The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Train Tracker and Bus Tracker utilize a system of colors and symbols to provide riders with real-time information and arrival estimates for trains and buses.
What do colors and symbols mean on CTA live tracker?
Colors
- Train lines: The CTA ‘L’ lines are color-coded to simplify navigation, especially for those unfamiliar with the system. The colors were initially used on transit maps from the 1970s and were formally adopted in 1993.
- Red Line: Howard – Dan Ryan, busiest line, operates 24/7/365.
- Blue Line: O’Hare – Forest Park, operates 24 hours, second busiest line.
- Brown Line: Kimball – Loop, third busiest.
- Green Line: Harlem/Lake – Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove, contains the city’s two oldest lines.
- Orange Line: Midway – Loop.
- Pink Line: 54th/Cermak – Loop.
- Purple Line: Linden – Howard (local shuttle), Linden – Loop (express during rush hour). The color may be a nod to Northwestern University’s colors.
- Yellow Line: Dempster-Skokie, or “Skokie Swift”, originally shown in orange.
- Bus ridership dashboard: A color-coding system of blue, yellow, and red is used to show available space on buses based on recent ridership data.
- Blue (Low Ridership): Seats are typically available.
- Yellow (Medium Ridership): Limited seats and space may be available.
- Red (High Ridership): Seats and space may not be available.
- White or Gray: Indicates no service or data unavailability.
Symbols
- Radio-wave icon: Indicates real-time prediction data for buses and trains. This data is typically more accurate.
- Clock icon: Indicates schedule-based data, especially when real-time data is not yet available, such as when a train is still at the terminal.
- “—” in predictions: Means a train is expected soon but more information is needed for a reliable estimate.
- “Delayed” in predictions: Indicates the system detects a train has not moved for several minutes.
Understanding these color codes and symbols can help riders interpret the information displayed on the CTA’s live trackers and make more informed travel decisions.