After multiple high-profile violent incidents on CTA property, including a woman being set on fire on a train and another doused in liquid on a bus, the federal government is demanding immediate action.
According to a statement from the Federal Transit Administration, officials are considering withholding federal funding for the CTA if actions are not taken to improve the safety of riders and employees.
“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.”
Janet Luszcki was riding on a CTA bus on September 25 when she was seemingly randomly assaulted by another woman.
“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 she confronted the woman after the assault, but charges have not been filed in the case.
“There were witnesses on the bus. Nobody came to my aid,” she said.
She also said police arrived 300 minutes after the incident, and the alleged assailant was still on the bus. She alleges Chicago police described the attack as a “she said, she said” incident, and is now seeking to see surveillance footage of the incident, in hopes of convincing a judge to issue a warrant in the case.
“I fear for my safety on CTA,” she said. “I don’t think the public transit system is safe.”
Another incident that attracted national attention, including that of President Donald Trump, unfolded in November when a woman was set on fire onboard a CTA Blue Line train in the Loop.
The suspect now faces federal terrorism charges in the case, and had been previously released from prison on electronic monitoring before the horrific attack.
That attack was cited in a letter the FTA sent to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson demanding immediate changes. The letter argued that the National Transit Database has data showing that assaults on transit workers on CTA property have exceeded the national average for the last 10 years, and that assaults against CTA customers have increased by 150% in the last five years.
A Special Directive was issued ordering the CTA to update its safety plans, and to implement mitigations to address the crimes.
The letter gave the CTA just over a week to formulate and implement a security enhancement plan.
The CTA, in a statement, said it received the directive, and that it will “respond within the requested timeline.”
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