CTA submits safety plan to FTA after threat of funding cuts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Federal Transit Administration sent blistering letters last week demanding the mayor of Chicago and Gov. JB Pritzker submit a new security plan for the Chicago Transit Authority by Monday or face funding cuts.

Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that plan would be submitted by the deadline.

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"I believe that today that's going to happen if it hasn't happened already," Johnson said earlier Monday.

The CTA is under significant pressure from the federal government to bring down rising crime rates after a high-profile attack last month when an unsuspecting woman riding the Blue Line was set on fire.

When contacted by the ABC7 Chicago I-Team, a spokesperson for the CTA would only confirm in an email: "The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has submitted its response to the FTA Special Directive with the requested timeframe."

The I-Team has also reached out to the mayor's office and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which audits crime on the CTA. The mayor's office and those agencies provided no updates or specifics on the plan and what it entails.

The victim in that November attack is still recovering from severe burns. The demand for increased security from the feds also comes after four sleeping passengers were shot and killed on the Blue Line on Labor Day just over a year ago and an attempted sexual assault on the Yellow Line in September.

Last week, Pritzker said the Illinois legislature took the necessary action to increase safety on public transit with a massive funding bill passed during veto session.

"We want the safest possible and most modern transit system in the entire country, and that's what we're prepared to implement," he said.

That law created a "Sworn law enforcement officer crime prevention program" within a year of it taking effect.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office, Chicago police and local municipalities will be involved with its implementation. The sheriff's office confirmed it will take the lead on planning starting June 1.

"The legislature took monumental and very important action to protect our transit system, and indeed the security of the people in the transit system. That's part of the legislation that was just passed. If they read anything and read the newspapers, they would know that that action has been taken and is being taken," Pritzker said.

Meanwhile, November crime numbers reviewed by the ABC7 data team show crime on the CTA is up, but so is CTA ridership.

Violent crimes on buses, platforms, stations and trains are up 6.6% from the yearly average over the three prior years. Overall crime is also up 7.7%.

In asking for a copy of the safety plan, the CTA told the I-Team any request for documents would need to come from a Freedom of Information Act request, which has now been filed.

The FTA said in a response, "The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) submitted its Security Enhancement Plan to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Monday, December 15. FTA is reviewing the plan and will work with CTA on the next steps as outlined in the Special Directive."