CTA ridership up from last year, according to latest report

CHICAGO — According to the Chicago Transit Authority’s latest monthly report, ridership increased by a noticeable margin from this time last year.

The CTA report found that overall train and bus usage was up 13.2% overall in May of this year, compared to May, 2023.

When it came to the CTA’s Red, Blue and Green Lines, ridership numbers were separated into several subsections for each.

Ridership on the Red Line was calculated for the line’s North Side stops, South Side stops and the subway stops in the City, with an overall average also calculated.

For the Blue Line, ridership percentages were calculated for the stops from O’Hare International Airport to the Loop, the Loop, and from the Loop to Forest Park, with an overall average also calculated.

The Green Line had four subcategories, with ridership numbers being calculated for their stops from Lake – South L, South L – East 63rd, East 63rd – Ashland, and the overall ridership average.

Here are how the numbers broke down by CTA train line.

* NOTE: these numbers are averaged from weekday ridership. This was done to reflect numbers from a more consistent base of ridership during the week, as opposed to weekend days that fluctuate in length, and are also affected by tourism and holidays.

CTA lines and their ridership increases/decreases

Red Line North Side: + 8.4%
Red Line Subway: + 11.8%
Red Line South Side: + 12.5%
Red Line Average: + 9.97%

Purple Line: + 4.3%

Yellow Line: – 7.8%

Blue Line O’Hare: +15.8%
Blue Line Subway: +12.8%
Blue Line Forest Park: – 1.1%
Blue Line Average: + 12.45%

Pink Line: + 12.5%

Green Line Lake: +11.2%
Green Line south L: +14.4%
Green Line East 63rd: +8.8%
Green Line Ashland: +25.8%
Green Line average: +12.04%

Brown Line: +8.9%

Orange Line: + 4.0%

Loop Ridership (brown, pink, green, orange): +10.0%

For more information on the CTA’s monthly report, you can visit their website by clicking here: https://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/6/Monthly_Ridership_2024-5.pdf

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