By Tracy Swartz
RedEye
The CTA saw 529.2 million riders in 2013, down about 3 percent compared to
2012, according to CTA data.
The agency recorded 300.1 million bus rides in 2013, down 4.6 percent compared
to the previous year, about 229.1 million train rides, down about 1 percent
versus 2012.
In 2012, the CTA accommodated 545 million riders, up 2.4 percent from 532 million riders
in 2011. The agency's 2012 ridership was the highest total in 22 years, the CTA
reported.
In 2013, the agency upped the prices of its unlimited fare cards. The cost of the 30-day
unlimited card jumped from $86 to $100. In late 2012, the agency also cut about
a dozen partial or full bus routes as part of a plan to increase capacity on
its busiest routes to quell crowding.
Also last year, the agency shut down the southern portion of the Red Line for
five months to replace track and overhaul stations. In the meantime, ridership
was diverted to shuttle buses and the Green Line.
CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said the 2013 ridership number was "very
close" to the agency's 529.9 million ridership forecast for 2013.
tswartz@tribune.com