In the Press

Press Mentions

• 9/4/24 - Block Club Chicago: CTA Worker Shot Outside Rogers Park Red Line Station As City Reels From Deadly Blue Line Shooting

• 9/3/24 - Block Club Chicago: CTA Must Do More To Keep Riders Safe, Advocates Say After Blue Line Shooting Leaves 4 Dead 

• 9/3/24 - CBS Chicago: More heat is directed at CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. after 4 are shot dead on Blue Line

• 8/13/24 - Associated Press: Want to speed up a road or transit project? Just host a political convention

• 7/29/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: What will it take to get better Chicago bus service? Infra upgrades discussed at Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee 

• 7/27/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: New RTA Report recommends income-based fare programs 

• 7/11/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTAction: It’s silly for CTA to update timetables to reflect “more scheduled rail service” when it can’t deliver its current schedule 

• 5/23/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: Western Avenue alders revived Chicago’s BRT dream. How can we stop NIMBYs from killing it again? 

• 5/22/24 - New York Times: Chicago Is Tired of Waiting for Trains, and Thinks It Knows Who’s to Blame 

• 5/1/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: One agency to rule them all: Advocates are cautiously optimistic about proposed bill to combine the 4 Chicago area transit bureaus 

• 4/29/24 - WBEZ: Reset - Inside the challenges plaguing the CTA   

• 4/22/24 - Block Club Chicago: Mayor Appoints Politically Connected Pastor, Not A Transit Expert, To CTA’s Oversight Board  

• 4/19/24 - Chicago Tribune: Editorial: The CTA is broken. Agency President Dorval Carter Jr. must go.  

• 4/15/24 - Block Club Chicago: CTA’s New ‘Dynamic’ Schedule Adds Little Train Service To Struggling System  

• 3/26/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: Commuters Take Action’s Brandon McFadden discusses “Data Science and Transit” with UChicago Transit Enthusiasts

• 3/25/24 - Block Club Chicago: CTA Promises To Restore Pre-Pandemic Bus Service On 29 Routes  

• 3/21/24 - Logan's Loose Lips: https://loganslooselips.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/ive-got-82-problems-and-the-bus-may-no-longer-be-one-according-to-the-cta/ 

• 3/14/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: Transit advocates weigh in on the CTA’s Refresh & Renew program 

• 2/28/24 - Block Club Chicago:  CTA Boss Promises Return To Pre-Pandemic Service By End Of Year At Heated City Hearing 

• 2/27/24 - NBC Chicago: Head of CTA appears before Chicago City Council 

• 2/27/24 - Univision Chicago: Presidente de la CTA rinde cuentas ante comité del Concilio Municipal: usuarios presentaron sus quejas 

• 2/27/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: Transit advocates showed up in force for Dorval Carters first quarterly meeting with alderpersons 

• 2/19/24 - Chicago Magazine: The Group Raising Hell About the L  

• 1/11/24 - Chicago Tribune: Commuter advocates: The CTA vows to double rail operator trainees this year. Its data shows that’s impossible. 

• 1/2/24 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTAction: Free CTA service on New Year’s Eve “not quite as bad as last year,” still not great 

• 12/29/23 - Chicago Tribune: 2023 in review: A look back at the CTA and public transportation through Tribune op-eds 

• 12/29/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA takes steps to help ensure free New Years Eve service won’t be terrible again this year 

• 12/28/23 - Chicago Sun Times: Misrepresenting CTA’s fiscal problems won’t help with finding a fix 

• 12/3/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Will Chicago’s Better Streets for Buses plan result in real BRT this time? 

• 11/30/23 - Chicago Sun Times: CTA and CDOT unveil proposal that calls for more bus-only lanes, lights that let buses go first 

• 11/13/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Transportation advocates share potential solutions to avoid the CTA’s coming fiscal cliff 

• 11/9/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Commuters Take Action accuses CTA of “lies” about restoring Blue Line to pre-Forest Park Rebuild service levels 

• 10/16/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Dozens of advocates show up in the rain to call for overhauling the CTA at Cut Carter Protest 

• 10/13/23 - NBC Chicago: Protestors demand accountability from CTA leadership over rail and bus service and reliability  

• 10/13/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Comfort for Carter? On the eve of a Commuters Take Action protest calling for Dorval’s firing, CTA announces a couple of positive news items 

• 10/10/23 - NBC Chicago: Amid cuts to CTA service, residents plan protest in demand of consistent schedule, new leadership  

• 10/10/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA celebrates reopening of Forest Park Branch tracks, but service interruptions are still planned for remaining work 

• 10/10/23 - Chicago Tribune: CTA Brown, Orange Line schedules down more than 25%, even as other cities rebuild transit levels 

• 10/6/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: From bad to worse: Unpacking the CTA’s latest schedule changes effective October 8th 

• 10/4/23 - Block Club Chicago: While The CTA Flounders, Its Leader Keeps Getting Pay Hikes 

• 9/30/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: During board meeting, CTAction cites service problems, South Siders push for youth employment as part of Red Line Extension 

• 9/25/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Phase 1 of Forest Park Branch Rehab will be mostly complete on 10/8. CTAction sees some issues with the plan. 

• 9/21/23 - Dziennik Związkowy: CTA zachwala rekordową liczbę pasażerów. Commuters Take Action studzi entuzjazm 

  • "CTA touts record passenger numbers. Commuters Take Action cool enthusiasm"

• 9/19/23 - Chicago Tribune: Commuter advocates: More cuts are likely coming to CTA service. It’s time to fire Dorval Carter Jr. instead. 

• 9/15/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: At Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting in Belmont Cragin, CDOT says 2023 has been a big year for walk/bike/transit 

• 9/8/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Building speed for bus rapid transit: A conversation with Commuters Take Action’s Olivia Gahan 

• 8/30/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Has the CTA actually been “Meeting the Moment”? 

• 8/29/23 - WTTW: CTA Leaders Talk Service Boosts, Looming Challenges as Advocates Call For More Improvements 

• 8/25/23 - Chicago Tribune: One year into a plan to tackle challenges, CTA touts decreased crime and more reliable service 

• 8/25/23 - Evanston Roundtable: CTA schedule changes and reliability: Tracking Purple Line performance 

• 8/22/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Has the Forest Park Rebuild been going smoothly or have there been snags? CTA, CTAction have different POVs. 

• 8/16/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Blue Line service changes for Part B of the Forest Park Branch rehab – work between IMD and UIC/Halsted – start Monday 

• 8/9/23 - Chicago Reader: CTA employees share the personal cost of working inside the nation’s second-largest transit agency 

• 8/9/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Buckner passes 2023 Transit Omnibus Bill to improve safety, equity, and quality or service, and extend farebox recovery relief 

• 8/7/23 - Active Transportation Alliance: CTA takes a step toward greater transparency

• 8/3/23 - Eater Chicago: In ‘The Bear,’ Chicago’s Public Transportation Never Goes Off the Rails 

• 8/1/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Politicians and activists say Dorval Carter should be replaced, CTA responds 

• 7/24/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Is the CTA giving riders enough info about how much the Forest Park Branch Rebuild will delay their commutes? 

• 7/18/23 - Chicago Tribune: Commuter advocates: Chicago needs a CTA board that cares about holding agency leadership accountable 

• 7/14/23 - Block Club Chicago: CTA’s Top Leaders Rarely Used Public Transit, Records Show. Now, Officials Call For President To Be Fired 

• 6/29/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Advocates praise the CTA’s plan to upgrade its Forest Park Branch, want more details on how the ‘L’ overhaul will work 

• 6/20/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA credits Taylor Swift, other concerts and festivals for highest weekly ridership since COVID hit 

• 6/2/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA is wrapping up RPM Phase One, but opportunities are being missed 

• 6/2/23 - Crain's Chicago Business: The CTA is overdue for an overhaul 

• 5/31/23 - Chicago Tribune: What to know ahead of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Chicago 

• 5/1/23 - Block Club Chicago: Does CTA Boss Dorval Carter Use Public Transit? Records Show He Swiped Pass Once In 2021 

• April 2023 - Loyola Mosaic: CTA Fails to Meet The Moment (pg. 16)

• 4/28/23 - WTTW Chicago: CTA Adding Bus and Rail Workers, Touting Service Improvements; Mayor-Elect Mum on Keeping Transit Agency Leader 

• 4/18/23 - Block Club Chicago: Transit Activists Demand More Blue Line Trains In Video Protest — But CTA Says Service Has Improved 

• 4/17/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  Commuters Take Action uses the CTA’s Blue Line livestream to protest spotty service 

• 4/12/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA boasts of better reliability, offers new deets on hiring, CTA Action says more is needed 

• 4/6/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  Let’s *go* Brandon! Will Johnson keep his big transportation campaign promises? 

• 3/27/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  CTA announced additional ORD branch trains, quietly cut scheduled service on other lines 

• 3/22/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA ridership increased 24% last year, but better service is needed for continued growth 

• 3/16/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  At state hearing, transit advocates call for addressing fiscal cliff, Carter is a no-show 

• 3/15/23 - Active Transportation Alliance: Bold solutions needed from state to address serious transit problems 

• 3/10/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  At CTA meeting, Commuters Take Action calls out “misleading” reliability claims 

• 2/28/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  Chicago Transit Justice Coalition called for better CTA working conditions at protest 

• 2/27/23 - Chicago Tribune: Christina Marfice and Morgan Madderom: Transit riders deserve honesty from the CTA, not fudged statistics 

• 2/15/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: January CTA scorecard says reliability improved. Advocates say more needs to be done. 

• 2/13/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Blue Line blues: CTA quietly cut schedule again this month, but reliability issues persist 

• 2/12/23 - Chicago Magazine: How to Save the L 

• 2/13/23 - Chicago Tribune: Six months after changing schedules and adding security, CTA rider frustrations persist: ‘It’s not as convenient’ 

• 2/7/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: Commuters Take Action maps just how deep cuts in scheduled CTA service have been 

• 1/31/23 - Pew Stateline: ‘Ghost Buses’ Haunt Transit Agencies and Frustrate Riders 

• 1/20/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  CTA’s percent of fulfilled runs got even worse last month. What should be done? 

• 1/15/23 - The DePaulia: Not “meeting the moment”: CTA pledges security and shorter wait times in 2023 

• 1/15/23 - Block Club Chicago: CTA Boss Blames Lousy New Year’s Eve Service On Workers Calling In Sick At ‘Extremely Higher’ Rates 

• 1/11/23 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA publishes more realistic bus schedules, advocates say agency should focus on hiring 

• 1/4/23 - WBBM Newsradio: CTA struggles with reliability issues as new year begins  

• 1/3/23 - Streetsblog Chicago:  New Year’s peeve: Why was CTA service ridiculously bad on the big night? 

• 12/9/22 - Chicago Sun Times: City announces permanent bus lanes on Chicago Avenue; advocates worry about enforcement, frequency 

• 12/9/22 - Streetsblog Chicago:  “Pop-up” bus lanes on Chicago Ave. are now permanent, other upgrades planned citywide 

• 12/8/22 - Active Transportation Alliance: Commuters Take Action presses CTA to improve unreliable service 

• 12/4/22 - Streetsblog Chicago:  At annual meeting, ATA honored new advocacy orgs, discussed its playbook for 2023 

• 12/2/22 - Active Transportation Alliance: Shining a light on outstanding volunteers and advocates 

• 11/20/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: Welcome back, Carter! For once, CTA prez doesn’t ghost his own City Council hearing 

• 11/8/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: Updated CTA ‘L’ schedules fail to deliver on “Meeting the Moment” promises 

• 11/3/22 - WGN9: Man stabbed on CTA Red Line train; man in custody 

• 11/2/22 - NBC Chicago: CTA Riders Protest Poor Service, Safety Issues 

• 11/2/22 - Block Club Chicago: CTA President Dorval Carter In The Hot Seat As Fed-Up Commuters Want Him To Resign 

• 10/25/22 - Chicago Sun Times: City Council member wants to compel regular testimony from CTA president 

• 10/24/22 - WTTW - Chicago Tonight (start at 6:50)

• 10/17/22 - Fox32: Buses, trains still ghosting commuters in Chicago 

• 10/17/22 - ABC7: CTA schedule: Buses, trains still ghosting commuters in Chicago (syndicated from Chicago Sun Times)

• 10/17/22 - NBC Chicago: CTA Buses, Trains Continue to Ghost Chicago Commuters (syndicated from Chicago Sun Times)

• 10/16/22 - Chicago Sun Times: Buses, trains still ghosting commuters 

• 10/11/22 - Streetsblog Chicago:  Why ghost runs are an issue on the ‘L’ and apps, but not Bus Tracker and shelter signs 

• 10/5/22 - Skyline - A Ghost Story: Chicago commuter group takes action on public transit issues (physical paper copy only)

• 10/3/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA celebrates 75 years of service with a day of nostalgia 

• 9/26/22 - Chicago Reader: Black Transport Project, Commuters Take Action, and more  

• 9/14/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: CTA prez Dorval Carter ghosts City Council hearing on ghost runs, service gaps, safety 

• 9/14/22 - WTTW: CTA President Skips City Council Hearing Focused on Transit Agency’s Service, Safety Woes 

• 9/14/22 - Block Club Chicago: Aldermen, Residents Rip CTA On Ghost Trains And Buses As Agency President Skips Public Hearing 

• 9/14/22 - CBS Chicago: CTA head snubs Chicago City Council at hearing meant to address service concerns 

• 9/14/22 - Chicago Tribune: Aldermen grill CTA over wide-ranging concerns about service, safety 

• 9/14/22 - Block Club Chicago: Protesters Outside CTA Headquarters Ask: ‘Why Are My Trains And Buses So Late?’ 

• 9/14/22 - Block Club Chicago: CTA Trains Seeing More Delays During Weekends — And More Staff Desperately Needed To Make It Better, Employees Say 

• 9/14/22 - CBS Chicago: CTA workers, riders calling for better conditions during protest Wednesday 

• 9/14/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: Advocates rally CTA HQ to demand improvements: “We need to keep being loud” 

• 9/14/22 - ABC7:  'Ghost' buses, trains prompt public transit advocates to call out CTA over inadequate services 

• 9/14/22 - Univision Chicago: Empleados y usuarios de la CTA protestan para exigir más contratación de personal 

• 9/12/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: Commuters Take Action plans protest this Wednesday before CTA Board Meeting 

• 8/30/22 - ABC7: Ask CTA program to hear from riders at Chicago rail stations, bus depots 

• 8/23/22 - Chi Hack Night: How Commuters Take Action in Chicago 

• 8/12/22 - Spartan News Room: Chicago group raises awareness of Chicago Transit Authority’s delays 

• 7/27/22 - WBEZ: Commuter advocates, CTA weigh in on Chicago transit issues 

• 7/22/22 - Chicago Tribune: Frustrated by CTA service? So are these transit riders, and they’re taking matters into their own hands. 

• 6/23/22 - Fox32: Chicago residents complain of 'ghost' trains, buses never showing up 

• 6/23/22 - Block Club Chicago: As Complaints Of Late Trains And Missing Buses Mount, City Officials Call For Hearing On ‘Deteriorated’ CTA Service 

• 4/25/22 - Streetsblog Chicago: Data analysis found CTA has only been running about half its scheduled Blue Line runs