot grittier than the other lines. Unlike New York, the line wasn’t completely congested with panhandlers, but you definitely had to be aware of your surroundings. It did get very crowded at times, but it was easy to navigate.
Plus you can’t beat the view from the Brown Line. I’d ride it again just for that view. So take it for what it is. Well used, filled with «interesting characters», easy to navigate, with a few hidden gems along the way.
Tip — avoid the lines and buy your Ventra pass anywhere but the station.

It’s kind of hard to rate Chicago’s transit system right after visiting NYC. This is probably the 2^nd best mass transit in the country.
But I do have some complaints. First off, their new Ventra concept is awesome. One of those smart tap credit cards. Genius! However, it does cost you $ 5 per card. But I guess that technology does not come cheap.
If you’re a visitor for more than a couple of days go with one of the unlimited packages. You will totally use the value and then some.
We had the weekly unlimited pass even though we were there for 4 days. After the 2^nd day we had used up the price and then on the way back to the airport instead of a cab ride we paid for the original cost of the cards.
As far as the transit system if you stick to the trains (color lines), it’s spectacular, but when you start using their bus system, is when you want to start pulling your hair out.
The color lines run pretty consistent and are fast. The buses on the other hand are hit or miss. Certain buses by the end of the trip I noticed were more on time. While other more specialized buses, I guess, would often miss there time window not once or twice and end up arriving after the 3^rd schedule pick up. Other times the bus drivers would just look at you and keep on driving. By the end of the trip I had decided no more buses and just walk to the nearest line and take that and walk some more because the buses were so unreliable even if it provided a «shorter route».

Don’t get me wrong, the blue line is great. I can’t complain too much about the service because it keeps me from having to own a car. I appreciate that it runs 24 hours to and from the airport, that’s where the issue comes.
The trains on this line are overly used and it is starting to show. The archaic seating arrangement isn’t very conducive to all the bags being brought on from O’Hare. After seeing the newer train cars on other lines I was shocked that the blue line didn’t get them first.
The seats on the train we got on last night were horribly dirty/​stained. Hope the blue line gets new cars soon!

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is largely an effective system. I’ve have only ridden the rails, or «the El,» given that the Orange Line is one of the train lines that actually circulates on that elevated ring, or loop, around downtown Chicago which has most of the stops one will need if visiting the Windy City. I don’t believe all of their dedicated heavy rail lines travel on this archaic structure, which feels really funky and slow when it’s elevated in that «canyon» between major buildings in the center of the city.
The Ventra $ 10 day pass is useful. It is an easy way to travel in the service zone and cheaper and less cumbersome than buying separate passages.
Both O’Hare and Midway airport trains come into the city via traditional subway type cars. It seems like the system is well thought out, with different nodes at which various lines come together, bus service splices in, and connections to other commuter rail options to the northern suburbs or areas to the south, as far as suburbs in Indiana, are available. Most of it seems to be above ground but, in the center, the Red Line does function as a subway for at least part of the way and runs parallel to and west of famed Michigan Avenue and its Magnificent Mile.
I’m deducting a star because the trains aren’t the cleanest, there are some sketchy types on board (damn, that’s judgmental), and parts of the infrastructure are old. There are periodic service interruptions to address this. I got nabbed in such an interruption. On the Orange Line from Midway, the track between two important stations, Halsted and Roosevelt, was closed for work. For a trek that should take about 4 or 5 minutes on the train, the «bus bridge,» with its waits on both ends, took about 20 minutes. Then, if you think the track infrastructure is old, check out the dated stations in the Loop, which look like something put together at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Regardless, they have their charm.
When you first board a CTA train, the first thing that hits you over the head is how multiethnic, diverse, and crusty Chicago is. Yet, despite that, there are NO bilingual announcements. How would that even be feasible? So many different people from different places around the globe live there that it would point to some sort of «favoritism.» For that lack of bilingual announcements, I’d almost give them that star back. Sorry, but that’s just a pet peeve of mine. But, hey, at 4 stars, neither they nor I should complain.

If you use a Chicago Card here in Chicago you should be aware
of a few major things.
These cards contain a small microchip and certain things/​conditions
will possibly make your card malfunction.
In my case. last month on January 17 it was a very frigid day here
in Chicago.
Wind Chills below zero.
Of course I was out and about that day and I tried to use my Chicago
Card that day to no avail.
And. ever since that day my card has failed to scan on any bus or train
or at any re-​loading machine.
So. good thing I had registered my card on line because I called in
and was told as long as my card was registered they would replace it
and whatever dollar amount was on the card free of charge.
One stipulation. if you go down to 567 W. Lake in person and pick up
your card it is free.
If it is mailed to you there will be a possible 10 day wait and a $ 5.00 fee.
Well. personally I feel the C.T.A. gets enough of my money so I went
there in person today.
Up to the second floor service center, 4 cashier windows, only 2 cashiers
working 2 windows, a line out the door. Incredible!
And. when I finally got up to the window the crabby cashier asked me
for my I.D.and I turned in the old defective card and got a new one.
And. the $ 7.00 I had on the previous card was put on the new one.
So. here is the issue for me.
I have to travel down to lake street which is out of the way for me
because the C.T.A. sells Chicago Cards that could malfunction.
And. cold weather can do it!
But. personally. I am sick and tired of being inconvenienced by the C.T.A.
And. I am inconvenienced quite a bit standing on corners waiting for busses.
C.T.A… You take me money. You need to get it together.

Magneto strikes (my wallet) again! My CTA Plus Card got demagnetized. For weeks I would play roulette getting on my bus (usually after all other riders) and the train, hoping my card would «take» after a few swipes on my pants leg (ancient bus driver’s secret) or wool coat. The card finally failed, and so I easily deactivated it online.
Once you deactivate, you can immediately pick up a new card! The CTA Sales Center is on the 2^nd floor of their building on Lake, and there are a few computers right up there that you can access your account information, if you need. There are a few people working Customer Service who are nice, and the Sales Center is where you get your new card.
They also have a Lost and Found for items lost on the CTA. (Wow, novel idea!) So if say, you find someone’s wallet, take it here and let CTA handle it! I’m sure the person that lost it will appreciate your honesty, and will call CTA to retrieve it with all of its contents still intact.
I’m sure service at the Sales center depends on whoever’s working, similar to the DMV. My wait at 1:30pm was only 15 minutes and my time at the window picking up my new card took less than a minute. My new card was FREE. It happened so fast, I was wary that the lady had tied my new card to my monthly account, but she did! Easy Peasy! Don’t hate! Appreciate!