Nora Leerhsen, the interim president of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), has not only been dealing with the city's mass transit recovery but also the pervasive issue of smoking on buses and trains. On Wednesday, amid discussions about continuing in her role permanently, she faced a City Council Transportation Committee focused on these challenges. The committee has been pushing for a fortified crackdown on the CTA’s smoking ban, as reported by CBS Chicago.
Leerhsen has been holding the fort since her predecessor, Dorval Carter Jr., retired and has taken strides to not simply maintain, but to actively improve the CTA's service and public image. She spoke to the council about the success the CTA has had so far, with smoking complaints reportedly down from last year and citations issued by police going up. She also highlighted the implementation of "anti-smoking missions" with police officers boarding trains to address smokers directly, part of a wider effort to enforce the no-smoking policy. This includes both physical and digital signage, as well as prerecorded messages in stations. Her hands-on approach contrasts with Carter's tenure, as she frequently uses the transit system herself, embarking on more than 450 rides in the last year, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Amid a hiring blitz that has seen over 5,000 recruits in two years, the CTA has bolstered its service reliability and quality. Operational improvements can be seen with the introduction of the "Frequent Bus Network," providing popular routes with service every ten minutes or better during peak times. Leerhsen's dynamic leadership style has also brought 90% reliability in service delivery and a notable drop in rider complaints. Additionally, she's addressed infrastructure challenges, with a decrease in slow zones from 30% just months ago to 18% recently.
However, Leerhsen didn’t shy away from addressing the critical fiscal challenges facing the transit system. In her statements, she acknowledged a "stark and sobering" view of the forthcoming budget realities, urging funding to prevent severe service cuts that could grievously impact the city. Aid. Andre Vasquez (40th) voiced approval for Leerhsen's approach, telling the Chicago Sun-Times, "She’s shown what it’s like to have steady leadership that focuses on investing in workers and the customer experience."
Amidst the discourse over Leerhsen's potential to officially take the reins of the CTA, there’s an evident belief in her capabilities among city council members and the public. Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1st) described Leerhsen's enthusiasm for the job as "refreshing," reflecting a sentiment that, perhaps, is paving the way for her to eventually secure the position permanently.
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