During heat emergencies, the CTA assists in the emergency response by providing air-conditioned buses as mobile cooling centers.
The power outage currently affecting the South Side has impacted several locations that house a significant number of senior citizens. At the request of the Department of Emergency Management and Communications, the CTA has provided approximately 40 buses for use as temporary cooling centers and transport for the seniors.
To avoid a major impact on service levels in any one area, the CTA has drawn from several of its garages to provide the buses. But service through the area with the power outage may still be slowed due to the loss of traffic lights. As a precaution, the CTA is waiving its usual prohibition on beverages and will allow customers to carry on cold water or soft drinks.