The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) ended 2024 with great results. Goals were met in terms of hiring people to operate Chicago trains and buses. Meeting these goals has helped put into action CTA improvement plans for 2025. For Chicago trains, over two hundred operators became qualified after training. For Chicago buses, the number of newly-hired operators was over one thousand.
These exciting accomplishments were acknowledged in a gathering of celebration. The event honoring 2024 CTA achievements took place at CTA University. Dorval R. Carter, Jr. is President of the CTA. Carter offered words of congratulations and appreciation at the event.
Chicago Trains and Buses Meet 2024 Goals
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) took note of its achievements at the end of 2024. The Crusader Newspaper Group reports that, in 2024, the CTA met “two major milestones.” One milestone is that over two hundred new train operators were trained and qualified. Another milestone is that over a thousand new operators of buses were employed. Out of these bus operators, over eight hundred fifty have begun work with the CTA.
These accomplishments were results based on goals set by the CTA. The achievements have helped the CTA work toward ensuring great train and bus service. The Crusader announces that “reaching pre-pandemic service levels across… bus and rail systems” became possible. Bus service, for instance, was returned to a pre-pandemic schedule on December 22, 2024.
An Event to Mark Success
A celebration of the accomplishments was held at CTA University. The Crusader states that the “event… brought together newly trained operators, community members, and instructors.” Dorval R. Carter, Jr., the CTA President, attended the celebration. At the event, The Crusader states, “Carter acknowledged the operators’ role in boosting service.” Carter also gave thanks and congratulations to the instructors involved in training bus and train operators. Retirees who stepped in to help with training were offered particular appreciation. Certificates were presented to First Year Operators.
Setting the Scene for 2025
The CTA has achieved its 2024 training and hiring goals. Therefore, 2025 improvement plans for Chicago trains and buses can proceed. In 2024, for instance, there was an increase in available classes on operating Chicago trains. This brought new people into the profession. The Crusader states that this recruitment initiative for train personnel has supported “increasing ridership.” Also, according to The Crusader, Chicago trains are set for “planned service enhancements.”
A bus improvement project mentioned in The Crusader is taking steps “to eliminate ghost buses.” The Crusader explains this “includes piloting a service disruption management feature on CTA Bus Tracker.” TransitAmerica describes being “ghosted by the bus” as something happening with increasing frequency. A ghost bus appears on a smartphone bus tracking program and then disappears. As TransitAmerica states, “according to your smartphone, a bus is minutes away.” Then, suddenly, that seemingly close bus is gone.
Overview of Accomplishments and Plans
The Chicago Transit Authority met with success in its 2024 initiatives. One initiative involved teaching and employing operators of Chicago trains. Over two hundred new operators went through training and became qualified. Another initiative involved employing new operators for Chicago buses. Over a thousand people were hired to operate buses in Chicago. Eight hundred of the new hires have begun work driving CTA buses. The 2024 CTA successes were celebrated at a designated event, and those involved were congratulated.
The accomplishments of 2024 have set the stage for CTA service improvements in 2025. Plans to improve bus and train service have been created. The increase in qualified train operators, for instance, can ensure better service. Having more operators available helps meet the needs of an increased CTA train ridership. Also, an upcoming initiative is addressing the presence of ghost buses. These are buses that appear on and then disappear from smartphone tracking view.
