Federal Transit Administration Demands Chicago Transit Authority Address Transit Worker Assaults and Public Safety Concerns After Woman Set on Fire on Train

CTA must increase law enforcement presence or could risk federal funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Marc Molinaro today sent a letter to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issuing a Special Directive to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) demanding the agency develop and implement a plan to measurably reduce assaults on transit workers and passengers and address unsafe conditions that have contributed to increased crime on CTA's bus and rail system.

This directive follows an attack on a 26-year-old passenger on CTA's Blue Line on November 17th by a repeat criminal with a reported 72 prior arrests. Illinois is notorious for being the first state in the U.S. to impose a deadly cashless bail policy that allows alleged criminals to be released from jail without paying any money while they await trial.

"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 Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro. "If CTA does not take immediate action to increase its law enforcement presence, we will withhold federal funds."

A Special Directive is an order from the federal government that requires FTA-regulated transit agencies or state safety oversight agencies to take specified actions to address safety issues within a specific period.

FTA issued the directive as part of its oversight role and to continue to ensure transit remains the safest mode of surface transportation. Under its Public Transportation Safety Program, FTA oversees and supports transit safety, including the issuance of Special Directives.

Statistics CTA has reported to the National Transit Database (NTD) indicate the rate of assaults on transit workers on CTA rail and bus service has exceeded the national average of comparable transit agencies every year since fiscal year 2015. Assaults against customers on CTA vehicles and property have increased 150 percent in the past five years. The directive issued today requires CTA to take immediate action to protect transit workers and passengers from assaults and other criminal activity.

The Special Directive identifies two findings related to CTA's failure to:

• Update its Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan; and
  
• Maintain a safe operating environment for workers and passengers, including failing to implement adequate mitigations to address a years-long pattern of elevated worker and customer assaults and serious violent crime.

The directive includes actions that CTA must complete, including: (1) CTA must update its Agency Safety Plan by the end of December and send the plan to FTA within seven business days of approval by CTA's Transit Board Committee; (2) by December 15, 2025, CTA must develop a security enhancement plan for FTA review and approval; and (3) by December 19, 2025, CTA must implement the security enhancement plan approved by FTA.

FTA will receive submissions and monitor CTA's progress in resolving each finding and required action. FTA will conduct scheduled meetings with CTA to review its progress until such time as FTA determines that these meetings are no longer needed or may be conducted with less frequency. FTA also may conduct onsite inspections and assessments to confirm implementation of required actions.

FTA will provide technical assistance to CTA to help address the agency's safety issues.

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