Just released by the CTA:
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today announced the upcoming launch of the “Frequent Network,” implementing bus service that will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner on 20 key bus routes throughout the CTA service area between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends beginning March 23.
“A reliable and equitable public transit system is key to building strong communities, and we are committed to increasing Chicagoans' access to the CTA so they can get to wherever they need to go," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Frequent Network and fulfill the promise of increasing CTA bus service, especially for those who need it most. This is an investment in our residents' opportunities to thrive and experience everything our great city has to offer."
“This improvement in frequency is a transformative investment in our bus service and brings 10-minute or better service within a short walk of 2.3 million residents in our area all day, every day,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “This is just one example of how strong transit funding availability allows us to provide the level of service our customers want to see.”
“Buses are the backbone of our public transit system, and CTA's decision to boost service frequency on key routes is a vital step forward,” said Amy Rynell, Executive Director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “We're thrilled to see CTA delivering on what riders are asking for: more frequent and reliable bus service. This move could make public transportation a more viable choice for many thousands while helping build a more equitable, sustainable future for our city.”
Throughout 2025, 20 bus routes will have service added on weekdays and weekends to ensure 10-minute or better scheduled service all day, every day. The Frequent Network improves service all day, but riders will see the most service improvements midday, evenings and weekends. Routes that are part of the Frequent Network will see the highest levels of scheduled service since 2010 when the CTA was forced to implement service reductions due to funding constraints. With the initial set of eight routes going live this Spring, 35% of the population will be within a half mile of a Frequent Route. Once the Frequent Network is fully implemented, by the end of 2025, 70% of the CTA service area will be within a half mile of a frequent bus route.
The Frequent Network builds on CTA’s Bus Vision Framing Report, which analyzed CTA bus service and identified much needed service improvements on weekends, evenings and midday to ensure CTA’s buses better serve riders, especially low-income and non-white riders. The next phase of the Bus Vision Project will provide people in the service area an opportunity to share their input on how CTA bus service can better serve their communities and the attributes of CTA bus service that are most important to them, such as frequency, hours of operation, routing and access to service, among other features.
Eight bus routes will be part of the initial phase of the Frequent Network, with new schedules going into effect on March 23. The initial bus routes were picked to provide high coverage and benefit to the system. The first bus routes as part of the network are:
J14 Jeffery Jump
#34 South Michigan
#47 47th Street
#54 Cicero
#60 Blue Island/26th
#63 63rd Street
#79 79th Street
#95 95th Street
With this transformative investment in bus service, the J14, #34, #47, #60, and #95 will see a 25% or more increase in service. Riders will see significant service increases on several of these routes with more full-length trips being provided and fewer buses turning back before reaching the terminal.
In 2024, the CTA returned its bus network to pre-pandemic service levels with some strategic adjustments at the route level to better meet shifting ridership patterns. The introduction of the Frequent Network is a key investment CTA is making to improve service to better meet riders’ needs and evolving mobility patterns. The CTA plans to add service on the remaining 12 routes throughout 2025 as well as introduce the Frequent Network for rail. The full list is available at transitchicago.com/frequent.
