The CTA is launching a color-coded “ridership information dashboard” online Monday to let passengers know when buses are too crowded to allow for the social distancing recommended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The transit agency has seen ridership drops of 80% since the stay-at-home order, but the decline have been less severe on buses than on the “L,” and sometimes it has been difficult for bus passengers to stay six feet or more apart.
With the loosening of some restrictions on businesses earlier this month, riders are starting to slowly return to public transit, and the CTA said it wants to make sure it’s as safe as possible.
“Social distancing is an important component of healthy travel on public transportation,” said CTA President Dorval Carter, in a statement. “And it is my goal is to put as much information as possible into the hands of our customers, so that they can make informed travel decisions that help us all achieve proper social distancing.”
The dashboard, posted on the CTA’s website, shows each bus route, with times of day marked with green, yellow or orange bars. Green indicates low ridership, yellow means some seats are available, and orange means the bus may be too crowded to safely board.
The CTA, in coordination with the Chicago Department of Public Health, has set capacity limits for buses and trains: 15 passengers on a standard 40-foot bus and 22 passengers on a 60-foot articulated bus and on each rail car. The CTA is encouraging riders to not board crowded buses, and wait for the next one.
The color coding is based on the average ridership in the last two weeks. CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the agency is working on a long-term goal to provide real-time information, along with a similar report for rail. CTA said it is the largest U.S. transit agency to unveil this kind of customer tool.
According to the chart, bus routes that see wide swathes of orange include the #4 Cottage Grove, the #29 State and the #36 Broadway. The crowding periods are during midday, and not at rush hour, which is in contrast to what was seen before the pandemic.
The CTA has been having riders enter from the rear of the bus, which means most rides have been free, since most buses don’t have Ventra card readers at the back. Steele said the agency is trying to determine when it can return to front-door boarding.
The agency also is adding more signs at rail stations, on vehicles, and in elevators, to encourage distancing and remind customers to wear masks or face coverings, Steele said. Decals on platforms show how far apart is six feet.
More information on CTA’s efforts throughout the pandemic is available at transitchicago.com/coronavirus.
