The Chicago Transit Authority's leadership vacancy continues to stir conversation among transit advocates and city officials as the agency's board declined to take action on appointing a new president during a special meeting that was held on Thursday with short notice. Calls for a transparent, nationwide search have amplified in response to rumors, first reported by Crain's Chicago Business, that Mayor Brandon Johnson might back the city's chief operating officer, John Roberson, for the coveted role.
Kyle Lucas, executive director of Better Streets Chicago, made urgent demands to the board, "to resist any process shrouded in secrecy and hurriedness," seeking transparency and the appointment of a leader knowledgeable in large transit systems and adept in securing federal funds. The transit board, which met in closed session post-public commentary, expressed their alignment with the public's interests but did not elaborate on any potential candidates. This action, or inaction rather, occurred amidst uncertainty, as the spring legislative session's May end draws closer, potentially bringing forth changes to the structure and oversight of Chicago's transit agencies.
Concurrently, a fiscal crisis looms for public transit in Chicago, with a $771 million deficit expected to hit next year as federal COVID-19 relief funds dry up. Given the gravity of the situation, transit activists and 12 City Council members signed a letter pressing for a national search, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, emphasizing the dire need for competent leadership in the face of this impending economic challenge.
Amid these discussions, Roberson's qualifications have been questioned given his lack of public transit experience. Having held positions with the city's Aviation Commission, Park District, Housing Authority, and in Cook County government, his involvement in transit has been minimal, with reports of his participation at a December 2023 conference discussing transit funding needs being one of the few instances highlighted. Sullying the waters further, Mayor Johnson's nominee to the RTA board, Rev. Ira Acree, pulled back from the running after an incompetent City Council hearing performance, according to details from a WTTW News interview.
Transit system regulars voiced their concern for an inclusive and deliberate process in choosing the next CTA President. One such rider, Adelaide Lee, expressed her long-standing reliance on the transit system and shared with the Chicago Sun-Times her view that Chicago deserves dependable and respectable public transit. As discussions continue, it appears the Transit Board has a critical task ahead in balancing transparency and urgency to guide the CTA through its upcoming financial and operational challenges.
.jpg){kind=link}