Comparative Performance Analysis  Bus 

This section will compare the performance of the CTA with the following agencies: 

WMATA Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 
MBTA Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 
LACMTA Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
NYCT New York City Transit 
SEPTA Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 

The data is obtained from the National Transit Database (NTD) and is self-reported by the agencies. 

Comparative Analysis - Bus 

Average weekday bus ridership for the CTA is the third largest, after NYCT and LACMTA. As the graphs indicate, the CTA performs well when compared to its peers in the areas of service efficiency and cost effectiveness. The CTA has the lowest operating expense per vehicle revenue hour, as well as the lowest operating expense per unlinked trip. 

***A chart is inserted here to show the average weekday bus ridership of the agencies listed above. The data is collected from American Public Transportation Association, First Quarter, 2010. The ridership is as follows: 
CTA: 991.8 thousand; NTCT: 2587.8 thousand; MBTA: 367 thousand; LACMTA: 1126 thousand; WMATA: 380.7 thousand; SEPTA: 529.6 thousand. ***

A table is inserted here to present the performance measures across different transit agencies. 

1) Service Efficiency
 Operating Exp./Vehicle Rev. Mile: CTA - $10.94; WMATA - $13.08; MBTA - $12.66; LACMTA - $10.56; NYCT - $22.25; SEPTA - $12.49
 Operating Exp./Vehicle Rev. Hour: CTA - $106.84; WMATA - $143.04; MBTA -  $132.84; LACMTA - $124.31; NYCT - $172.99; SEPTA - $128.56 

2) Cost Effectiveness 
 Operating Exp./Passenger Mile: CTA - $0.96; WMATA - $1.14; MBTA - $1.19; LACMTA - $0.62; NYCT - $1.23; SEPTA - $0.91 
 Operating Exp./Unlinked Trip: CTA - $2.29; WMATA - $3.83; MBTA - $3.03; LACMTA - $2.36; NYCT - $2.54; SEPTA - $2.74 
  
3) Service Effectiveness
 Unlinked Trips/Vehicle Rev. Mile:  CTA - 4.77; WMATA - 3.42; MBTA - 4.17; LACMTA - 4.48; NYCT - 8.77; SEPTA - 4.56 
 Unlinked Trips/Vehicle Rev. Hour: CTA - 46.63; WMATA - 37.37; MBTA - 43.77; LACMTA - 52.70; NYCT - 68.18; SEPTA - 46.98 

Data Source: 2008 National Transit Database 

***Four graphs are inserted here to further illustrate the comparison of service efficiency and cost effectiveness. ***


Comparative Performance Analysis  Heavy Rail 

Comparative Analysis - Rail 

Average weekday rail ridership for the CTA places third when looking at volume of riders, behind NYCT and WMATA. Relative to the other agencies, the CTA has the lowest operating expense per vehicle revenue mile and per vehicle revenue hour, therefore performing well in service efficiency. The CTA also measures well in the area of cost effectiveness, performing consistently with the other agencies when measuring operating expense per passenger mile and per unlinked trip. 

***A chart is inserted here to show the average weekday bus ridership of the agencies listed above. The data is collected from American Public Transportation Association, First Quarter, 2010. The ridership is as follows: 
CTA: 664.0 thousand; NTCT: 7512.1 thousand; MBTA: 478.6 thousand; LACMTA: 147.5 thousand; WMATA: 919.3 thousand; SEPTA: 314.8 thousand. ***

Comparison Group 
PERFORMANCE MEASURES 

A table is inserted here to present the performance measures across different transit agencies. 

1) Service Efficiency
 Operating Exp./Vehicle Rev. Mile: CTA -$6.52; WMATA - $10.83; MBTA -  $12.40; LACMTA -  $15.98; NYCT - $9.35; SEPTA - $9.39
 Operating Exp./Vehicle Rev. Hour: CTA - $115.36; WMATA -  $274.83; MBTA -  $224.90; LACMTA - $361.79; NYCT - $170.76; SEPTA - $182.53 

2) Cost Effectiveness 
 Operating Exp./Passenger Mile: CTA - $0.37; WMATA - $0.46; MBTA - $0.49; LACMTA - $0.44; NYCT - $0.33; SEPTA - $0.37 
 Operating Exp./Unlinked Trip: CTA - $2.22; WMATA - $2.62; MBTA - $1.83; LACMTA - $2.20; NYCT - $1.34; SEPTA - $1.65 
  
3) Service Effectiveness
 Unlinked Trips/Vehicle Rev. Mile:  CTA - 2.94; WMATA - 4.13; MBTA -  6.78; LACMTA - 7.26; NYCT - 6.99; SEPTA - 5.70 
 Unlinked Trips/Vehicle Rev. Hour: CTA - 51.96; WMATA - 104.74; MBTA -  122.97; LACMTA - 164.38; NYCT - 127.59; SEPTA - 110.83 

Data Source: 2008 National Transit Database 

***Four graphs are inserted here to further illustrate the comparison of service efficiency and cost effectiveness. ***
