The safety of public transportation users in Chicago has come under federal scrutiny following a spate of violent incidents on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) vehicles and properties. A recent act of violence on a Blue Line train, which resulted in a woman being set on fire, has heightened concerns, leading the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to issue a stark ultimatum. If safety measures are not bolstered, the CTA risks losing federal funding.
In a statement obtained by NBC Chicago, the FTA expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of safety on CTA systems, imploring local leaders to take definitive action. FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro was quoted, “It’s the responsibility of leaders at every level to create a safe system for all riders and workers on transit. Chicago’s local leaders have neglected that responsibility -- and given Chicago’s crime rate in its transit system, this isn’t an isolated incident.” Molinaro further stated that an increase in law enforcement presence is necessary to safeguard the CTA's patrons and employees.
This federal intervention comes in the backdrop of specific cases that have rattled the local community. Janet Luszcki, a CTA bus rider who was reportedly assaulted by another woman last September, recounted her ordeal, "The bus turns into the terminal at Pulaski off of Archer,” she said. “Out of nowhere, I had water and a bottle thrown at me on the bus. I was in shock. I had no idea what was going on." Luszcki said to NBC Chicago that despite witnesses, no aid came to her during the incident, and the alleged attacker was allowed to remain on the bus until police arrived well after the incident occurred. Luszcki seeks surveillance footage in hopes of forwarding her case.
In a separate statement, the CTA acknowledged the FTA's directive. Meanwhile, Chicago Police Department (CPD) statistics, as noted by WGN TV, suggest that crime rates on CTA have not significantly changed from year to year. However, with assaults against transit workers and customers reportedly exceeding the national average over the last decade, and a 150% increase in assaults against customers in the past five years, the FTA is demanding an updated safety plan by December 15. The FTA also expects the plan's implementation by December 19, mandating regular meetings with federal officials to ensure compliance.
This push for enhanced security measures has resulted in a Special Directive from the FTA, which includes an ultimatum for the CTA to update its safety plans and submit and enact a security enhancement plan within a tight deadline. Failure to comply with these demands could lead to withheld funds, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed by federal officials. The sharp rise in violence on CTA property has prompted a reckoning for Chicago's public transit system, as the safety of everyday commuters hangs in the balance.
