The partnership maintains three bus routes serving the University and nearby communities
The Chicago Transit Board today authorized a new five-year contract with the University of Chicago, which allows the school to fully subsidize service on three bus routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) that serve the University area. These routes benefit all riders in the communities surrounding the University, and those connecting downtown,by providing more service options. Through the agreement the routes are available at no cost to University students, faculty and staff.
Since 2000, CTA has had an agreement with the University of Chicago for subsidized bus service on several routes to provide transportation around the University.
“This agreement emphasizes the positive and lasting impacts transit service can have on a community. Together with the University of Chicago, we’ve been able to maintain transit connections within the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “I’m pleased that we will also be able to continue connecting members of the University of Chicago community with downtown CTA and Metra stations, as well the University hospitals in Hyde Park.”
Service for the University of Chicago community is available on the #171 U. of Chicago/Hyde Park and the #172 U. of Chicago/Kenwood routes. Members of the public that are not associated with the university can pay regular fare to ride the #171 and #172. Under the new agreement, fares will continue to be required for all passengers boarding the #192 U. of Chicago Hospitals Express and this route will also be available to members of the general public.
During the Spring 2023 quarter, average weekday ridership was roughly 2,400 across the three bus routes. In 2022, there were nearly 600,000 rides across the three routes.
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