Arts & Entertainment

CTA Unveils New Pride Train Design in Celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month

The Chicago Transit Authority is running a Pride-themed train on the Red Line to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

This year marks the eighth year the Pride train is running on the Red Line.

A new exterior design on the eight-car Red Line train features vertical wavy stripes of classic Pride flag rainbow colors; transgender pride flag colors of white, light blue and pink stripes; and black and brown stripes representing LGBTQ+ people of color.

Inside each railcar are messages of affirmation, according to the CTA. New to this year’s Pride train are cards in railcars containing local history and information.

“The Pride Train is a visible commitment to diversity, visibility, inclusion and love,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement. “The CTA is proud to be part of Chicago’s Pride celebration, and we’re honored to continue this tradition of standing with the LGBTQ+ community this month and every month.”

The CTA also unveiled a new Pride-themed Ventra Card design.

The CTA was the first major U.S. transit agency to have a Pride-themed train, according to the agency. The Pride train was first introduced on the CTA in 2017.

The future of Chicago-area public transit is in limbo as CTA, Metra and Pace face an anticipated $770 million fiscal cliff next year. A bill proposing tax increases that would have provided agencies with more than $1 billion in new funding stalled in the Illinois House this past weekend.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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