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CTA Board OKs $1.75M Settlement, Pushes Back on Federal Claims of Lax Transit Safety

Chicago Transit Board members on Wednesday acknowledged there’s work to be done to ensure trains and buses are as safe as possible, but took aim at a blistering letter sent earlier this week claiming the CTA has failed in its public safety mission.

In letters sent Sunday, Federal Transit Administration leader Marc Molinaro repeatedly cited the high-profile attack on 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, who was doused with gasoline at random and lit on fire as she rode a CTA Blue Line train last month. She survived and continues recovering from her critical injuries.

“Creating a safe, reliable transit system is the responsibility of leaders at every level,” Molinaro wrote. “CTA, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois have failed to meet this obligation. If CTA does not promptly increase its law enforcement presence, FTA will act, including by withholding federal funds.”

Board member Rev. Michael Eaddy said it represented merely another federal effort to “smear” Chicago and give the city a “black eye.”

“We are aware of our problems (and) we know that they must be fixed,” Eaddy said.

That sentiment was echoed by board President Lester Barclay, who acknowledged public safety challenges on the system but said CTA’s leaders and staff have worked hard over the past year to address them.

“These issues are complex and require sustained focus,” Barclay said. “There’s a lot more work to do and frankly room for growth, but I want to express my appreciation for the creative and thoughtful approaches the team has taken to address these concerns.”

Nora Leerhsen, CTA’s acting president, said the agency was reviewing the FTA’s missive and would respond within the timeline laid out in the letter. The FTA has demanded that Chicago transit leaders update the CTA’s safety plan by the end of December, develop a “verifiable security enhancement plan” by Dec. 15, and implement that revised plan by Dec. 19.

Sunday’s letters mark the latest threat made against Illinois and Chicago officials by the Trump administration, which has for months claimed that rampant violence in the city requires the deployment of National Guard troops into Chicago.

Violent crime in the city has in fact dropped precipitously in 2025, with homicides down 29% and total shootings down 35% compared to last year, according to city data. Violent crime on CTA lines is also down 3%, Chicago Police Department data shows.

Board member Roberto Requejo said that he’s seen up close that the safety of riders and employees is a priority for CTA, even if the issue hasn’t been fully solved.

“It hurts me to say that I’m not happy with the security of our trains and our train stations yet, even if I can also acknowledge that there’s been significant and measurable progress made in the past year,” Requejo said.

But Requejo also called out the hypocrisy of federal officials expressing concern for the safety of transit passengers as federal agents are simultaneously “terrorizing” and “abusing” Chicago-area residents during aggressive immigration enforcement over the last three months.

Separately, the board approved a $1.75 million lawsuit settlement. The case was brought by the estate of a man who fell while riding on a northbound #50 Damen bus in July 2022. The lawsuit accused the bus driver of slamming on the brakes as the man was waiting to exit the bus, causing him to fall and suffer serious injuries that eventually resulted in his March 2024 death.

The board also commended the service of now-former director Michele Lee. A longtime disability rights advocate, she resigned her position after moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, the Chicago Tribune first reported. Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Lee in 2022; her departure creates an opening on the board for Mayor Brandon Johnson to fill.

Matt Masterson contributed to this report.

Contact Nick Blumberg: [email protected] | (773) 509-5434 | @ndblumberg

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