CTA submits security plan to FTA, advances safety measures

The Chicago Transit Authority has submitted a security enhancement plan to the Federal Transit Administration, following the administration's special directive issued last week requiring the authority to implement a crime reduction plan or risk losing 25% of its federal funding. 

The FTA ordered the CTA to submit the plan by Dec. 15, one week from the directive's issuance. The CTA has followed through, according to a report by ABC7 Chicago. No details on the security plan were shared. The FTA also ordered a safety plan to be submitted by Dec. 31.

The FTA's directive followed a Nov. 17 incident in which a man set a female passenger on fire, severely injuring her, as she rode the CTA's Blue Line train, FTA officials said in a press release. The directive also cited increased rates of assaults against CTA passengers and employees. 

Meanwhile, the CTA last week advanced safety improvements on its network through a safe ride specialist pilot project. On Dec. 11, the authority identified problems arising from disruptive passengers. The CTA is soliciting proposed solutions from community members and businesses. More information on the CTA's proposal process can be found here.

Also, the CTA recently completed its 2025 "Refresh & Renew" facility update program. Since the program's launch in 2019, the CTA has spent $16.6 million on repairs and maintenance of bus turnarounds and rail stations. This year, the agency invested $6.5 million on such work at 44 bus turnarounds and rail stations. CTA crews used more than 1,680 gallons of paint, installed over 5,000 lightbulbs, replaced roughly 1,100 news boards on platforms and secured 1,200 feet of blue tactile paneling along the edge of rail platforms.