About RTAMS
Welcome to the redesigned RTAMS (Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics) website, a collection of tools for accessing extensive data resources about the six-county metropolitan Chicago region’s transit system. Developed and maintained by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), this web-based system includes::
- A data repository for searching and downloading geographic and non-geographic data sets updated continually from the RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace (known as the “Service Boards”) and from other regional transportation and planning agencies.
- Interactive maps that provide insights about transit in the region and its communities.
Please subscribe to the RTAMS quarterly newsletter to stay abreast of the latest data updates and related analysis.
Guide to Navigating RTAMS
The multi-colored left-hand navigation bars give access to these primary sections:
- Data Transparency Portal has information related to transit expenditures, contracts, and employees.
- Digital Document Library has recent and archival publications relevant to transit.
- Ridership Statistics has data on transit usage patterns, searchable by different views including Service Board, time of day, bus routes, train lines, stations, and more.
- Routes, Stations and Lines has information on CTA, Metra, and Pace assets and services.
- Search and Download Data has extensive source data (CSV, PDF, and shapefiles) on which the rest of RTAMS is based.
- Transit Projects and Studies provides data regarding historic transit projects and those currently underway including details about the five-year regional Capital Program, the RTA’s Project Management Oversight program and planning studies funded by RTA.
- Mapping & GIS Portal includes several interactive maps for the RTA region including transit-oriented developments, land use, signage, signal priority, transit access, population and employment projections, demographics, legislative districts, and city wards.
RTAMS: Past, Present, and Future
RTAMS has a rich history reaching back nearly 20 years. The site began as an internal pilot project to manage datasets. Each year since its launch, the system has seen incremental improvements that add new content, enhance usability, and increase functionality.
Based on an input gathered through a visioning exercise, RTA relaunched RTAMS in 2020 on a new platform and content management system (CMS) with many enhancements, including:
- Downloadable data sets
- Responsive web design
- Searchable data and document library
- New menu system functionality
- Enhanced data visualizations
The new platform provides many improvements for users and will assist RTA staff in maintaining the site efficiently and expeditiously. Future enhancements will include more detailed information on system performance and data on regional travel patterns.
Under the Hood
The RTAMS website is maintained and managed by staff in the RTA Planning Department, using the following software: Oracle, ESRI, Drupal, and Amazon Web Services.
The RTA and Contributing Agencies
Learn more about the RTA and partner agencies that have contributed data to RTAMS.
Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is the unit of local government created to oversee finances, to secure funding, and to conduct transit planning for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace, which together provide nearly two million rail and bus rides each weekday across northeastern Illinois. The RTA manages these three Service Boards’ five-year capital program of more than $8 billion, from sources that include a regional sales tax, bonds, and the State of Illinois. Also, to help riders with disabilities and older adults across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, the agency issues Reduced Fare and Ride Free permits, assesses eligibility for ADA Paratransit service, and oversees specialized travel training. For more, visit www.rtachicago.org.
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the service board of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) responsible for operations and planning for the rapid transit and bus systems serving the City of Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs. CTA operates the nation’s second largest public transportation system.
Metra is the service board of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) responsible for operations and planning for the commuter rail system serving the Northeastern Illinois region. Metra provides services to and from downtown Chicago with 241 stations, over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 miles, and approximately 1,200 miles of track.
Pace is the service board of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) responsible operations and planning for the suburban bus system serving the Northeastern Illinois region. Pace provides fixed route bus services, along with contracted community dial-a-ride, ADA paratransit, and sponsored vanpool services. Pace covers over 3,000 square miles throughout the suburbs of Chicago.
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is the region’s metropolitan planning organization. The agency and its partners developed and are now implementing ON TO 2050, a new long-range plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues.
RTAMS Project Team
The RTAMS website is maintained and managed by RTA staff. The current RTAMS team consists of employees from the agency’s Planning Department.