CTA adding more buses, promising return to pre-pandemic service

Driving the news: Beginning Sunday, 29 bus routes will return to near pre-pandemic scheduled service levels, the CTA announced Wednesday.

• The agency is focused on improving service on weekdays but will also have additional Saturday service on the #77 Belmont and #81 Lawrence buses.

Zoom in: Some of the routes slated for more service include #3 King Drive, #50 Damen, #20 Madison and #90 Harlem.

Between the lines: CTA has continually blamed its driver shortage — a trend seen nationally — for less reliable bus service.

• The agency says it hired 1,000 new bus operators in 2023 and is getting close to optimal staffing levels.

What's next: Rail services will be added over the spring and summer, mainly during rush hours on the Red, Green, Brown and Purple lines, and Blue line trains to O'Hare.