CTA says it's doubled number of veterans on staff

The Chicago Transit Authority announced that it's doubled the number of military veterans on staff since 2010.

The commuter agency announced on Memorial Day that there are 348 veterans employed, compared with 173 four years ago.

They are bus drivers, flagmen, mechanics and customer-service assistants. Officials say more than 20 now serve in manager or coordinator positions.

CTA officials say the increase is because of efforts by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Forrest Claypool to promote and expand veteran hiring.

Claypool signed the CTA's first-ever veterans hiring preference in May 2012. The order set a goal of having veterans make up at least 20 percent of each pool of job applicants.

Job descriptions are adjusted to reflect "equivalent experience" for veterans who learned skills in the military.