FTA to CTA: Improve safety or risk losing federal funds

The Federal Transit Administration is demanding the Chicago Transit Authority to develop and implement a plan to reduce crime on the transit network, or risk losing up to 25% of its federal funding.

FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro yesterday sent letters to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and issued a special directive to the CTA. The directive follows the Nov. 17 incident when a man with 72 prior arrests set a female passenger on fire, severely injuring her, as she rode the subway system's Blue Line train, FTA officials said in a press release. 

Since 2015, the rate of assaults on CTA transit workers has exceeded the national average for comparable transit agencies, according to CTA data reported to the National Transit Database, FTA officials said. Assaults against CTA riders has also increased 150% in the past five years, according to FTA officials.

Per the directive, the CTA must submit an updated safety plan to the FTA by Dec. 31. The plan must be preapproved by the CTA's Transit Board Committee. The CTA must also develop and submit a security enhancement plan to the FTA by Dec. 15. Once approved, the security plan must be implemented by Dec. 19.

If the CTA does not follow the directive, the FTA may withhold up to 25% of federal financial assistance. The FTA may also direct the CTA to use federal funds to address safety concerns, or may issue operational restrictions.

"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," said Molinaro in the press release. "If CTA does not take immediate action to increase its law enforcement presence, we will withhold federal funds."

The CTA intends to respond to the directive within the requested timeline, CTA officials said in an emailed statement.