Overview
- Starting Friday, CPD patrols on CTA rise from an average of 77 officers per day to 120, with private K-9 staffing increasing from 172 to 188.
- The Federal Transit Administration said CTA’s submitted plan was materially deficient and ordered a tougher revision within 90 days or it will withhold 25% of certain federal funds.
- Federal officials said the plan failed to set required monthly reduction targets for assaults and did not propose a significant enough increase in security presence on buses and trains.
- CTA says the surge is funded in its 2026 budget at roughly $3.5 million annually, uses CPD’s Voluntary Special Employment Program for off-duty officers, and relies on data-driven deployments with no stated end date.
- City data cited by officials show reported transit crimes down 3% year to date and 19% in November versus last year, while some workers and riders question whether the increased presence will improve safety on trains as well as platforms.