CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) ridership jumps to highest level in 20 years [View all]

By Jon Hilkevitch
Tribune reporter

3:51 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2012


Millions more passenger trips taken on the Blue and Brown Lines helped boost CTA ridership by 2.7 percent last year, reaching the highest level since 1991, the transit agency said today.

The CTA ridership gain in 2011 over 2010 edged out the 2.3 percent national average increase among U.S. transit systems that was reported this week by the American Public Transportation Association.

The potential exists for ridership to grow even more in 2012, in light of significantly higher gas prices today in the Chicago area compared to last year when the mini-boom in CTA ridership started to take shape.

CTA president Forrest Claypool said early indications point to the ridership increases continuing this year. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cta-ridership-up-chicago-transit-authority,0,4923536.story