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In 2007, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) logged a total of 499.5 million rides on its rail and bus systems, a 1 percent increase compared with 2006 and the highest level since 1992. But rail ridership dropped.

The authority posted 190.2 million rail rides, a 2.5 percent decrease compared with 2006. CTA officials attribute the decline primarily to several major projects under way to rebuild and repair the system. A slow zone elimination project caused service disruptions on the Red and Blue lines, and Brown Line capacity expansion work resulted in temporary station closures and reduced track operations.

So, more passengers switched to bus service last year. Bus ridership increased 3.6 percent to 309.3 million rides.