CTA in partnership with NITA is hosting an online survey and series of community events to engage riders about the future of bus service in the Chicago region
In coordination with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is gathering feedback under its Bus Vision project. Bus Vision is an opportunity for transit riders and non-riders alike to provide invaluable insight into how CTA’s bus service can best serve riders and communities across the region. A final draft of the study will be submitted to NITA at the end of this year after CTA incorporates feedback from the engagement events this fall. Beginning in 2027, NITA will lead regional service planning strategy in coordination with CTA, Metra, and Pace.
Today, CTA released an online survey and announced a series of events where transit riders and residents can share feedback on bus service in their community and help set priorities for how the bus system should continue to evolve and improve. Service changes and improvements under consideration through Bus Vision include increased frequency, expanded service hours, route adjustments, enhanced transfers and connections, new bus priority infrastructure that could contribute to increased bus speeds, and cross-agency coordination with Metra, Pace and NITA.
The survey is available at CTABusVisionProject.com in English and en español and will close November 30th. People who complete the survey can enter for a chance to win one of five $100 digital Visa gift cards.
Following is the schedule of open houses and other community events where riders can share feedback.
Open Houses:
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 5-7pm at Chicago Lawn Library
- Sunday, November 8, 2026 from 2-4pm at Albany Park Library
- Monday, November 9, 2026 from 5-7pm at West Pullman Library
- Thursday, November 12, 2026 from 5-7pm at Little Village Library
- Monday, November 16, 2026 from 5-7pm at Chicago Bee Library
- Tuesday, November 17, 2026 from 5-7pm at CTA Headquarters
- Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 6-8pm, Virtual Open House (subject to change)
Other Community Events:
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 5:30-7:30pm at Don Nash Park in South Shore
- Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 7am-1pm at Oak Park Farmers Market
- Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 2-5pm at Robert Crown Community Center in Evanston
At many of these events, NITA and CTA will be joined by our partners at Metra and Pace as there’s often corresponding transit service in communities, and collectively, the agencies are seeking to create a more coordinated transit service across the region.
Additional details and optional registration are available at ctabusvisionproject.com/getinvolved/#Events.
On an average weekday more than 620,000 rides are taken on the CTA bus network, which includes over 2,000 buses that operate 127 routes and cover more than 1,500 route miles. For most Chicagoans, the bus is the nearest public transit option; 96% of residents live within a half-mile walk of a CTA bus stop compared to only 30% of Chicago residents who live within the same distance of a CTA rail station.
In 2026 CTA has delivered more frequent and expanded service across the region through the burgeoning Frequent Bus Network, with service every 10 minutes or better between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. By the end of the year the Frequent Network will include 24 routes and an estimated 75% of the CTA service area will be within a half mile of a frequent bus route, benefiting roughly 2.4 million riders.
Residents can email [email protected] for more information or to be added to the project contact list.