Home | Regional Transportation Authority Careers Contact Regional Transportation Authority Contact Regional Transportation Authority Careers Contact The RTA is... A government agency created by the State of Illinois to coordinate the Chicago region’s transit system, oversee its financing with transparency and accountability, and plan for a future with adequate, accessible, and equitable public transportation for the six counties of Northeastern Illinois. Learn more about the work we do... For the Region Learn about regional planning and collaboration, innovative mobility pilots, and how the transit system is performing. For Communities Find out how your community can apply for funding to plan and implement transit-friendly policies. For Riders Plan your trip and learn how we are making the system more affordable and accessible for all. The RTA in action Learn how the RTA is making a difference for riders in communities across the Chicago region. Access Pilot Program improves equity, affordability Local Planning supports transit-friendly communities Regional ridership continues to grow Access Pilot Program improves equity, affordability The Access Pilot Program is bringing affordable Metra rides to people experiencing low incomes, making transit more equitable in the Chicago region. Launched in 2024, the program has supported more than 140,000 rides. Local Planning supports transit-friendly communities In 2024, the RTA Access to Transit and Community Planning programs helped more than a dozen communities make improvements to be more transit-friendly, such as funding new sidewalks and crosswalks or studying future development. The department also published the Transit-Friendly Communities Guide in early 2025. Regional ridership continues to grow For the third year in a row, regional transit ridership was up by double-digits in 2024. The region’s fixed route system finished out the year with a total of 361 million rides, an increase of 35 million over the previous year. Explore and download transit data View ridership statistics, maps, and find out where we are investing in transit infrastructure near you on RTAMS, the Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics website. Get the data Copyright © 2026 Regional Transportation Authority. All Rights Reserved.