CTA Tests Plastic Seats In Buses And "L" Trains
CHICAGO (CBS) – CTA is piloting new state-of-the-art hardback seats on buses and "L" trains to make the ride more hygienic.
The pilot began in May in part of an ongoing effort to test new applications in the system. The hard seats have been put in use in 50 new buses and 14 rail cars.
The plastic seats have new material and technology that make them harder to deface, the CTA said, making them more resistant to graffiti and etching. The seats are also more hygienic and resistant to germs and stains.
Riders have said CTA's fabric seats are unsanitary and absorbent of fluids. A red line car was removed last month from operation after bugs were found on a seat.
Fabric seats have been in rotation since the 1990s, CTA said. They are not necessarily looking to move away from the fabric seats, but rather test out new technology and receive feedback.
The pilot seats can be found on various bus lines as well as Orange and Blue line trains.
CTA is encouraging customers to provide feedback via customer service.