The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), along with the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, are encouraging everyone to celebrate Earth Day this year by riding the region’s transit system and celebrating its benefits to our planet. “Whether you’re a regular, occasional or a “never before” rider, we are extending an invitation for you to make this week the week you ‘get on board’ and enjoy the many environmental, economic and health benefits of using our world-class transit system,” said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. Earth Day is Friday, April 22, but the RTA will celebrate Earth Day all week, sharing two benefits a day of ways transit helps the region. The RTA encourages everyone to share this information on social media pages using the hash tag #EarthDayChi and remind friends and family about the many benefits transit offers our region. Today’s two benefits of our region’s transit system are:

• Public transit use saves the equivalent of 900,000 car fill-up every day.
• Transit saves rush-hour drivers $400 a year by reducing the number of cars on the road.