The CTA provided a total of 532 million rides in 2011,[6] a 3 percent increase over 2010 with ridership rising to levels not seen for 20 years.

[7] The CTA operates 24 hours each day and on an average weekday provides 1.7 million rides on buses and trains.

The Chicago Transit Authority's 1,450 train cars operate over eight routes and 222 miles (357 km) of track.

Previously, some rail station turnstiles accepted cash, but this feature has been removed in an effort to speed up boarding.

Ventra readers on buses and rail station turnstiles can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices.

[15] As mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for all transit operators in the U.S., all CTA buses are accessible, with a ramp on every bus available for use upon request by anyone who has trouble with steps, even temporarily.

The majority of train stations CTA operates have elevators or ramps to provide access for customers with disabilities.

Notes: In 1953, the CTA placed an order for Flxible buses after the latter's absorption of the Fageol Twin Coach Company.

Another aspect of this period was that with the exception of the 1979 and 1983 MAN orders, none of those buses had air-conditioning, a budget saving move by the CTA.

In 1995, the CTA placed an experimental order of their first 65 low floor transit buses from New Flyer Industries D40LF.

In 1998, the CTA placed an order for 484 new low floor transit buses from Canadian bus-building firm Nova Bus.

This executed move billed the CTA as Nova's American launch customer for the latter's signature product, the LFS series.

[26] CTA has also been actively prosecuting vandals, announcing on several occasions that felony convictions were obtained against persons who spray painted authority vehicles.

[32] One of the first applications of the Bus Tracker Developer Tools involved the installation of monitors showing the information in several businesses in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

[36] According to the CTA, the original pieces of artwork contribute to each station's identity and enhance travel for customers.

A number of other pieces were created through the CTA's Adopt-A-Station program and through partnerships with organizations such as the Chicago Public Art Group.

This program provided high-profile locations for public art and server as a gateway to communities served by the CTA stations.

Media under consideration included, but were not limited to, mosaics, art glass, ornamental fencing, mixed-media artwork, and freestanding sculpture and furniture.

The CTA and the City of Chicago Public Art Program, administered by the Office of Tourism and Culture, encouraged and facilitated collaborations between artists, government agencies, the community and other partners.

[citation needed] The Chicago Transit Authority produced a monthly television show, Connections, from May 2003 until March 2011.