Riders on the CTA will soon see furniture popping up at some L stations designed to cater to people who could be the next generation of commuters.
CTA acting president Nora Leehrsen told the City Club of Chicago on Thursday that she often rides L trains and buses with her two children, and when she visited Paris last year, she saw that city's transit system offering spaces for kids.
"Supporting children in our system is investing in our future and building the next generation of riders," Leehrsen said. "And frankly, children bring out the best in us."
She drove that point home by showing the audience a preview of a new initiative designed to encourage families to ride, or spend time around L stations.
"We'll be moving forward with the installation in select stations of child-size furniture to support for our youngest, and cutest, riders," Leehrsen said, showing off a kid-size bench set to be installed soon.
Leehrsen also touted other initiatives to engage younger riders, including Red Line station announcements recorded by Chance the Rapper: "I don't need a survey or a focus group to know that hearing that in the morning on the way to school made school children sit up a little straighter with pride and joy."