The agency continues to see growing ridership since the pandemic
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provided 25.83 million rides in September as more riders return to the system on a post-pandemic, daily basis. September ridership trends built off a strong summer of ridership—the CTA provided more than 1 million rides on a dozen days in August and September.
“This ridership growth is a testament to the progress we’ve made across the system over the past year—but we still have more work to do,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Over the next year I’d like to see that million-ride mark become the standard.”
Nine of the highest-ridership days, where the CTA provided over 1 million rides occurred in September. Students returning to classrooms for the 2023-24 school year helped contribute to this ridership jump.
2023 Systemwide Ridership Highlights:
September 20 1,046,433
September 7 1,040,143
September 12 1,035,645
September 21 1,031,136
September 28 1,029,798
September 13 1,025,053
September 14 1,024,759
August 30 1,009,981
September 27 1,008,344
August 29 1,004,460
September 6 1,003,688
August 3 1,002,159
The fall months are typically the highest ridership months for the CTA, suggesting that additional ridership milestones could occur in the weeks ahead.