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failing to adhere to these rules.
failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
disruptive conduct and failure to comply will result in
there being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
the city of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago City.
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following.
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and city council.
committee and City Council meetings profane vulgar
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that do.
that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in
our subject to search food and beverages.
our subject to search food and beverages including in
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cell phones must be placed on silent prior to
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior to entering the
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disruptive conduct and failure to comply will result in
their being subject to
there being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
the city of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago.
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order and procedure rule 4.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment.
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and city council.
committee and City Council meetings profane vulgar threat
threatening abusive or disrupt
language is not permitted demeaning discriminatory or
harassing behavior and speech directed towards others.
not permitted disruptive behavior incl
not permitted disruptive behavior, including disruptive or
disrespectful conduct tearing others present.
disrespectful conduct tearing others presentations is not
permitted Bann.
permitted banners flyers or signage are not permitted back.
backpacks large bags and sharp objects are not permitted
clear bags not tinted in color.
clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by 6 in will be permitted in our subject to search food and
beverages including in metal canisters are not permitted
cell phones must be placed on silent.
cell phones must be placed on silent prayer to entering the
meeting room individuals.
meeting room individuals must remain seated public comments
speakers are permitted to stand only when providing public
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comment small handheld devices may be used only while
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viewer hearing of other individuals individuals or groups
failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
disruptive conduct and failure to comply will
result in there being sub
Result in there being subject to removal from the meeting
by the sergeant at arm.
Yeah.
the city of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49 the sergeant.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and City Council meetings Prof.
committee and City Council meetings profane vulgar
threatening abusive or disruptive language is not permitted
demean.
demeaning discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech
directed towards others is not permitted disrupt
behavior, including disruptive or disrespect.
behavior, including disruptive or disrespectful conducting
others presentations is not permitted banners flyers or
signage are not permitted backpacks large bags.
signage are not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp
objects are not permitted clear bags.
objects are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color
that do not exceed 12.
that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in
our subject.
our subject to search food and beverages including
including in mental canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior to entering the
meeting.
meeting room individuals must remain seated.
meeting room individuals must remain seated public comment
speakers are permitted to stand only when providing.
speakers are permitted to stand only when providing public
comment small handheld devices may be used.
comment small handheld devices may be used only while
seated and the user must refrain from inter.
seated and the user must refrain from interfering with the
view or hearing of other individuals individ.
view or hearing of other individuals individuals or groups
failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
disruptive conduct and failure to comply will result in
there being subject to removal from the meeting.
there being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
Irvin's out there on the phone
That's who Mabel 1 will shut the thing.
That's who Mabel 1 will shut the thing down.
Good morning, everyone.
the committee on transport
The committee on transportation and public way is now called
to order.
We will have a role called to establish a quorum.
We will have a role called to establish a quorum will the
ottoman please make sure their microphones.
ottoman please make sure their microphones are unmuted.
Please note that your yes or present.
Please note that your yes or present response will be
deemed to be a yes vote when the Quorum roll call is used
as reference vote for later item.
as reference vote for later items. Thank you.
chairman Mitchell present
Vice chair Vasquez
Alderman Conway
chairman
Fuentes
ottoman Gutierrez
chairman Harris
chairman Hopkins
president remote Alderman Moore
Alderman MOS
Alderman Mosley Alderman Moore present remote remote
Alderman Nugent
chairman Rodriguez
Alderman Wes back
alderman gansy
there are 8 members present. We do have a quorum.
Please be advised ottoman Conway atem.
Please be advised ottoman Conway ottoman Mosley almond
Conway. Sorry sorry I missed.
Conway. Sorry, sorry I missed my name their ottoman. Jansy
gutier.
Gutierrez ottoman Moore ottoman Hopkins.
Gutierrez ottoman Moore ottoman Hopkins has requested
remote participation on the rule 59 of the Rules of Order
and procedure for the city council. Can I get a motion to
allow remote participation for ottoman con?
allow remote participation for ottoman Conway ottoman? Mosy
ottoman gansy ottoman Gutierrez atem?
ottoman gansy ottoman Gutierrez ottoman Moore and ottoman
Hopkins.
chairman Urban
Chairman urban urban so moves on the motion all in favor.
Say I
oppose know
in the beginning
independent of the chair the eyes have it.
at this time will we begin the public comment period out of
respect for everybody's time public comment will be
to 30 minutes and each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
our speaker who is participating
Our speaker who is participating virtually is Ethan.
Saltsburg.
Mr. Salzburg, do we have you here?
Good morning. Can everyone hear?
Good morning. Can everyone hear me?
Yes, we can hear you.
Hey, good morning. Uh, yes, so I've been a fan of the CTA
ever since I was a uh, excuse me ever since I was a kid,
but right now we are exper.
but right now we are experiencing an intractable crisis 1
that motivated me.
that motivated me to be here speaking this morning and I
hope that every member of this committee listening today
understands.
understands the stakes that we are facing.
the CTA
The CTA is on a death spiral.
for 3 years now Riders have been struggling with ghost
trains and ghost buses. I regularly see 30 minute.
trains and ghost buses. I regularly see 30 minute gaps or
more in rush hour service that used to come.
more in rush hour service that used to come every 4 Minutes
last year only.
last year only 33% of trains showed up on time even
last year only 33% of trains showed up on time. Even after
multiple rounds of service cuts.
now I'm even getting official alerts to avoid the train due
to a lack of operators. Imagine every day.
to a lack of operators. Imagine every day being possibly 30
minutes late to your hourly.
minutes late to your hourly wage job to school to daycare.
to medical appointments with no end in sight. This is our
current reality and it is turning thousands of Chicagoans
away from riding.
away from riding Transit. I know folks who are leaving,
Chicago because they can't depend on Transit anymore and
many others who are now reconsidering moving here this
crisis is going to have disastrous impacts on our economy.
and our national reputation if we don't fix this now,
so why is service so bad?
CTA management is both not hiring.
CTA management is both not hiring fast enough and doing
nothing to stem the ongoing loss of employees.
last year despite a hiring blitz so many
Last year despite a hiring blitz. So many rail operators
left that we only gained.
left that we only gained a net total of 6 at this rate. It
will take 25 years.
will take 25 years just to get back to 2019 service levels.
now to be fair recent moves like a hiring fair and in
increasing the number of training slots are good steps, but
you need to know it's too little too late. Neither the CTA.
president nor the current board are qualified to get.
president nor the current board are qualified to get us out
of this crisis.
many
Many of the board members have no relevant Transit
experience.
experience whatsoever and they barely ride the system you
can.
cannot make meaningful changes to improve the rider.
experience. If you don't know what it's like to be a rider.
CT leadership also has issues with transparency calling
data analysts Liars.
data analysts Liars but refusing to talk with Advocates
they have no.
They have no accountability having skipped many of these
hearings.
hearings while the president has raised his own.
hearings while the president has raised his own salary 60%
in the last few years.
In my opinion the CTA.
In my opinion the CTA will never improve under the
leadership.
So we need your help. We need you to raise your voices.
So we need your help. We need you to raise your voices to
call on Mayor Johnson continued filling the board with
qualified experts. We need you to show.
qualified experts. We need you to show publicly to all your
constituents that you hear their pain and will work hard to
turn the ship around before it's too late.
Please join your colle.
Please join your colleagues in calling for a change in
leadership at the C.
leadership at the CTA. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Salwood that was perfectly.
Thank you, Mr. Salwood. That was perfectly timed.
Um our next speaker.
Um, our next speaker is Michael Le lafargue.
Mr.
Uh, thank you, Michael. Lafargue is the name. Thank you so
much. I'm usually here to criticize and advocate.
much. I'm usually here to criticize and Advocate but here
I'm I'm here today to thank
so all power and glory is his I thank you for allowing.
to make comment. I am Mike bfar a member of the Rogers Park
development, uh group. I'm a member of the anti-cruelty
society.
society is 125 year, uh committee. I'm a member.
society is 125 year, uh committee. I'm a member of the 95th
Street Corridor development.
Street Corridor development committee past president of the
red line extension Co,
red line extension Coalition West Chesterfield community
and past president of Chicago Parks coalition.
Again, I'm here today to give thanks that the many.
Again, I'm here today to give thanks at the many challenges
we have in our city of food.
we have in our city of food gun violence migrant crisis
Equitable development.
Equitable development trash and field and our Transit
challenges. Of course, I'm here to commend and thank Al
Alderman bill for his continued work on the development of
Road.
roads and uh Pullman Alderman Harris for her.
roads and uh Pullman Alderman Harris for her community
involvement and the work that she does.
involvement and the work that she does Alderman William
Hall for the eloquent words that he provided regarding the
recent murders and chat them in a
recent murders and chat on in Auburn Gresham Alderman Lopez
for
standard graffiti and even light pole uh EXP
standard graffiti and even light pole, uh exposed light pole
wiring ottoman Ron Mosley for his anti-littering campaign
and 8.
and 87th Street SSA plans and possible.
and 87th Street SSA plans and possible development of the
poster Street Cham.
of the poster Street Chamber of Commerce.
alderman
Alderman Dow, I thank you for confirming our meeting
tomorrow regarding.
tomorrow regarding Transit oriented development and
Alderman Mitchell Greg.
Alderman Mitchell Greg Mitchell working with EC Academy on
the St. Michael's Redevelopment project a property.
the St. Michael's Redevelopment project a property that I
helped sell.
city council I
City council. I thank you for proving the transitive which
will allow the 3 billion dollar red line extension.
will allow the 3 billion dollar red line extension, uh to
move forward to the far south side of Chicago after 60
years of discussion. I thank you for supporting and DeLeo
Institute in the trinity.
Institute in the Trinity Church for the 95th Street. Corid.
Corridor development project. I thank you. I thank you. I
thank you for choosing Sierra Sport boat rights.
thank you for choosing Sierra Sport boat rights as the
commissioner of the Department of planning and devel.
commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development
Mr. Mayor. I thank you.
Mr. Mayor. I thank you for operating the city in a manner
of consciousness.
of Consciousness using the infallible word of the Bible as
a guide, but I'm here today to specific.
a guide, but I'm here today to specifically thank Mr.
Doorbell Carter, I highly commend you and your board and
for marshaling and direct.
for marshaling and directing your staff to effectively
attain.
attain tiger grants federal state and capital funding to
replace the tracks on the lawn to Dan.
replace the tracks on the lawn to Dan Ryan to build the 280
million red.
To approve and coordinate the red.
To approve and coordinate the red purple line modernization
projects again after 60.
projects again, after 60 years of uh, proposals discussions
to get the red.
to get the red line extension project funded and to move
forward.
forward for your consistent and constant communication.
through Leah money, Mr. Money and your team with
communities and all areas of the city of is these projects
move forward to better?
move forward to better for better integrating CTA and
Metro?
program that's
a real complete modernization
your real complete modernization. Oh, that's my time. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. You're welcome.
Our our next speaker is Natasha Gray.
Good morning.
My name is Natasha gray and I am an employee and a user of
uh CTA. Okay. I've been a trained operator since 2016. I
absolutely and I appreciate my job, but I also absolutely
enjoy my job to me. It's quite fun to be perfectly.
enjoy my job to me. It's quite fun to be perfectly honest.
Everyone might not uh, share the same scent.
Everyone might not uh, share that same sentiment. Uh, but I
wanted to speak on a few things. Um,
number 1, uh 1 of the biggest problems that plague, uh, the
company and your service is crime, you know CTA gets a lot
of flack The Operators the employees we get a lot of flack
about the absence of service. I think that the public
really doesn't truly understand. Uh, what
really doesn't truly understand, uh, what goes on on the
property that's actually be
property. That's actually beyond cta's control beyond the
uh employ
uh, employees control. There's a lot of assaults that are
happening. Not only
happening not only on the passengers but on the uh
employees as well. I've been insulted myself, uh when when
I spent my time on the red line by somebody that was you
know trying to do
know, trying to do something, you know bad to himself and I
was trying to help him so, you know, you have to take in
consideration.
consideration the city that you live in CTA is a trans
transportation company a transportation.
transportation company a transportation company. Let's not
forget that it might sound cruel, but it is not a
shelter. Okay, and we are not law enforcers.
So you have to look at what laws are possibly.
So you have to look at what laws are possibly not being
passed that allows. Uh
the uh, the crime that you see on CTA property, okay, it
will be uh,
will be uh less assault not only on yourselves but the
employees you have more people that will show up for work.
Uh, you know, it's it's very taxing on the mind and the
body to uh do the job.
But you know, you know, we're not making excuses here. This
is just the reality. All right. So, uh something I would
like to ask. I've never got to experience as a customer or
a a a
an employee because I'm 40 years.
An employee because I'm 40 years old but uh 2 person Crews,
that would be greatly.
that would be greatly appreciated that will help uh things
possibly.
possibly move along a little faster, uh a little bit more
Moines.
monitoring because I guess with the security companies they
may not have much reach, uh, some work some uh, some
workplace practices that are a little bit more.
workplace practices that are a little bit more, uh fair to
the employees. We got a lot of pressure.
the employees. We got a lot of pressure on us. I think that
we need to acclimate to the times and you know change a few
uh of the
few uh of the rules and policies that you have on us.
know, it's not 1975 anymore. People are not the same, you
know, the public is not the same we deal with a lot more
things that people did not deal with when you walk
these rules into place. Uh, but once again, I absolutely
love my job, I love Chicago
love my job. I love Chicago I love you know service in my
passengers. I take the system my son takes the system.
lot of my friends take the system. I see my
come to work and I am proud to serve the city of Chicago.
Our next speaker is Keno.
Got Lucha.
I met you.
Good morning, uh, ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning, uh, ladies and gentlemen of the committee. My
name is Ken kitley here, and I'm a member of commuters take
action, uh, commuters takes action a group of Chicago.
action, uh, commuters takes action a group of Chicagoans
asking for better Transit. They consider our city to be a
world.
world-class City a world-class city is a center of Commerce
culture. But to make all this work, we need quality
transportation.
Transportation. Unfortunately, we have led our Transit
dwindle.
dwindle the 279 million rides that CTA provided last year.
is often achieved by cities 10th of the size elsewhere in
the world, but it was once a backbone of the city is now an
unreliable mess motivating people to switch to carb.
Transportation having more people in cars catalyzes global.
warming leads to more no noise and air pollution.
increases traffic fatalities. We are the only developed
country in the world where car deaths are on the
perhaps because of our stubborn resistance to
I hope it's no news to mention that the
large service Cuts since 2020 affecting all sides of the
city.
city on the L. We now see 21% fewer scheduled trains.
city on the L. We now see 21% fewer scheduled trains and
with the agencies and ability to deliver on even on.
decimated schedules the realities even worse if I had
nickel for every time I heard someone say giving up on
CTA because it's too unreliable.
Probably have enough money to start my own Transit Agency at
the core of this issue is the agency's.
the core of this issue is the agency's leadership, which
has not been able to tackle the challenges.
has not been able to tackle the challenges the same kind of
challenges that other cities have faced and overcome.
investigative journalists found that the cta's leadership
hardly ever takes the bus or the train a slightly more than
a dozen rides a year. How can they reassure?
a dozen rides a year. How can they reassure us that things
are getting better when they're not the ones experiencing?
delayed or overpacked trains a good Transit Agency needs.
provide predictable service a writer should be able to
easily figure.
easily figure out how often their bus or train comes but
the CTA doesn't care they spit in the face of the rider
with their schedules that are comically and accurate and a
disruptions happen. The agency doesn't communicate they
leave us stranded on.
leave us stranded on platforms and bus stops.
I'm looking forward to the hearing.
I'm looking forward to the hearing to hearing with uh with
the CTA staff today. I hope that aldermen will be thorough
with their questions and most importantly.
with their questions and most importantly don't let the CTA
full everyone that classic excuses. Please be Stern and ask
for a concrete plan on how to turn the agency around.
And if all we get is excuses.
And if all we get is excuses every uh again and again it
may be time to consider new CT.
may be time to consider new CTA leadership.
I would also like to point my grievances at the mayor's
office despite promising improved transit in his camp.
office despite promising improved transit in his campaign
Mayor Johnson has hardly even mentioned the word transit.
since its inauguration since his first day is an update in
the office. He was to make 2 appointments to the Chicago
Transit.
Transit board 1 of was passed just last week 9 months
later.
Transit board 1 of was passed just last week 9 months later
and the other 1 is still to be made I beg all of the
elders, please let it be known to the mayor that Chicago.
ends need better Transit and need his help now. Thank you.
Our next speaker is Chris Gentry.
Howdy everyone. Uh, I'm Chris Gentry.
Uh, so when I moved to Chicago a long time ago, I was I was
really happy to live in a place where I didn't have to
drive to work. I'm from the middle of nowhere and getting
to take a like public.
to take a like public transit infrastructure. That was
really reliable and amazing meant that within 6 months. I
could sell my car. It was fantastic, right? It would allow
me to take a job that otherwise if I had to pay for car.
expenses I couldn't have been able to take and I love the
job that I get to have.
This is changed really heavily in the last.
This is changed really heavily in the last 4 years.
well other major trans agencies across
Well other major trans agencies Across America are bouncing
back better or at least to preco levels of service the CTA
remains lagging far behind.
remains lagging far behind I watch as countless of my
friends students and community members.
friends students and community members are forced to buy
cars again due to unreliable infrastructure.
cars again due to unreliable infrastructure and poorly
maintained trans transportation.
I spoke recently just literally last week to 1 of my teacher
colleagues.
colleagues who after who after their third day being late
to work because of ghost bosses and ghost trains was forced
to buy another car after.
to buy another car after threat of losing their job, right
that is directly on the hands of this current leadership of
the CTA.
right
Right. This is the direct result of poor leadership when
other agencies in the US are bouncing back and ours is not
there is a problem. This is not unique. This is probably
unique to Chicago. This is not happening in DC. This is not
happening in Boston. This is not happening Los Angeles.
This is not happening in York. This is only happening in
Chicago.
right
Right my bus line. The 50 has seen an almost 1/3 of its
service cut.
service cut since I started living there.
and that
And that is due to the initial schedule of shut cut and
it's still only.
it's still only has 80% of the buses running on it hosts
schedule cut, right?
schedule cut, right the train schedules likewise are
abysmal trains like the blue line already cut more than 30%
since Co on.
since Co on official schedules and they never even run at
their meeting the moment frequ.
their meeting the moment frequency. My work recently
started providing Uber reimburse.
providing Uber reimbursements for travelers coming in and
out of town where we used to encourage people to take the
blue line, right? Because the Blue Line isn't reliable
enough to get people.
enough to get people into the office fast enough.
across the US other
Across the US other agencies when they have frequencies
will update their ridership. You see regular posts on
engagement from staff in New York, DC.
engagement from staff in New York DC Boston Los Angeles on
issues when their trains are having well.
issues when their trains are having while reliability or
frequency issues, but Chicago the only way we have
reliability data is from like random activists because the
C.
CTA doesn't say anything.
when the head of the CTA doesn't ride the CTA regularly
when almost.
when almost the entire board doesn't ride the CTA
regularly. They don't know the lived exper.
regularly. They don't know the lived experiences of those
that are riding and working on the CTA we heard from
workers themselves talking about like the workplace
challenges that we have to have.
challenges that we have to have right? This isn't like the
CTA is meeting the moment, right?
CTA is meeting the moment right meeting. The moment is
accurate tracking and schedules.
accurate tracking and schedules accurate, um accurate and
fair hiring and fair working conditions.
fair hiring and fair working conditions an actual plan for
how we're going to return to like free Co levels of of
service or even getting better than pre-loaded level.
service versus what we have now, which is this like they
vaguely
we're going to try to get better service, right?
Whatever Carter thinks that meeting the moment is this
clearly is.
clearly isn't it? And he clearly is not qualified for this
position. Thank you.
Thank you, Chris.
Our next speaker is Selene cousin Coen followed by to
Taiwan Sims.
If Mr Sams.
If Mr. Sams is in there, can you please be ready?
Got it.
Hello, my name.
Hello, my name is Selene Coen. Um, I just wanted to thank
the council for this opportunity for regular.
the council for this opportunity for regular, uh, Chicago
residents and CTA Riders to speak.
residents and CTA Riders to speak to the CTA and to speak
to city council.
um
I would just like to say the CTA as many echoed as a major
asset for the city. It's something that we should take care
of. It's something that we should invest.
of. It's something that we should invest in.
Um, but unfortunately the C.
Um, but unfortunately the CTA is not meeting its potential.
Um, we're here because we care.
we're here because we're
We're here because we're concerned and we would just like
to make sure that our voices are heard.
to make sure that our voices are heard and that our needs
are met.
as things I've witnessed firsthand as
As things I've witnessed firsthand as a CTA Rider and I
like to Echo that I don't have a car. I rely on public
transport on Transportation.
transport on Transportation long wait times quality of life
issues.
issues lack of reliability. I think we're all pretty clear
on what some of the major problems are, you know from the
rider perspective.
rider perspective from the perspective of the employees at
the C.
the CTA.
So I'd say CTA providers in Chicago.
So I'd say CTA providers in Chicago residents want
transparency want Clear Talk?
transparency want Clear Talk want clear metrics?
They want to feel heard.
They want to know that action is being taken before more.
users leave the system of which many have many of my
friends.
friends who never had cars before Co now have cars and use
them almost.
All the time because they don't.
All the time because they don't feel ctas reliable enough.
I urge.
I urge President Carter and the CTA board to view US
Riders.
and US residents.
As partners we're trying to change up the common goal.
um
Um and to please leverage our experiences our skills. There
are plenty of
plenty of people here in the audience that I'm sure would
love to volunteer their time.
Or to volunteer, you know.
Or to volunteer, you know their experiences to share what
needs to be fixed.
um
and overall we
And overall we just all love the CTA to you know, get back
to preco.
to preco or better than preco and invest in a system that
really supports the livelihood and lives of many people.
here around this city. So thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Next is Taiwan Sims followed by Olivia Graham.
Hey, good morning. Um, my name is Taiwan Sims.
And here in everybody.
And here in everybody speak just about the scheduling.
And here in everybody speak just about the scheduling and
what's going on with the CTA.
What about the people that we have to create Advent?
What about the people that we have to create Adventure ride
alone with a loan in the CTA?
especially those people experiencing mental illness
Especially those people experiencing mental illness. What
about those people?
um we
Um, we've
seen a record number of
facilities that do help and house these individuals.
facilities that do help and house these individuals shut
down in the past years.
With no consideration to them.
So when y'all I I assume most of you.
So when y'all I I assume most of you all right to CTA.
In the morning when you wake up.
In the morning when you wake up and it's pissing the sea.
Or you find a pile of feces in the back area?
Or you find a pile of feces in the back area back there.
but when you dealing with the guy
But when you dealing with the guy who's screaming at the
top of his lungs from the back?
top of his lungs from the back end to the front end.
You got 3 other people.
You got 3 other people dealing with mental illness.
but you also
But you also got people who have now made this a home.
on a blue line have y'all seen that the
On a blue line have y'all seen that the little tent things
that's made like the beds?
that's made like the beds imagine being that person?
and
And I do I do I sympathize with everything that you all
are.
saying because it's on leadership.
and like the man
And like the man said on what count other cities are not
dealing with this.
Because other cities may be empathetic to what?
Because other cities may be empathetic to what the people
in.
their City are dealing with
Their City are dealing with especially with the mental
illness part. Um, we can say a thousand things towards CTA.
But the people who are the most important.
and if we not dealing with that issue then
And if we not dealing with that issue then scheduling and
y'all not getting your buses.
y'all not getting your buses and y'all being able to buy
cars. I that's amazing. Y'all just able to buy cars out of
nowhere.
versus the person that can't buy a
Versus the person that can't buy a meal versus the person
that can't afford shelter.
that can't afford shelter a hotel.
For the night all these things but we up here speaking about
sched.
When the real issue is the people.
The people y'all invest so much.
The people y'all invest so much money into this area that
area versus the people.
And y'all look down on those people though. I know y'all
y'all y'all come in. Y'all try to move that should.
y'all y'all come in y'all try to move that shoulder away
from buddy who smells so bad. Y'all try to
squeeze real tight on each other so
squeeze real tight on each other. So y'all won't have to
sit next to that uncomfortable individual next to you.
but these
But these things need to be addressed scheduling.
But these things need to be addressed scheduling this
something we've been dealing with in Chicago. Y'all got to
come to where I'm at right now. I'm in the far south side.
I tried to get a bus.
I tried to get a bus this morning off Michigan it flew
right past.
but I
But I I could care less.
because I was thinking about when I get on the train what
I'm going to have to deal with as soon as I got on the
train, I got a man clenching his mouth so tight.
train, I got a man clenching his mouth so tight because of
the piss in the seat, but he want to sit down because he
got to go to work.
got to go to work now this in but imagine waking up to that
getting on the bus. You got to go to work. You going to
come to work pissed off?
I'm just saying.
So today that's what I got to say.
Thank you, Mr. Sim.
Thank you Mr. Sims.
Olivia Graham followed by David blumberg
Good morning, everyone. Um, just to add on to the comment.
that was just made I would like to note that the CTA did
spend.
spend uh, 31 million on a K9 unit.
spend uh, 31 million on a K9 unit and failed to spend $1
million on social services.
million on social services in this past year.
First I would like to remind you.
First I would like to remind you the Transportation, uh
committee what your mission is.
committee what your mission is here the committee on
transportation and public way shall have.
transportation and public way shall have jurisdiction over
all matters related to the Chicago trans.
all matters related to the Chicago Transit Authority the
Subways and the Furnishings of the transportation. This
means that you all here have the oversight for the
transportation system that serves 3 3.2 million Chicagoans
and I am here.
and I am here today to ask you all to stand up and lead the
transportation committee or lead the transportation system
in the way that we need. The CTA is the city is connected.
by the CTA and illustrate this in my written comment.
I hope all of you will read. Um,
I hope all of you will read um, but to talk quickly about
the people here now, uh,
the people here now, uh chairperson in the Seventh Ward
your 95th bus connects more than just your ward residents
to the whole of the red line and the Jeffery jump bus.
runs through your Wards serves almost 1
year and connects your community.
transportation such as trains downtown.
chairperson. You have critical
Transportation in your community as both Western and Ashland
run through your wards.
run through your Wards Western serves 2.5 million rides per
year and Ashland is the longest Bus Route spanning 16
miles.
miles serving 3 additional Wards just in this committee
alone.
alone the 17th the 28th and the 32nd Ward.
17th the 28th and the 32nd Ward and Alderman Rodriguez you
were quoted saying
Rodriguez. You were quoted saying we have starved our
public transportation system of dollar.
transportation system of dollars and have allowed CTA
leadership to escape accountability at
CTA leadership to escape accountability at every turn
Alders of the transportation committee the time to
critically evaluate the CTA leadership and take decisive
action is now the CTA is coming up.
action is now the CTA is coming up on a fiscal cliff and if
we cannot grow writ,
we cannot grow a ship because of lack of service poor
communication and public mistrust. I am asking this
committee to require the CTA board commute.
committee to require the CTA board commute to work at least
once a month as already mentioned today. We have the proof
that leaders don't write the CTA. The CTA is being run by
people who are not writers.
second formerly evaluate President Carter and other key
members of the board to ensure accountability and
transparency from this agency into not approved 30% raises
for leaders when rail service has been cut by 20% and
finally create a transparent system with the CTA for
sharing hiring information. The CTA has promised it will
hire 200 rail operators this year. How how
hire 200 rail operators this year how how many have already
been hired? And when will we notice or an
Personnel the CTA leadership has
themselves as not being truth.
Uh, so we can uh run more public transportation and
more commuters. Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
David Bloomberg followed by Austin B
Hello, I am a writer of the CTA.
Hello, I am a writer of the CTA like many of the people
here today, uh for several.
here today, uh for several years my wife and I lived in
pilson and I rode the 60 bus quite frequently, but anyone
who's uh, been a rider of that bus anyone who lived?
who's uh, been a rider of that bus anyone who lived in that
neighborhood knows quite well that the 60 bus is 1 of the
biggest ghost bus.
biggest Ghostbusters issues in the city, uh frequently.
biggest Ghostbusters issues in the city, uh, frequently
frequently. It would not come on time or it just wouldn't
come at all. It was on the schedule. It might even say that
there was live tracking on it, but it just wasn't there.
The fact of the matter is I use.
The fact of the matter is I use that to get to class. I
would use that to get to the places I need.
would use that to get to the places I needed to get to uh
on occasion and at several times. I was using that to get
to my job.
uh
And even today I rode the Blue Line in.
And even today I rode the Blue Line in to this meeting from
Logan Square all the way.
Logan Square all the way to Washington.
But people were crowded shoulder.
But people were crowded shoulder-to-shoulder knee to knee
bumping into each.
bumping into each other falling into each other and the
reason why that is is because people don't have trust in.
the system if you know that there won't be another
the system. If you know that there won't be another train
coming up behind that.
quickly
Quickly, and you're not sure you don't know about the
reliability.
reliability of what's to come next. You're going to pack in
like sard.
like sardines. You're going to get in there real tight
because you know, you have to catch that bus.
It is.
It is insane that people have to get packed in so tight.
It is insane that people have to get packed in so tightly.
Because they don't know if the system.
Because they don't know if the system that they need will
serve them properly.
I implore leadership I implore.
the CTA board to do better
to make sure
That their leadership leads to a better situation for all
those who need.
those who need this to get to work to get to school.
for their kids for their families
For their kids for their families and just because they
want to and need to use it for whatever.
want to and need to use it for whatever daily purposes.
They require.
They require from the CTA.
As someone else came up here and said we can't all afford.
cars. In fact, I am in the process of selling my own.
cars. In fact, I am in the process of selling my own
because I need the money to go back to school.
and that means
And that means that it requires an even greater Reliance on
this system.
this system and if you can't rely on the system to get
where you need to go then it is very very difficult. Not
only
To get rid of your car to go.
To get rid of your car to go car free to be able to get to
the places you need to.
the places you need to but it's even harder to stay in the
city and I love Chicago for a lot of reasons, but it's very
very difficult to recommend to people moving here. When I
see the decline that the system is currently going.
see the decline that the system is currently going through.
Thank you.
Austin Bush followed by soil Smith
Thank you. And hello.
the first thing to do
The first thing to do is to acknowledge that the CTA has a
problem.
problem not its writers. The CTA is not oper.
problem not its writers. The CTA is not operating at the
level of service the city demands it should.
The second thing to do is to acknowledge that the cta's.
problems are unique to us here in Chicago and can't be
explained Away by broader Trends brighter ship recover.
explained Away by broader Trends brighter ship recovery to
2019 levels is not keeping Pace with other.
2019 levels is not keeping Pace with other peer systems in
this country leaving Chicago far behind our Second City
moniker.
The third thing to do is to accept the accountability that
falls on City leadership for allow.
falls on City leadership for allowing this to continue the
mayor appoints the majority of the board which in turn
determines the leadership of the organization.
determines the leadership of the organization council
members should work with the mayor to appoint appropriate
board members with an interest in fixing the system.
public transportation is for the
Public transportation is for the public in the same way that
holding public office.
holding public office is you are here to serve the people
not the system.
people not the system.
the fourth thing to
The fourth thing to do is to install management with the
wherewithal guid.
wherewithal guidance and performance metrics to fix the
problem that has been growing at the agency since before
2020.
with a board and president having little to no experience
of what the inside of a CTF CTA bus even looks like the
council should pass resolutions calling for increased
requirements for CTA leadership position.
requirements for CTA leadership positions.
The 5th thing to do is to partner and resolve to request
State funding relief for the CTA before the impending
fiscal cliff, which should be tied to governance reform.
Transit is vital.
Transit is vital for this City's livelihoods and it
requires adequate fun.
requires adequate funding in conjunction with effective
management and
management. And the sixth thing to do is to coordinate all
relevant City Department.
relevant City departments to Aid in these efforts including
requiring C dot to follow the city's Municipal Code 10.
Thank you, Mr. Bush.
uh soil
Uh soil Smith followed by
Hansen loan
Uh, hi, I'm Soleil Smith. Um, I am a member of Chicago
dsa's fix the CTA campaign.
dsa's fix the CTA campaign, and I'm also resident of Rogers
Park.
Uh 3 weeks ago. Uh, I helped my fellow CTA writers and a
train operator stop.
train operator. Stop a man from continuing to assault
people on my Redline.
people on my redline train car.
I was on my way to my job as a teaching assistant at UIC
along.
along with some other folks. Um who I assume are on their
way to work or taking their kids to different places.
uh when and then we had to stop um this person from
Uh, when and then we had to stop um this person from
continuing to assault people on our train.
when the train we a stop the man walked out of the
When the train we a stop the man walked out of the train
and away from the station the operator tried her.
and away from the station the operator tried her best to
make sure we were okay and didn't need any physical
attention. There wasn't a whole lot. She could do she
radio.
radioed the police. It wasn't even a blip on the CTA.
service alerts Twitter account, and I'm no remarkable day.
on the CTA.
I wasn't really able to go to work.
I wasn't really able to go to work after that and decided
to board a train home to calm down. I sat in silence back
to the Howard.
to the Howard back the Howard bound way grateful. I worked
somewhere that could.
somewhere that could let me stay home after something like
that.
And then about 2 train Lynx away from my Destin.
station. We sat we waited.
station. We sat we waited 10 20 30 minutes.
I'd like to apologize for the delay. We're having track
signaling ISS.
signaling issues at Howard that are delaying all of the
other trains.
other trains noted on the CTA alerts counts, but statist.
statistically for our current system.
Not a remarkable day.
Not a remarkable day for the CTA just another 1.
durable Carter's plan for our Transit System.
since his appointment in 2015 durable Carter has
implemented his vision for our system.
a vision that sees vast reductions in Bus and Train speed
A vision that sees vast reductions in Bus and Train speed
and Service as meeting the moment.
Carter is passionate about creating a system.
Carter is passionate about creating a system that dep
prioritizes the freedom of movement.
prioritizes the freedom of movement of poor and non-white
Chicagoans.
cart
Carter sees meeting the moment a climate crisis increased
reliance.
Reliance on public transit worsening poverty.
As best met through the FAQ.
As best met through the facilitation of over 100 hour work
weeks.
weeks for Rail and bus operators under counting the
assaults of CT.
assaults of CTA employees and the transformation of jobs
many were pass.
many were passionate about in part into part-time gigs to
rely.
reliably get Mass massively laid off from
in my mind
In my mind the best determination of a powerful leader is
not the position.
not the position that someone has but the relationship
they're able to make
with others a powerful CTA leader would be 1 readily and
actively forging connections with writers and CTA workers
who exper.
who experience our system daily.
They would be someone.
They would be someone who would gladly fight for things
like brick and mortar bathrooms.
like brick and mortar bathrooms for CTA workers or sick
days things that trans.
days things that transform working conditions and
ultimately reduce the loss of bus and
ultimately reduce the loss of Bus and Rail operators.
It would be someone who seeks out and Implement solutions
that prioritize the safety of riders and workers like bus
Rapid Transit and stable scheduling.
If you want act to actually hold Doraville accountable.
If you want act to actually hold Doraville accountable, I
demand you fire adorable Carter.
Thank you.
Ken Loren followed by Kyle Lucas
Good morning. Uh Kirsten Lohan second ward res.
Good morning, uh Kirsten Lohan second ward resident.
for my public comment this morning I decided to
For my public comment this morning, I decided to draw
inspiration from my journey to this chamber via.
inspiration from my journey to this chamber via transit.
Hence, excuse me, if this is Hast.
Hence, excuse me, if this is hastily written.
it began at my home where I
It began at my home where I walked the 10 or so minutes to
the nearest Red Line Station.
the nearest Red Line Station Chicago Avenue upon entry to
the station. I descended to the platform where I had just
missed the train.
missed the train, hence. I had to wait nearly 15 minutes
for the next.
for the next train the Headway time I found
insulting the rush hour time.
During my wait for the next train. I had some time to kill
so I expl.
so I explored the platform and the tunnel with my senses.
eyes landed upon a slow but persistent.
eyes landed upon a slow but persistent drip of water from
the ceiling permeating the concrete tunnel. This slow drip
was forming a seemingly out of place, but nevertheless.
beautiful stellite hanging from the ceiling.
beautiful stellite hanging from the ceiling like an icicle
in today's unseasonably.
in today's unseasonably warm, uh temperature.
Now I did not come here.
Now I did not come here today to pontificate on the
subterranean geolog.
Subterranean geological wonders of the L.
but upon reflection
But upon reflection. I found that this stag type provided
wonderful.
wonderful imagery for our current woes facing transit in
this city.
in my opinion the main in most important issue facing the
CTA today is something that has formed over time perhaps
decades.
decades just like that stag type crystallizing.
decades just like that stag type crystallizing and
calcifying across this city amongst our elected.
calcifying across this city amongst our elected officials
our Transit leaders and even our city.
our Transit leaders and even our city agencies.
This. Woe that our public.
This woe that our public transit agencies face in Chicago
is the viral.
is the viral and apathy towards our system and its writers.
Well, I am not here to indict any individual. I'm concerned
with this growing apathy towards trans.
with this growing apathy towards transit in our great City
this sickness permeates.
This sickness permeates all levels of this city. And the
CTA alone is not resp.
CTA alone is not responsible for all of transits woes.
now a few examples of the apathy I saw today on my
Now a few examples of the apathy I saw today on my trip to
this chamber first. I constant.
this chamber first. I constantly almost daily notice an
18th District.
18th District Transit police vehicle parked in the bus only
lane.
lane at Chicago and State.
on the
On the other side of the street. I noticed a City
Contractor vehicle from
vehicle from the company that installs delivers and
maintains the bus Shel.
maintains the bus shelters parked in the bus lanes with
their flashers on they might have been fix.
their flashers on they might have been fixing something. I
don't know but I couldn't see any employees.
don't know but I couldn't see any employees in the vehicle
or nearby.
Another instance. I saw was the private trucks and private
Vehicles parked.
Vehicles parked in the Dearborn bus lanes a constant.
daily occurrence.
I'll add that, New York.
I'll add that New York City under mayor Adams has
Administration has.
Administration has 7 dedicated teams of tow trucks.
Administration has 7 dedicated teams of tow trucks and Law
Officers to ticket and toe bus lane off.
Officers to ticket and toe bus lane offenders.
but while we patiently wait
But while we patiently wait for enforcement cameras on
buses to be installed the city does nothing about it. I'm
not an expert but perhaps a phone call or a letter on
letterhead to streets.
letterhead to streets and sanitation could bring a few tow
trucks to bus.
trucks to bus lanes across the city.
Finally even here adjacent to This Magnificent Monument to
democracy. I saw a city vehicle parked in the bus lane on.
Thank you.
we have Kyle Lewis followed by
We have Kyle Lewis followed by Tim Shambrook. Um, and I
want to acknowledge at this point that we we're past the
30.
minutes, but because I know how important this issue is, I
want to everybody that have signed up for public comment to
have an opportunity to speak. So thank you for you guys
ordering.
Hello everyone. My name is Kyle Lucas. I'm 1 of the
co-founders of better Street Chicago. We are a
organization that are fighting for better streets for all.
Chicagoans and that includes public transit. That's a major
component of creating Safe Streets of creating.
component of creating Safe Streets of creating vibrant
communities in the city of Chicago and
vibrant communities in the city of Chicago, and I want to
acknowledge and thank you Alderman Mitchell for
time for public comment today. I really do appreciate.
time for public comment today. I really do appreciate that.
Thank you.
President Carter, um, I know that you're really tired of
this.
I know that you are.
and and I just want
And and I just want to be like like in all sincerity. I know
you're tired of this. I know that you don't like that. Your
reputation has been smeared like this. I know that this is
not something that you enjoy.
and what I want to tell you, is that for
And what I want to tell you, is that for 4 years Chicagoans
have not been enjoy.
have not been enjoying this either.
for 3 and a half years
For 3 and a half years since the pandemic hit.
I have been sounding the alarm on these issues and the
alarm has been growing and growing and growing as more
people have.
people have seen the crisis that this system is facing and
we are sounding the alarm because we
We love the CT.
We love the CTA. We love Chicago and we want you to
succeed.
That's why we're here. We're not here because we hate you.
We're not here because we think that you're this awful
person we
person. We just want to see CTA do better we want.
person. We just want to see CTA do better. We want honesty.
We want transparency we
We want transparency. We haven't had that.
and and
And and I understand that you made the decision.
4 years ago and I think it was a misstep.
You decided that you were going to say that we're not
cutting service at CTA.
But you didn't have the people to run the service.
But you didn't have the people to run the service and you
continued to say that we're going to run it the same way.
anyway, but you didn't have the people systems around the
nation.
nation they did.
address
Address the the problem. They said we don't have the people
to run the so we're going to cut.
to run the so we're going to cut our service for now. We're
going to work to build it back and I know that you
going to work to build it back. And I know that you want to
build it back. I know you do and I believe that in my heart
I know.
heart. I know that you do.
but what we
But what we do see is that there is an outlier here. We are
alone.
the rest of our major cities in the US have been able to
either restore pre-pandemic service or improve.
either restore pre-pandemic service or improve beyond that.
Chicagoans deserve that
and there are some really significant problems.
and there are some really significant problems that you can
face and I really hope that you will address the flag.
face and I really hope that you will address the flagger
issue that you're you're not going to get the people to.
issue that you're you're not going to get the people to to
stay at CTA and get hired.
stay at CTA and get hired if they have to go through the
flagger process. It's just untenable and it's just not
going to happen.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Lucas. Uh Tim's sambrook.
followed by
George Blakemore
good morning, uh
Good morning, uh been a resident. My name is Tim Shambrook.
Uh, I'm here just because I'm a concerned citizen. I've
been a resident of the city for over.
been a resident of the city for over 30 years don't have a
car relied on CTA Metro.
car relied on CTA Metro walking.
everything throughout my life some of you know my story more
than others, but I'll just say quickly that if we want our
city to grow we need our transit to grow and be regular
reliable and dedicated all the work.
reliable and dedicated all the work that seed dot has been
doing to build out new pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
is undermined by unreliable Transit.
is undermined by unreliable transit to that end on my ride
down here on the 22.
down here on the 22 coming from where I live up near Uptown
I noticed
Uptown. I noticed that there were 9 cars that were parked
in the bus only lane.
1 was a 1 was a delivery car.
1 was a 1 was a delivery car 3 were just picking up coffee
for just 1 SEC and 4 of them had no no View.
for just 1 SEC and 4 of them had no, no viewing of anybody
being near the car. It had the frost from the night before.
to that end. I just want to once again.
to that end. I just want to once again ask what is going on
with the pilot program.
with the pilot program with the c automated camera
ticketing.
ticketing for bus and bike lane infractions in the loop
when?
When is that going to be started? How can we get more
information on that and can it be extend?
information on that and can it be extended to the Clark
Street bus lane too because it is impossible to have
dedicated service if we continue to allow cars to run
rampant and treat.
rampant and treat the city as their own little parking lot.
It's it's beyond time. We need to start doing something
about that.
about that to make our city have reliable CTA. So people
can get around and live in the city like I
past 32 years without a car.
Next week will be George Blakemore, uh followed by Pat.
door.
Door. Good morning.
door good morning to the citizens of our Global City of
Door good morning to the citizens of our Global City of
Chicago.
I I I can I'm so thankful for my wife brothers and sisters
to bring these ISS.
to bring these issues up.
Thank you all very.
Thank you all very much.
What's happening at?
What's happening at Chicago and state? Is that McDonald?
What's happening at Chicago and state? Is that McDonald's?
They've been having problems there?
They've been having problems there. Somebody got killed
there and it's right by.
there and it's right by Holy Name Cathedral and whole food.
So
so that these police cars stayed there.
so that these police cars stayed there protecting the
interests of M.
interests of macdon.
Now you you want to know why?
Now you you want to know why they're setting or sitting
there?
also
the reason CTA is in the shape is in is because
The reason CTA is in the shape is in is because of the
political hat.
They are not IND.
They are not independent. They are appointed by.
They are not independent. They are appointed by the mayor.
And it's been going.
on
With these other Mayors and when they appoint them then they
go and get other political.
then they go and get other political hacks to run.
CTA
so maybe if we had a independent?
board
now the pointed by these political hack
maybe that will solve your problem. I know some of these
hacks. I've seen them over the years.
some of them was
Some of them was hacks with old man stroke you each 1 of
the MS come in and place their hacks on the board. So
that's the problem.
that's the problem the politics of Chicago.
Now you're seeing ugly Chicago.
now you're seeing ugly Chicago the city that not working
because of these Democratic machine here.
if you have a variety of political parties and
If you have a variety of political parties and ideals
perhaps that will solve some of the problems the Democratic
machine.
machine or points these people and in return.
machine appoints these people and in return they go and
have other hacks to run the system.
So I'm not a pop-up. Some of you all are probably new here.
So I'm not a pop-up. Some of you all are probably new here,
but I want to thank you.
Yeah, because I don't care if they black.
Yeah, because I don't care if they black white hispanic
Asian they all.
Asian, they all a part of the political system.
This is a political system and you all have failed too.
and
And I have failed we have failed to have.
And I have failed. We have failed to have a multi-party
system here a checking balance.
So all of you over.
So all of you over here my white brothers and sisters your
part of it.
part of it too. You know, how Chicago Works a city that
doesn't work.
with this with
With this with the machine now it's time for us to change.
With this with the machine now, it's time for us to change
to have a multi-party system.
So thank you for bringing this. It's on this I know these
hats.
I see these hats from 1.
I see these hats from 1 nepotism corruption all the evils.
of government is right here and it starts.
of government is right here and it starts with these
ultimates and thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Blakemore. We
Thank you. Thank you Mr. Blakemore. We have Pat door and
followed by.
followed by John net.
meet
so we don't miss Pandora's.
so we don't miss Pandora's not here.
uh, John
net Jessica Jackson
followed by Boy Jeff
Jeff Boyd
Hello.
Hello everyone. My name is John connects. I thank you so
much for the opportunity to.
much for the opportunity to comment. Um, you know, a lot of
things have been said today.
things have been said today regarding stats for the CTA
numbers Headway.
numbers headways.
You know, I was sitting on the lake.
you know, I was sitting on the lake last night staring out
the skyline and I thought
God damn, we have such a beautiful city we have so
so many challenges in flaws with the city, but
I sat there and I was reminded of why I moved.
I sat there and I was reminded of why I moved here why I
continue to stay here.
Why?
Why I know people are so moving here.
1 of those reasons was public transit the lifestyle that
you can live.
you can live in Chicago without having to have a car.
It's amazing. Honestly coming from Suburban, Ohio. It's
always been a godsend.
I'm terrified, right?
I'm terrified right now of the future, you know, we have so
many people that.
many people that continue to rely on the system, but
completely.
completely lack confidence in its current performance.
You know speakers we have here today you're talking to
people at work.
people at work talking to people at school. Just hearing
about the headways about.
about the headways about the crime on the CTA the issues.
We're facing the fiscal cliff.
It's giving me pause and I'm starting to wonder, you know.
It's giving me pause and I'm starting to wonder. You know,
where is this going to go?
my biggest
what I'm foremost to everyone.
what I'm foremost to everyone is to not let the momentum of
Chicago.
Chicago be taken for granted. I don't know if any of you
all have seen or followed the recent social media trend of
Chicago. It's being uh glorified with younger Generations.
Joe. Kerry's new song is blasting on the radio all the
time. It's a little bit annoying but I think it shows just
how many people love the city and
my 1 ask you just do
My 1 ask you just do not let do not let this momentum go to
waste, you know we can do.
waste, you know, we can do better. We can improve this we
can turn it around. This is a world-class City.
You know, we are a community. I I really respect the
comment the gentlemen made earlier about you know.
comment the gentlemen made earlier about you know the on
house or on house Neighbors on the CTA.
house or on house Neighbors on the CTA, you know, we're
unfortunately really divided City. I think we can come
together more.
together more but I think 1 of the best ways to do. This is
having a thriving.
having a thriving public transit system. I know we can do
this. I know we can change. This is 1 of the best cities in
the US.
I really look forward to.
I really look forward to seeing what the future brings.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Net. Um.
Jessica Jackson followed by Jeff Boyd
Good.
Good morning. Um, I want to commend.
Good morning. Um, I want to commend you all to Mitchel for
the way that you handled the time for the public speakers
today.
today as opposed to cutting time and taking away from
people. That's the way you do discretion. So, thank you.
You're welcome.
um, I want to say I had to stop riding the
Um, I want to say I had to stop riding the red line. It was
just way too much. So I take the metro, but what I'm
noticing on the Metro now effective februari 1st is the um
drastic increase in pay
and fair it was
And fair, it was 2 dollars.
Now, it's 37.
Now it's 375.
1 way
and when the mayor candidates ran for office, it was pretty
clear.
clear that they had to run on the platform that said that
they would not increase property taxes in order.
they would not increase property taxes in order to
accommodate the things that the city needed. So it appears
to me and we might as well.
to me and we might as well deal with the elephant in the
room.
Is that these increases and these lack of?
Is that these increases and these lack of services all this
is being done by way of.
is being done by way of cuts with city funding in order.
is being done by way of cuts with city funding in order to
accommodate illegal immigration.
Now you have people here saying.
Now you have people here saying about how they're late for
work.
to their jobs because of CTA
but
But then we are in a city council meeting.
but then we are in a city council meeting where the
aldermen are coming late. So you all have to respect.
The public's jobs
Okay.
It's too many of you coming by way of remote now.
it's too many of you coming by way of remote now that
remote list is getting longer and longer and longer you all
need to show up for work.
on taxpayers money
back to the Metro
anyway
Now you have to increase and pay to.
Now you have to increase in pay to accommodate to
accommodate illegal immigration.
accommodate illegal immigration money.
and on top of that the people who work behind that window
now those jobs are gone.
and on top of
And on top of that the machine that's in the millennium.
Station now when you go to pay
Station. Now when you go to pay is somebody there telling
you that you have to pay.
you that you have to pay with cash because the machine is
not working.
not working to take
debit cards or credit cards now with the increase in pay
and fair and to see all this money going toward.
and fair and to see all this money going towards illegal
immigrants as the citizen of this.
immigrants as the citizen of this city. I'm going to need
everything to be working.
Everything needs to be worked in.
So you need to get somebody down there to fix that?
So you need to get somebody down there to fix that, uh
thing at the Metro station you need to come down.
thing at the Metro station. You need to come down off the
prices because Co the plan demick.
was a
Was a way to slip all kind of stuff everybody.
was a way to slip all kind of stuff everybody here keeps
saying about what happened prior to 2019 in 2020 the
Common Thread is co every time you look up.
Common Thread is co every time you look up something's
happening because of Co
Thank you, Miss Jackson.
And our last speaker Jeff Boyd.
Good morning. My name is Jeff Boyd. I'm a director of
reentry service of project Hood leadership economic.
Opportunity Center. We're located at 6620 South.
Opportunity Center. We're located at 6620 South King Drive
our founding CEO is Pastor, Corey.
Our founding CEO is Pastor Corey Brooks. He was unable to
be here and I'm here in the stair.
be here and I'm here in the stairs what I'd like to say.
Um, my first point is that we understand we have
difficulties in the CTA.
difficulties in the CTA in different lines and unhealthy
incidents and behavior.
incidents and behavior happening.
But that's not an IND.
But that's not an indicative.
of the services
that CTA has provided for the city and residents of over
75.
75 years.
We have to take that into account.
and secondly
We like to thank um CTA.
we like to think um CTA the second chance act for
partnering with project hood and our efforts to bring
services and resources.
services and resources to our formerly incarcerated
individuals. Currently. We did a um a reentry cohort with
last 2 2 weeks.
uh
Uh, we did um resident. Um, I'm sorry resume building.
financial literacy
professional work ethics conflict resolution and workplace
and communication skills. We partner with CTA Second Chance
Act.
act. They came out to the job fair. They interviewed over.
35 participants for job placement.
35 participants for job placement and career development.
We want to thank them for their participation.
and lastly we want to
And lastly we want to thank all the Janette Taylor for
supporting our program.
supporting our program and always being available to us.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Boy.
All right, so that concludes the public comment period
so today we are here for our first.
so today we are here for our first CTA quarterly Hearing in
a long time.
a long time and the first of many um as
a long time and the first of many, um as a result of
uh, and I want to acknowledge.
uh, and I want to acknowledge, uh chairman Vice chairman
Vasquez leadership.
Vasquez leadership and and and and tweaking the ordinance
to include a a mandatory public hearing for CTA.
to include a a mandatory public hearing for CTA, uh
quarterly public hearing, so I want to commend you on your
leadership.
leadership on that. Thank you.
So this hearing today is being held pursuant.
So this hearing today is being held pursuant to section
2-8-0.
2-8-0 of the municipal code and no votes will be taken.
Here to speak will be Dorval Carter.
Here to speak will be Dorval Carter president of Chicago
Transit Authority president. Thank you.
Transit Authority president. Thank you for being here and
um, I'll let you take it away.
um, I'll let you take it away from here.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um.
Members of the committee. Good morning.
I am thankful for the opportunity to address you today.
I am thankful for the opportunity to address you today and
to provide you with an update regarding the significant.
progress that has been made at CTA since I last.
this body last year.
2023 was a productive year.
From our ongoing aggressive hiring and recruitment.
marketing campaign to our strategic efforts to stren.
marketing campaign to our strategic efforts to strengthen
the CJ customer experience to continue to Upward trends.
That we have seen.
That we have seen in ridership, which is included 27 days
of more.
of more than 1 million customer rides system.
of more than 1 million customer rides systemwide.
I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with.
some of the highlights from the past year.
Our 2023 hiring efforts were record-breaking. We hosted 13
career fair.
career affairs with more than 3,800 job Seekers.
career affairs with more than 3,800 job Seekers, uh
president. Pardon me. Yes, um Engineers, I understand that.
We're unable to hear in the back.
Sorry about that.
It might be you need to hold a mic.
It might be you hold need to hold the mic a Little Closer.
May you hear me now.
so let me provide you with an update of some of my life from
the
from the past year.
our 202
Our 2023 hiring efforts for record-breaking we host.
Our 2023 hiring efforts for record-breaking. We hosted 13
career fairs with more than 38
career fairs with more than 3,800 job seekers in
attendance.
We hire.
We hired and trained 100003 new bus operators.
We hired and trained 100003 new bus operators more than any
previous year in our AG.
previous year in our agency history.
We also hired.
We also hired 101 bus mechanics. This is more than we've.
employed in total before the co 19 and
employed in total before the co 19 pandemic.
We also make good progress in.
We also make good progress in adding new rail operators,
which has been and still is the biggest.
which has been and still is the biggest challenge in our
quest to add more rail service.
quest to add more rail service in 2023. We added 90 new
rail oper.
rail operators and to combat the normal attrition we see in
in this position. We are aggressively training.
in this position. We are aggressively training new rail
operators with a goal of adding.
operators with a goal of adding 200 rail operators over the
course of this year.
these achievements
These achievements and hiring have resulted in tremendous
achievements and service Arielle.
achievements and service reliability over the past several
months.
currently CTA regularly feels
Currently CTA regularly feels nearly 100% of scheduled bus
service.
service and approximately 90% of scheduled.
service and approximately 90% of scheduled rail service.
data such as this can be
Data such as this can be closely monitored on our next
generation.
Generation performance dashboard, which we which we rolled
out in 2023.
here CTA shares publicly available data regarding Service
delivery delays wait times.
delivery delays wait times hiring absenteeism safety.
delivery delays wait times hiring absenteeism safety and
cleanliness.
also publicly
Also publicly available are the results of our quarterly
customer service.
customer service, which are just 1 element of our
commitment to our Riders.
to give you a sense of
To give you a sense of the breadth of information CTA
shares publicly. I'm going to have my CTA Chief admin.
administrative officer walk you through our public
dashboard.
dashboard which showcases unprecedented levels.
dashboard which showcases unprecedented levels of
transparency for the agency.
Um when you join me for a minute.
All right, please please.
All right, please please state your name and proceed. Thank
you. Chairman, Tom.
you. Chairman. Tom mccon chief administrative officer.
Thank you chairman.
you chairman members of the council.
I'm here today.
I'm here today to present to you a brief overview.
I'm here today to present to you a brief overview of the
level of information the President Carter.
level of information. The President Carter was describing
that's provided through our our public dashboard. This is a
dashboard that we first began publishing in this.
interactive format last year in July we
interactive format last year in July. We have been
providing performance measures for for several deck.
providing performance measures for for several decades, but
this is the first time we provided them in such a depth.
this is the first time we provided them in such a depth and
interactive format and really an industry-leading way. So
the first thing you'll see on this page, which is the menu
page.
page that there's 18 Pages worth of data and information.
across a number of categories from our Workforce cover.
the overall Workforce size, uh things like absent
the overall Workforce size, uh, things like absenteeism
Hiring Our performance on-time performance delays headways
weight time.
weight time, uh, the efficiency of the system both on.
of the fleet slow zones on the system service deliver.
of the fleet slow zones on the system service delivery, uh,
a customer service complaints and commend.
a customer service complaints and commendations for our
staff, uh safety on the system.
staff, uh safety on the system and cleanliness as well. I'm
going to briefly describe a couple of the examples of these
measures here, um and the ability that you and the rest of
the public has to delve into our service and our service
performance so first
performance. So first of all, I'm going to go to our hiring
information.
you'll see here hiring information for
You'll see here hiring information for both our Bus and Rail
positions as President Carter m.
positions as President Carter mentioned. We had an
unprecedented, uh number of bus hires this year and you can
see what that looks like on a monthly basis.
see what that looks like on a monthly basis and also on an
ongoing basis.
on the next page
On the next page. I'm going to go to here.
We'll look at our on-time performance both.
We'll look at our on-time performance both in terms of
bunching on the bus system and Gap.
bunching on the bus system and gaps in service. These are
major gaps where it's more than double the scheduled
interval or and 15 minutes.
interval or and 15 minutes major gaps in service and what
you can see here. Is that not only are we
you can see here is that not only are we providing system
information, but you can also select your individual.
information, but you can also select your individual route
to see what that routes performance is over.
to see what that routes performance is over time as well.
I'll go to the next page here where we'll look at Service
delivery.
So Service delivery is measured. Uh
So Service delivery is measured, uh as we noted in terms of
actual service deliver.
of actual service delivered, uh versus the schedule. So you
look at rail Service delivery again. Here's the overall.
system performance in terms of service delivery versus
schedule.
schedule as provided by day type and also by each
individual line. You can also look at every individual.
individual line. You can also look at every individual day
of the month and Service delivery, um on those days as
well. This is on the rail side.
And then on the bus side we have similar information.
And then on the bus side, we have similar information. I'll
pull up that page as well again, you have the ability to
pull up that page as well. Again, you have the ability to
look overall at the system and also at any individual route
that you may be interested in looking at um as well.
that you may be interested in looking at um as well and the
information is also available for download as well.
And then finally as an example of additional.
we provide about the efficiency and the performance of our
system. I'll note too that we have detailed information
about our Fleet.
about our Fleet performance our system performance elevator
and escalator.
and escalator uptime along with our customer service
metrics safety.
metrics Safety and Security metrics as well. And this is an
example is the performance on detailed information about
the the rail Flay.
the the rail Fleet that we have. Obviously we've got that
available for the bus fleet as well. So, uh that concludes
my presentation as an example.
my presentation as an example here, obviously, uh, there's
18 pages of data. We don't have time to go through all of
it right now. Uh, but there's a ton of information here if
you do have any questions, please
Please feel free to ask us. Um, we're happy to address
those questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Tom.
in addition to these achievements in 2023 CTA awarded
In addition to these achievements in 2023 CTA awarded more
than 137 million to disadvantage.
than 137 million to disadvantaged business enterprises with
dbe um in
dbe, um in Prime and subcontractors and has paid over 15.
million dollars to those firms.
in addition to our
In addition to our refresh and renew program we made 6.5.
million in repairs and improvements at 30 Rail station.
million in repairs and improvements at 30 Rail stations and
14 bus turnaround areas throughout the city.
14 bus turnaround areas throughout the city making all
these facilities cleaner brighter.
these facilities cleaner brighter and safer for all.
We invested.
We invested $2 million to expand our partnership with.
Chicago Department of Family and support services.
Chicago Department of Family and support services to assist
CTA writers who are unsheltered as well as those grappling
with mental health.
with mental health and substance abuse. This allowed dfss.
to add Personnel that was deployed to conduct out.
to add Personnel that was deployed to conduct Outreach to
connect impacted riders with the resources. They need such
as housing Medical Care.
as housing Medical Care and social services and those
resources are actually deployed onto our trains and at our
stations.
This is just a small sample of the progress that we've
made.
throughout the year, and I'm excited to share more as part.
of our discussion today.
CJ provided 279 million rides in 2023, which is a 14%
increase from 202.
increase from 2022 and the third straight year of
ridership.
increases in the future. We believe.
increases in the future we believe for CTA is bright as
part of our budget process.
part of our budget process last fall CTA announced that
we'll be adding.
we'll be adding service to both our Bus and Rail systems.
over the course of this year with the next.
over the course of this year with the next major addition
coming in just the next few weeks.
We will continue to work on our red purple modernization
project. Which among many.
project which among many achievements will result in 4
fully add.
fully Ada accessible stations. Which along with the racing
blue.
Blue Line Station make 5 stations currently under
construction.
construction that will be accessible.
We will work with Chicago Department of Transportation to
complete Construction.
complete construction of the CTA Damen Green Line Station.
which you offer more access to the community and
additional.
Ada accessible station and CTA will launch this year. Its
bus Vision plan, which is a comprehensive strategy for
engaging with the public to determine how our bus service
can better serve our communities as we move forward.
We will continue.
We will continue as I mentioned earlier to add to our
Workforce.
Workforce who without a doubt are the heart.
Workforce who without a doubt are the heart and soul of
this agency.
before I close I
Before I close I would be remiss if I did not again. Thank
this body for your support of our 3.6 billion dollar red.
Redline extension as you know, since your approval of
Transit Tiff the federal trans
Transit Tiff, the Federal Transit Administration has
confirmed
has confirmed that CTA is in line for more than 1.9
billion.
in federal funding to support that vital project.
in federal funding to support that vital project which will
expand transit in an area that has been denied rail service
for more than 5 decades.
1 of the most significant Milestones ahead for CTA in 2024
will be the signing of the full funding Grant agreement for
the red line extension, which will Mark the moment that the
red line extension is.
red line extension is fully funded. It is hard to put into
words.
words how tremendously historic that moment will be for.
both CTA and the City
Mr. Chairman with your permission at this time, I'd also
like to introduce the staff that has joined me today.
We have Donald bonds, who is my chief Transit?
We have Donald bonds, who is my chief transit officer?
When you in when he says you can you please stand?
When you in when he says you can you please stand up so
people know who and what?
Bill Mooney who's the chief infrastructure officer
Molly poppy who is the chief planning and innovation
Molly poppy who is the chief planning and Innovation
officer
Uh, Jeremy fine, who is my Chief Financial Officer?
Denise barado, who is my
Denise barado who is my chief equity and engagement
officer.
and Kevin Ryan who is my vice president of
And Kevin Ryan who is my vice president of security?
at this time chairman Mitch
At this time chairman Mitchell. I'm happy to answer any
questions that the council may have. Thank you.
questions that the council may have. Thank you president.
Um,
before we end with the questions I want to acknowledge.
uh, uh members of the city council that are not on the
committee.
committee Alderman Ray Lopez Alderman Nicole Lee.
committee Alderman Ray Lopez Alderman Nicole Lee Alvin,
Matt, Martin Alderman, mana hoppenworth and Alderman Byron
C Cho Lopez
we will start the lead, uh, our vice chair was lead the
questions, um, Andre
Jimmy Vasquez, go ahead. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Uh, I I first want to thank uh our Council as well as
mayor.
Johnson. Um, I know a lot of people know that we have been
asking, uh not asking demanding for quarter.
asking, uh not asking demanding for quarterly hearings for
feels like close to 2 years now.
feels like close to 2 years now, um, and thankfully with
the new Administration we're able to move forward.
the new Administration we're able to move forward to have
quarterly hearings. Um, I want to talk first about why I
felt it was important to push for these
Um, I think something we've heard.
um, I think something we've heard from the folks here as
well as people throughout the city that have reached out to
our offices.
our offices for since Co um is that public transportation
here in Chicago is a public good
That when you think about the import.
That when you think about the importance of public
transportation, especially in the city.
transportation, especially in the city like Chicago, I
don't think it could be overstated. Um as to how vital it
is to everything that happens in our city. Um, it is not
only how people get to work. It is not only how people
travel from 1 place to another it is the lifeblood it is
the nervous system. It is the soul and heart of this city
it is what has helped address some of the segregation in
this city.
this city because by having the the different, uh platforms
to take folks from 1 part of the city to the other to make
that a safe and rely
that a safe and reliable as possible is what allows each of
us to see other parts of city that we may not live in we
transportation system is the more it brings us all together
when we talk about housing and we talk about trying to
create more.
create more Transit oriented development when we talk when
we hear neighbors complain about parking spots the stronger
you make your public transportation system the less people
are reliant.
are reliant on cars the more we can have people.
are reliant on cars the more we can have people going from
1 place to the other the more you can create density.
affordability create the kind of safe neighborhoods. We all
want to live in it becomes that much harder for us to move.
want to live in it becomes that much harder for us to move
on affordable housing in certain parts of town.
on affordable housing in certain parts of town when people
think you're going to lose a parking spot and that is
because they don't feel as reliant on
transportation that we know we all want to
transportation that we know. We all want to be better.
People here may have criti.
People here may have critiques on leadership. They may have
critiques on results. They may have critiques on us as
council members and holding accountability.
council members and holding accountability for this but
with everyone is saying in those critiques is how much they
care and how much invested they are in the Improvement and
growth of our public.
growth of our public transportation system.
when people bring up their concerns about reliability and
safety it is because we know that every Chicago win that
has a doubt.
has a doubt about whether they should get on the train or a
bus to get somewhere.
bus to get somewhere leads to less dollars for that system
at least to what may feel
leads to what may feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy
about a system degr.
about a system degrading rather than improving. So, um in
the interest of all those things we wanted to make sure
that we had quarterly hearings and I will say it is not
uh limited to CTA when we talk about ch,
uh limited to CTA when we talk about cha when we talk about
the part District these are things
the part District, these are things where we feel it is
important to this public body to have regular.
important to this public body to have regular hearings to
have an understanding on what a baseline is.
have an understanding on what a baseline is how these
agencies measure their own success what those metrics are
so that quarter over quarter we can track progress.
so that quarter over quarter we can track progress we can
see if there's Improvement and celebrate those
and find out how to multiply those improvements we can look
at where things are failing and further scrutinize those to
find ways to change direction on those and make them
better.
that
That is why we want to have these quarterly hearings. Um, I
think people understand that there's a tension.
think people understand that there's a tension between the
CTA, uh board.
CTA, uh board hearings at or at least for what feels from
certain people on the ground.
certain people on the ground because they feel it might be
more top down and they're being spoken to you as for as
opposed to answering questions.
opposed to answering questions that members may have so I
think in having fairness having this body be 1 where people
can ask questions.
can ask questions of CTA and have them answer I think both
of those things together create more information and more
investment in improving these services and and that's a lot
of the interest here. Um, you know, we we've heard
different takes on some of the numbers.
quote Jay-Z here as the Rapp.
well is to look at those numbers and scrutinize scrutinize.
them also because
the amount of frustration that we felt as council members
hearing from the public about their frustrations is
palpable. It's led to us having to publicly say things we
might want to just say internally about the improvements
that we're looking for. It's led to me having to find out
different Halloween costumes just to make sure that there's
a focus on things that even Improvement. Um, I I say this
as a Chicago 1 I remember being a kid and my parents
taking taking the bus taking Clark to go from our place
over to Lincoln Park Zoo, right when I was like 4 years
old.
that young when I talked to parents now, there's such a
fear.
fear of taking their kids anywhere. There's a fear of
parents whose kids have to come from come to home from
school and who won't take after school courses, for
example, because they're concerned.
example, because they're concerned that their kids might
have to come later.
have to come later on CTA all those things are are very,
Open the door, and they said you know, we really don't
appreciate you dressing up that way. Uh, we prefer it
doesn't embarrass CTA. I was being very polite but my first
thought was it ain't the costume embarrassing ctas the
results.
results embarrassing CTA.
so in the interest of fairness, and I we've had the
conversation with CTA. We just want to establish that
Baseline and have these.
Baseline and have these conversations. So that quarter over
quarter we can see what's going well and what isn't so I
want to thank you because I know it's not easy to be able
to come before.
to come before folks who are going to be critical but I
think as public servants. It's part of our work to do.
think as public servants it's part of our work to do so,
um, it won't be easy.
um, it won't be easy, but I think if we come in a spirit of
Interest
regardless of who the leadership is we want to make sure
there is
there's this regular meeting to improve services and I I do
believe the folks at CTA aren't invested in that same
process. So I want to thank you for that. Um, I got some
questions I want to ask
questions. I want to ask. I apologize because I may need
around 2 if you please feel free to cut me off.
around 2. If you please feel free to cut me off and I may
not um Okay, so
not. Um, okay so first it'll be through the chair question
so they don't require response but through the chair. I'd
like to um get from CTA.
like to um get from CTA a detailed explanation of how you
gathered the data.
gathered the data for each category. That was shown in the
dashboard.
using it more often. So let me answer that question in a
number of different way.
number of different ways 1 I think it's important to keep
in mind that my team does regularly ride CTA. Um all of
them.
them, um, some of them ride them more than others, but
there's not a There's No 1 who's never rides CTA 1 2
um
part of my job
is to not only understand my own personal exper.
is to not only understand my own personal experience on
CTA.
but to understand the experience of the 900000000 people
who ride CTA every day. I can tell you I I like you grew.
in the city. I like you used to ride.
in the city. I like you used to ride CTA as a kid and enjoy
the wonders of being able to see the city through use of
public transportation. I like you have probably spent many
morning.
mornings sitting out in front of the of the bus stop for
reasoning my butt off waiting for a bus to show up looking
down.
down the street wondering when it's going to actually be
here. Um when I first started in this industry,
here. Um, when I first started in this industry over 30
something years ago anedot,
something years ago anecdotally that was about the only way
we knew what the
It was for our customers on CTA was.
It was for our customers on CTA was we were riding it. Um,
we didn't have the magnitude.
we didn't have the magnitude of data a small piece of which
we showed you today.
we showed you today that could inform us of the
understanding of what's going.
understanding of what's going on throughout our entire
system every single day. I want you to understand that I
get I get a report and there is a meeting held every day at
CTA.
CTA where we go through reams of data much more than even
we're discuss.
we're discussing here to see what is going on in our
and how we can make it better.
You can appreciate as much as I do the size and magnitude.
of the system that we're trying to run here. Um, you know,
we have over 1800, you know, um buses we have over 1500
trains, you know, we cover almost 1,000 square miles of of
of of bus service over.
of of bus service over 266 miles of rail service.
you know have 145 stations and
You know have 145 stations and we operate literally 24
hours.
hours a day 7 days a week.
things don't
Things don't always go correctly.
I understand.
I understand that.
and I know that I have a group of
And I know that I have a group of people with over 150
years worth of combined.
years worth of combined experience who is passionate about
trying to make that.
trying to make that experience as positive as we can.
Do we succeed?
somet
Sometimes yes sometimes no.
Um, uh, and I don't feel any better.
Um, uh, and I don't feel any better about the situations in
which we do not.
which we do not put, you know, we do not succeed in
ensuring that you have a positive customer experience.
having said that
I think it is important to remember.
I think it is important to remember what we've been through
over the last 3 years.
This is not been normal operations for us.
We went through a pandemic.
1 of the worst things I've ever experienced in my entire
life.
life something that I was not prepared for nor was
else prepared for in terms of how to manage a
system through that. I have heard some people.
about decisions that I made during that time.
about decisions that I made during that time about keeping
service running and not cutting service. Let me just say
this. I didn't have any road map to tell me.
this. I didn't have any road map to tell me what to do
during this. I tried to make the best deck.
during this. I tried to make the best decisions that I
could some people may believe those are not correct.
decisions. Some people may believe that they were correct.
I know that to the people that we continue to drive provide
service for
Cutting service was not going to make their lives any.
easier and yes, I decided to keep service.
easier and yes, I decided to keep service running for the
entire time as much Service as I possibly could put out.
entire time as much Service as I possibly could put out and
I don't feel bad about that because I was trying to keep
employees safe and I was trying to keep customers.
employees safe and I was trying to keep customers safe.
Now there's a ramification of that that we're living.
now there's a ramification of that that we're living with
right now and that I am trying to manage our way through
which has been what we've been dealing with over the past
year or so and that has resulted.
year or so and that has resulted in challenges around our
service I can
service. I can also tell you that we're not unique in that
regard.
regard other systems are having similar challenges.
regard other systems are having similar challenges other
systems have cut service.
systems have cut service and other systems have said
they're not bringing it back.
they're not bringing it back which is the 1 thing that I
think is critical for me to the point. I want to make here
today.
I commit.
I commit it over a year ago that whatever Optum.
I commit it over a year ago that whatever optimization I
did I would return that service.
did I would return that service and I'm pleased to tell you
today.
That that service is going to be restored this year. We
starting that process as we speak.
starting that process as we speak and it is going to result
in improved service.
more frequent service more reliable
More frequent service more reliable service, which I think
are all the things that folks are complaining about.
are all the things that folks are complaining about that
they want to see us address you have.
They want to see us address. You have every right to hold
me accountable for what I'm saying right now.
me accountable for what I'm saying right now, and I'm sure
the next quarterly meeting their
the next quarterly meeting there will be data that will be
reflective of the changes that are happening over.
reflective of the changes that are happening over the
course of the next few weeks. I'm prepared to live with
that.
that data. I live with that every day. Um the
thing though, is that as a team. We are all
thing though is that as a team. We are all committed to
doing everything that we can to improve.
doing everything that we can to improve CTA service every
single day and I commitment doesn't waver because of Any
other issues that we may be dealing with if anything.
stronger today.
and it ever happened and the history that
And it ever happened and the history that I've I've been
involved with this agency.
Thank thank you very.
Thank thank you very much. I you're getting ahead of some
of the questions, but I appreciate it. Um.
of the questions, but I appreciate it. Um, so in regards to
that commitment back to the original question.
that commitment back to the original question, are you all
willing to track and Report out the actual use of service
by the leadership?
by the leadership team to show that commitment quarterly we
We you know, we could show that out, but I I'm I'm going to
reiterate what I just said that the writ of individ.
people is not the basis by which deck.
people is not the basis by which decisions get made at CTA
and I think it's important to say that because there never
will be what is the perfect amount?
will be what is the perfect amount of ridership for someone
to have I get criticized.
to have I get criticized because I'd ride train more the
bus I get criticized because I'm on the green line and not
on the blue line. I get criticized for any number of issues
that assistance the size of the 1 that we have.
think it's important for everyone to understand.
think it's important for everyone to understand that while
you can look at our ridership and you can see what it is.
It also becomes a focal point of criticism, which I think
detracts from the reality of what we're trying to do here.
So just to make the system better I
right? So I I I to your point.
jobs is going to
People don't come to us with a high fives. They come nuts
with the complaints and that is the nature of the role,
right? And so I think we all understand that I think for me
just again to understand a Baseline and Improvement when
people come to us,
people come to us and say look at how much these folks are
getting paid and if I was getting paid that much I would be
living on the train.
Right. We just want to be able to say hey.
Right. We just want to be able to say hey, look here's what
it actually looks like here's what improve.
it actually looks like here's what Improvement is look like
because I think to your point right if there's like
because I think to your point, right if there's like, hey,
everyone has a different level of frequency and when they
use it.
use it just to be able to see that data point I think.
your point getting the the ridership data from everyone
makes sense. But there's also a a feeling that's
disconnected.
disconnected if you're not actually riding the service and
only looking at spreadsheets and I think that's what I
would like to see just to be able to hear. Well, that's I
said,
we don't just look at spreadsheets. We also ride our system
and I dare say we know our system.
and I dare say we know our system better than most people
who criticize us.
who criticize us 100% And and I'm I'm not I'm not saying
that to you. No, no, no, no, no no point. I'm making so
first.
first just to direct my page is that yeah. It is a
point as you pointed out here. Yeah it
point as you pointed out here. Yeah. It is not the total
scope of what it is that we know about.
scope of what it is that we know about the system. So let
me interrupt this 1 because you you request
me interrupt this 1 because you requested the information.
Yeah. Yeah, you'll provide. Yeah, I just
comments so that shared it to make sure
make sure when the public is here.
for commitment to share that 1 yeah. Yes. All right. Okay.
Thank you. And and of course, um Vice chairman.
Thank you. And and of course, um Vice chairman you being
part of this committee. We we can have an increased that
conversations going forward absolutely anticipate the
quarterly meetings will get getting better and better.
Yeah, that that's all I want to be able to establish.
Yeah, that that's all I want to be able to establish with
that. I want to say this. Yes, it's been an interesting
time as well. Now, let's stay get our questions out and
and we can say, you know back and forth debate for for for
later, but let's get those questions get them on the record
get some responses.
get some responses and because I want to make sure
everybody have and and and the interest of time for for the
next question. I'll ask you the chair as well because I
think it documentation and planning could show so, you
know, we we
completely understand that Co is unprecedented. We saw the
the Extreme Measures that had to be taken by CTA just to
sustain through that time and I think no 1 would argue that
no 1 had a road map or a plan.
no 1 had a road map or a plan for that. So I want to be
absolutely fair in that I
some of the comments in the public is that it feels it may
not just feel it.
information.
information that Chicago is unique in the way. It's coming
up.
up back compared to other cities and their improvements.
services and shelter. Can you speak to how that has been?
yes, um there has been progress made and
Yes, um there has been progress made and and actually in
the interest of time. I'm happy to give you.
the interest of time. I'm happy to give you a detailed
breakdown of the number.
breakdown of the number of of um engagements that the team.
has made the number of successful, uh placements that
team has made as well as sort of what has been happening
over.
over the course of the um of the year with regard.
over the course of the um of the year with regards to that.
I I think you would find the data very promising I think as
you know, as well as I know this problem is much more
complicated than anything that even the money I'm putting
into it is going to to solve but we feel like we're
least showing some progress and I think most importantly to
our customers we're showing that we're
address the issue. Yeah.
needs shelter can get it is with the city needs to be it.
So I I appreciate you.
So I I appreciate you uh sharing that information so we can
further talk about it. Um, what is being done to
CTA workers in regard to getting their feedback on how to
improve Services as well as employee experience retainment
and recruitment. We are we we are doing a lot and and I
should say that when I say we I don't mean just management.
This is a conversation that I'm having with the Union.
leadership directly. We all have recognized.
leadership directly. We all have recognized that 1 of the
priorities particularly as we go into this round.
priorities particularly as we go into this round of
collective bargaining is what we can do to improve
employee experience at CTA. Uh,
employee experience at CTA, uh, in addition to that I have
Created a group within CTA.
created a group within CTA that is directly tied to
improving and and engaging the employees to basically, um
provide additional support to them as well as uh to address
their morale. There are a lot of services that we're
providing now to our employees particularly around Mental
Health
health, uh, we have counselors who actually go to the
garages and terminals, uh over the course of
week to be available to provide.
week to be available to provide Counseling Services. We
have an EAP program.
have an EAP program that supports that because I think
That we heard from 1 of the commenters here as much as she
loves her job. There are parts of her job.
loves her job. There are parts of her job that are really
tough. Um and from my perspective from the things that I
have seen that have happened to our employees. She has
every right to be concerned about that. We're committed to
doing everything we can to improve the um, uh, uh the
environment that our employees oper,
environment that our employees operate in
Part of what we'll be looking at as part of.
part of what we'll be looking at as part of the collecting
bargaining process our changes to rules. Um, because I also
recognize that our Workforce has changed.
recognize that our Workforce has changed dramatically, um
with all the hiring that we have done and with the
retirement instead of a cortas
retirement instead of a courtesy CTA. There's been a
tremendous shift.
tremendous shift in the age and expectations of our
Workforce from where it was even 4 or 5 years ago that is
required us.
required us to start to rethink how we manage that group
and offering how we support them going forward and we're
going to be engaged.
going to be engaged in that okay over the course of the
next year. Thank you for that. Bye. Bye. Bye. I also want
to sorry.
Round to you then. Yeah, okay if we can get there I want to
make sure everybody.
make sure everybody have an opportunity. Yeah, thank you.
Um, so we have ottoman Fuentes next.
Um, so we have ottoman influences next.
Thank you chair. Uh, good afternoon.
Thank you chair, uh, good afternoon president. Good
afternoon.
There's there's a couple.
There's there's a couple things I want to mention and I
have a series of questions.
have a series of questions, you know prior to the pandemic
we had Equity issues.
we had Equity issues around quality transit services.
city of Chicago, uh that I want to understand. What is the
plan to address the equity issues.
plan to address the equity issues that are not just
returning Transit prior to Coe.
returning Transit prior to Coe 19.
But we had Transit ISS.
but we had Transit issues in Southside and Westside
communities like calamic Cottage Grove Austin Garfield.
North Lawndale. What is the plan to ensure that?
North Lawndale. What is the plan to ensure that while we're
returning the city back to Transit?
returning the city back to Transit rates prior to Coe 19.
We're also ensuring that there's a robust and rigorous
plan.
for the communities that didn't have Equity transit to
begin with. Well a number of things 1 obviously the red
begin with. Well a number of things 1, obviously the red
line extension is 1 of my biggest plans.
line extension is 1 of my biggest plans to bring equity in
terms of rail service to the far south.
terms of rail service to the far south side of the city
which as you know is the only part of the city that does
not have dedicated rail service on CTA.
not have dedicated rail service on CTA, but in addition to
that over the course of of the my tenure as president, I
have increased and expanded service primarily on the South
and West sides of the of the city for bus, um 1 of the
things that I've mention,
things that I've mentioned earlier with the bus Vision
study that we're undertaking
This may surprise you but in the 75 years.
this may surprise you but in the 75 years the CJ has been
in existence there has never been a holistic review.
in existence. There has never been a holistic review of our
bus system ever.
this engagement
This engagement process is not going to be CTA going out
and telling the public what we think we should do it is
going to be us engaged in the public and find out what they
would like to see.
would like to see and as part of that. I believe a lot of
the equity issues that you're referring to particularly on
the south side and on the west side of the city will be a
part of that conversation, which
part of that conversation which will result in a series of
recommendations on adjustment.
recommendations on adjustments that we will make to our bus
service that we believe will better reflect.
service that we believe will better reflect the communities
as we go forward. Um, it is POS.
That some of that may require more money which will
obviously feed nicely into the con-vers.
obviously feed nicely into the conversation. We're having
down in Springfield about funding for public transit.
forward, but the intent is obviously address.
forward, but the intent is obviously addressed a lot of the
issues that our communities feel about what the type of
service that they're getting and the quality of service
that they're getting and trying to improve that over the
course of the year.
Thank you.
Yeah, it's interesting in.
Yeah, it's interesting in the 26 Ward. Uh, we are a trained
desert. I don't have 1 train stop and so my resident.
depend, um, but Ross like 4977.
depend, um, but Ross like 497727394 and 82 to get the train
lines so that they can get around the city. Uh, we're
really struggling with the rate at which buses are coming.
They're 45. Sometimes 60 Minutes in between. Um each bus
that really gets our constituents to work to take their
children to school.
children to school, uh to be able to provide for their
families. Um, what is your plan to address some of the
issues that are faced?
issues that are faced in the northwest side particularly,
so I indicated, um earlier that we're going to be adding
bus service back.
bus service back into the system in the next few weeks. Um,
uh on the bus side of the house we're looking at increasing
service by 44% over where it is today.
service by 44% over where it is today that is going to
result in a dramatic increase in the challenges that you're
facing and I can tell you
when we look at our customer surveys, um, the
When we look at our customer surveys, um, the surveys are
indicating that yes, our service is more rely.
indicating that yes. Our service is more reliable than it
was a year ago and that certainly reflective of what the
data tells us. But what they want is more frequency. Um,
and if we do more frequency they've indicated
and if we do more frequency, they've indicated more right
they will write it more they will feel safer. I think it it
gets to a lot of the issues that we're talking about. Um,
and so that's why we're really excited about the our
ability to start adding that service back in uh, and not
and while I don't know what we're adding specifically to
your routes we can get you that information, uh to let you
know what the impact will be on the specific routes that
you that you're referencing here. Thank you.
I'm struggling a bit.
I'm struggling a bit with your response to Chairman
Vasquez.
vasquez's question around housing, uh, because
vasquez's question around housing. Uh, because CTA has only
had 1 exceler.
had 1 accelerated moving event in the last 14 months.
uh
Uh, and that event was on July 19th.
uh, and that event was on July 19th, and so, um, I'm I'm
curious as to as to what the data is going to look like
when you share to the chair, but can someone walk me
through from that accelerated event that was hosted on July
19th. How many clients?
19th. How many clients were served to The Accelerated
moving event? Do we know how many?
moving event? Do we know how many were housed? Um, and when
we do exceler
we do accelerated moving events, how many clients? What's
the goal right like
the goal right? Like how many clients are we seeking to
serve in those events? So I mean, I think it's important to
point out that the accelerator mood if it isn't like a CTA
event it.
event. It really is a City Event that's been focused on
public transport.
public transportation as as the
recipients of the activity
I'm happy to get you the specific information about that
event and how many people actually
event. And how many people actually were were serviced
there. I I know there was a fairly significant number. Um,
you know, we're clearly we're we're clearly prepared.
you know, we're clearly we're we're clearly prepared to
work with the um, um,
work with the um, um with the ffs, uh to to do more events.
this year. I don't know what the plans are for that. Um,
but as I've indicated I I continue to commit and have
committed both last year.
committed both last year and this year providing 2 million
dollars to support whatever activity we think will be
beneficial.
beneficial to addressing this problem and that that money
is is is is already allocated for this year. Uh, and we
allocated it last year to do the same thing. So, uh, I'm
welcome any additional input that we should get on.
other things we should be doing. I personally am willing to
figure out anything that makes sense here. Um, I don't have
a solution to the homeless.
a solution to the homeless problem and and if there are
things we should be doing more
that.
Mr. President Who is
Mr. President who is uh, the person assigned to be a liaison
between CTA and dfss if if uh the stoppers
between CTA and dfss if if uh, the stoppers would be my
chief administrative officer Tom Tom McCall.
and is
And is someone at CTA today tracking housing pathway?
And is someone at CTA today tracking housing Pathways and
outcomes to those that you all are engaging with? I know
that we have data on who we've actually put tempor.
housing into that's part of the data that I'll provide.
Um, uh to the chair.
and it's 2
And it's that you are referring to is that t t t t t to?
permanent Supportive Housing?
the
The 2 million dollars is tied to services that dfss
provides to support.
to support people with housing. It is not tied directly to
providing housing itself.
And you are willing to provide the data for?
And you are willing to provide the data for the
framework the services and the clients in which you have
already.
already served in the last 14 months to the president. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll go for Round 2. I'll let
someone else.
someone else I thank you very much. Just just to follow up
for Clarity on that question. Um when we were talking about
addressing and the services you mentioned there was an uh,
rapid rehousing uh thing in July of last year.
are you saying that the
Are you saying that the work that you all have been doing
with the 2 million dollars is separate from that is a
different strateg.
different strategy or is we we have an IGA.
different strategy or is we we have an IGA with dfss to
basically provide social.
basically provide Social Services on CTA that is separate
from wherever else DF.
from wherever else dfss may be doing relative to providing
housing.
housing for for the people are homeless. Our money is
intended.
intended to really help them connect with the people on CTA
and to connect them in with the other services.
and to connect them in with the other services that are
available to support their needs. Okay, so when you sub
to the chair if you can really clarify that for us because
I think 1 is partnering with dfss and what they do, right
the other is what you're doing.
the other is what you're doing and really having us or have
a greater understanding of what the whole EC.
a greater understanding of what the whole ecosystem looks
like is where we want to be at to help improve. So, thank
you. Sure. Yeah, and just to be clear we're not providing
any fun.
any funding for housing or anything like that. The only
funding we're Prov.
funding we're providing is what we're providing through
dfss to help them provide the services on our system. Got
it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the clarity. Um next up
we have uh other man Irvin.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, uh, Mr. Uh Carter, thank you for
joining us, uh today.
joining us, uh today, uh 1 item of concern that I will
we'll talk about is the um,
timing of service
Timing of service and how or why.
timing of service and how or why um, we can't accurately
tell folks.
when a
When a bus or train is going to arrive.
When a bus or train is going to arrive, uh, given the fact
that we have these boards and the technology.
that we have these boards and the technology exists, um for
more real time.
more real time information to Riders.
Well first of all the accuracy
Well, first of all, the accuracy of our data has improved
over the course of the past.
over the course of the past year part of the challenge that
we were facing was the disconnect between what we
for service and what we're actually providing.
for service and what we're actually providing, uh, what we
were at a point say at the beginning of last year we
were at a point say at the beginning of last year. We only
beating 77% of our service levels.
beating 77% of our service levels that meant that there
were scheduled service that was not actually going out on
the street. That would be reflected.
the street that would be reflected in the data that would
initially get put out by our by our our tracker systems.
Um, and when the tracker system initially determined that
there wasn't an actual bus or train that was in that
scheduled slot then it would drop it. That's what
the concept of ghost buses and ghost trains.
the concept of ghost buses and ghost trains the biggest way
to fix that is to have more
way to fix that is to have more reliable service in other
words meet your scheduled.
words meet your scheduled service on a dead on a daily
basis, which we are now.
basis, which we are now doing much better than we were a
year ago.
year ago, um the issue with with ghost bus
trains isn't a new thing.
Just happened in the past couple of years. It's always
part of the challenge of sort of matching up technology
with the with the service that we provide.
with the with the service that we provide but it hasn't
proved dramatically there have been software enhance.
that we've made over the course of the past year there have
been other impro
have been other improvements. We've made to our service
that have allowed us to reduce the the number of times that
that occurs.
that occurs on a regular basis and I think you'll see those
those. Um,
those um, um, uh issues improving and more as we start to
add more service into our system, which is something we'll
start doing in the next couple of weeks.
I I I understand the best way to make the schedule match.
the reality is to get it.
the reality is to get it out. But with the challenges that
not only you're facing but other uh units of government.
not only you're facing but other uh units of government and
sectors of business are facing with uh, human capital, um,
that may not be possible. So it's understandable that hey
we scheduled to have a bus on on pulask.
we scheduled to have a bus on on Pulaski at 8:05, but
unfortunately we were unable to
unfortunately, we were unable to staff that bus I think
that a lot of the frustration comes to the fact that we
think there's going to be a bus at 805 that either came,
you know, I I know you you're you're you're never supposed
to run early.
to run early, but you know, you can you know run late.
and I just think that's where a lot of the
disconnected Faith from writers, um, you know,
disconnecting Faith from writers, um, you know comes from
and and giving the level of technology that exists, you
know, we think I think at least and
me if I'm wrong that we should be able to uh, nip that in
the bud because if that bus doesn't leave the station then
you know, hey, let's let's let's take it out. So people can
have at least accur.
have at least accurate sure, uh service. I don't mind.
have at least accurate sure, uh service. I don't mind, um,
you know, something not showing up. Uh, I just would like
to know that it's not going to show up so I can adjust my
time and schedule accordingly. I may have left.
time and schedule accordingly. I may have left 5 minutes
earlier or 10 minutes earlier knowing that that boosts that
we know things generally is going to come at that.
we know things generally is going to come at that time is
just not going to be there. I think that's what the
frustration that you hear from. A lot of people just we got
to schedule schedule is 1 thing. I I scheduled to be
somewhere else right now, but I couldn't so I had to adjust
it right right based on based on the realities that we're
dealing with. Well I 1 of the things that you
dealing with. Well, I 1 of the things that you have to keep
in mind is that it's really easy.
for
From a technology standpoint to identify where a bus.
From a technology standpoint to identify where a bus is
it's really difficult to identify when that bus is going to
get.
get to where you are. There are algorithms and other
that come into play that basically are trying to determine
when that bus should arrive wherever it's supposed to
arrive.
arrive where that transfer driver is supposed to arrive
that can be impact.
that can be impacted by a number of things that happen more
than just even the schedule it things that happen on the
street where the bus gets delayed or you got someone in a
When you don't have as much frequency.
Because when you know, you have a train coming every 3
minutes.
minutes if the bus if the Train Tracker, you know doesn't
show up particular train. You don't really notice it
because another train shows up a few minutes later we
to wait 15 minutes for a train then you notice it. So
that's why I'm saying that the increase in frequ.
that's why I'm saying that the increase in frequency will
actually help with some of the perception around this but
also will allow us to be able to better manage the
expectations of our customers around the timing of when
buses and trains arrived. Yeah. I can agree with the
frequency, but if you can't deliver the frequ
frequency. But if you can't deliver the frequency, I think
that's the challenge. It's like
Metro um
pretty much, you know, the train says it's going to leave
it 80.
it 805. It's leaving it at 805. I know that's a slightly
different variation because they have a lot less uh trains
going.
going out in a lot less service, but I I think that if it
wasn't going to leave at 8:05 and they told you it was
going to leave.
going to leave later or that line was canceled. It allows
people to make adjust their lives around what the actual uh
Services going to uh look like and I think that
That's all people. Just want to have.
That's all people. Just want to have some reliability that
bus could come every half an hour. But as long as it comes.
every half an hour, you know, we understand what
service level is and we just want to live up to the
service.
level that is published or that we can see with the techn.
technology in a fairly a quick manner. So I think that's a
that's an area of concern.
that's an area of concern the other uh other point that I
want to uh, you know bring up as it relates to um, you
know, cleanliness and the like I I am happy to see
Improvement, uh on a green and blue line, uh stations, uh,
I think we still have some work to do, but I do want to
commend the uh Authority on its Improvement, uh in the
green and blue.
green and blue line, uh stations, uh with their cleanliness
with the uh, I think you call it, uh fresh, uh,
program and fresh renew program and and helping in in that
regards and the final point I want to talk about is
blue line and uh, we know you did the red
blue line and uh, we know you did the Red Line south you're
doing the
red line extension. Uh, when are we going to get the blue
line?
line, uh retracted and all of that stuff to increase the
time. I'm sorry to decrease the time.
time. I'm sorry to decrease the time it takes to get from
the west side of Chicago in the downtown. Certainly the
Forest Park Branch the blue line.
Forest Park Branch. The blue line is the last Branch to get
the type of Ren.
the type of renovation that it definitely needs to improve
the service.
the service quality on that line. I am in the process of
trying to secure the funding to do that.
working very closely.
Dot, uh, who wants to do a bigger project on the 290
Corridor for which?
Corridor for which a portion of would be the Improvement of
the blue line as well. Um, they've been seeking along with
our support.
our support Federal funding to allow us to to pursue.
project. Uh, we haven't been successful in that as of yet.
Um, but uh, we are committed to getting the funding to
ultimately redo that line into ultimately bring it up to
the standard.
the standards that we're setting for the other lines in
terms of infrastructure renewal.
Well, thank you much. Uh, I know this is um, um
challenging. Uh, but uh, we you know, you seeing what a lot
of our residents and the Riders are are
of our residents and the Riders are feeling and we want you
to understand and know that uh, we want to want a system
that functions that helps.
that functions that helps our our residents get back and
forth to their daily tasks.
forth to their daily tasks a lot of people utilize that to
go to work ESP.
go to work, especially on the west side of Chicago, uh, you
know, for some people, uh public transit is is a option
know, for some people, uh, public transit is is a option.
Uh, a lot of my residents it is the only option um for
their movement,
their movement around the city, so we definitely want to
uh,
support, uh, Clean safe and uh,
uh, support, uh, Clean safe and uh, efficient reliable
Service, uh for our community. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, by
the way, Alder.
the way Alderman just on on your cleanliness.
improve the cleanliness as we go forward.
Thank you. Um ottoman Nan followed by ottoman w.
Thank you. Um ottoman Nan followed by ottoman wages back.
Thank you chairman. So just this weekend a 16 year old girl
was sexually assaulted.
was sexually assaulted on the CTA last month a 61 year old
woman was beaten and pounced on and then died from her
injuries.
Our public transport is supposed to be environmentally
conscious. It's supposed to be rely.
conscious. It's supposed to be reliable. It's supposed to
be safe.
Um
Where's the outrage? Why haven't we brought this?
Where's the outrage? Why haven't we brought this up today?
personally, I'm outraged I've I've
Personally, I'm outraged. I've I've seen all the instances
you're talking about, and I have not been happy.
you're talking about and I have not been happy that they
occur. I also recognize.
occur. I also recognize that.
we live in a city that un
We live in a city that unfortunately has a certain level of
violence that happens.
violence that happens in it and it certainly is reflected
on my Transit.
on my transit system. Um, we work very hard to to address
crime as best we can given the size of
crime as best. We can given the size of our system and
given the the the number of people who use it every single
day if
day. If if if I didn't just bring this up would you have
addressed it today? I had been asked about it, but I'm
always happy to address it. Yes.
always happy to address it. Yes, and where are we with
Transit Police?
we don't have our Transit Police Department is
We don't have our Transit Police Department is the Chicago
Police Department. They have a dedicated.
Police Department. They have a dedicated public transit
unit that actually provides services to CT.
unit that actually provides services to CTA.
And do you?
Are you requesting additional?
Are you requesting additional police we have always
requested additional resources. We are in constant
discussions with the police.
discussions with the police department about the resources.
They provide and ultem.
They provide and ultimately how the best address the crime
situation on.
situation on on CTA. I mean, I'm personally distraught
about this this is
about this. This is parent. We are parents are freaking out
and worried about their children taking CTA after school,
um this
Um, this is very personal. This is really upsetting I
I think we need more we deserve more we deserve better. Um.
We need a sense of security.
we need a sense of security on our public transit and I
don't believe it's there right now. Um, this this broke my
heart the the case about the 61 year old woman.
stopped
Stopped me in my tracks. I had to read the article twice to
make sure I was really looking at my city. Um this case
about the 16-year-old girl that I've just learned about is
is heartbreaking. Um,
it's not okay.
It's not okay, if if you need more police if we need to.
have more hearings if you need your own separate unit, I
just I think we have to have these conversations people
aren't going to use Transit if they don't feel safe.
I'm sorry, go ahead. No, I I just I and I'm also quite
frankly.
We're what an hour and 40 minutes in and no 1's brought any
of this up.
I I am happy to obviously work with the council.
on resources for CTA to support our our Police Department,
I also know that I I know that my team meets regularly.
I also know that I I know that my team meets regularly with
CPD, I in fact have a meeting with the superintendent.
CPD, I in fact have a meeting with the superintendent later
this week to talk about CTA as we continue to work on how
we can best collaborate and coordinate with each other to
meet our needs is C.
meet our needs is CTA responsible for CTA safety plan or
DCT.
ctas CPD for the safety plan.
My safety plan you mean in terms of crime.
I mean, I think all we have say like we have a safety.
in terms of about just general operations, you know
accidents and things of that nature right, but I'm talking
about the safety and of your CTA staff. Yeah, I am talking
about the safety of writers. Is that something that CTA
does internally?
does internally to determine your needs or to CPD do
you know, that's something we do internally, but obviously
we we coordinate with CPD on some of the aspects of that.
think we need I think you need to
Look into it a little bit more. Um, I'm I have grave
concerns. I I don't that
I I and chairman. I think perhaps we have to have
meeting to just specifically hone in on on safety.
meeting to just specifically hone in on on safety, uh with
respect to the CT CTA. Yeah. Um, I mean, we we we get I've
gotten a lot of comment about that piece. Um, so I I can
definitely discuss that a little bit more and I'm pretty
sure you know, uh president D wouldn't have a problem. No.
No, I don't have any problem.
No, I don't have any problem with it. It's an issue that we
take as seriously.
take as seriously as you do I don't want to see either my
customers.
customers or my employees attacked by anyone and certainly
I want us to do as much as we can.
I want us to do as much as we can to protect them. Uh, we
have um, um with regards to our employees we have tasks for
force and other joint committees that work on identifying
straight.
strategies and approaches to deal with protecting our
employees.
employees, but I can tell you right now the rail operators
here.
here today if she sticks her head out of the window,
she's basically checking for doors. You have people just
walk by and just clock them.
There's no there's no excuse for it. There's no.
There's no there's no excuse for it. There's no explanation
for it.
This issue.
This issue happens because of whatever is going on in our
SOC.
society that allows people to feel like they can attack
anyone.
anyone that believes in authority. And so what the solution
to that is, I know it's a much bigger conversation.
CTA, but we are prepared to support it in.
CTA, but we are prepared to support it in any way that we
can and certainly we prepared to work closely with
and certainly we prepared to work closely with the police
department with whatever it is that they feel is
appropriate to address that
Okay. Um, well obviously I would be willing to support any
any measures that come out to protect.
any measures that come out to protect the CTA employees.
Um, and of course the writers, you know, I know a couple of
my colleagues have brought up today.
my colleagues have brought up today, um, and actually um 1
of the folks that spoke during public comment talked about
vehicles or people just grabbing coffee and parking in the
bus lanes. I think that New York Transit
has some type of system or cameras that can issue.
has some type of system or cameras that can issue tickets.
If you're if you're parked illegally, do we have
like that or we considering anything like that? There is a
pilot. I think 1 of the commenters mentioned if there's a
pilot that the city.
pilot that the city is supposed to be putting into place.
to
To basically do a similar type of program on CTA. Um, I
don't know off the top of my head with the status of that
is but we can get you that information. Yeah, if I'd
appreciate that through the chair. Um, also I've heard from
some folks in.
some folks in my community and as well as CTA employees
that their
that there used to be maps on all the buses.
And and I don't think all of our buses have Maps anymore.
Is that standard where we don't have them? There's been
people.
that have to have them.
we have them but if
We have them but if there are are some that are that are
not on certain buses we can follow.
not on certain buses we can follow up on that. But yes,
okay. I think we publish.
okay. I think we publish our Maps regularly, uh and put
them out to the public.
I just want to look 1 more thing. Uh, also just 1 more
thing. I've had some.
thing. I've had some folks in the community reach out to me
and and also CTA employees. Um, if there's any way we can
Put etiquette.
on the on
CTA, uh
how to be a good Patron on the CTA I've heard that that's
worked in other places or at least it's um provided
knowledge to those so that there's no confusion if they get
in trouble.
in trouble for misbehaving. Is there any anything to that?
in trouble for misbehaving. Is there any anything to that
CJ has a code of conduct which we do?
CJ has a code of conduct which we do public and put out on
the system. Uh, we also from time to time run campaigns
around good behavior. Um, uh, you know eating on the system
smoking on the system stuff like that.
system smoking on the system stuff like that. Um, uh, we
could get you we can get you some examples of what we what
we put out and how we inform the public of what our
expectations are about.
expectations are about their behavior. Okay, and I think
it sounds like you're doing some of the things that I'm
asking about but
asking about, but I'm hearing from folks in the community
that there's not maps on buses and they don't have the dos
and don'ts of being.
and don'ts of being inappropriate writer and so is there a
mechanism?
mechanism for you to check?
Your buses and trains to see if that's there. Yes. Yeah.
Your buses and trains to see if that's there. Yes. Yeah, we
can we can check it as part of a standard check.
can we can check it as part of a standard check that we do
before a bus goes out onto the system. Do you do you
currently?
currently do that as part of an audit? Excuse me. Do you
currently do that? I believe we do which is why I'm so much
surprised that.
surprised that you're hearing that there aren't any
Okay. Um, well I'd be I'd be interested in some of these. Um
I'm sorry about the disruption. I I would be interested in
response to these questions through the chair.
response to these questions through the chair that that's
all I have chairman. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Um
on the WPC followed by ottoman Bernett vice mayor. Thank
you chairman President Carter over here on on your left.
Yes. Thank you.
Yes, thank you. Sorry, um well
Yes, thank you. Sorry. Um, well, uh, I think it's still
morning. Um, first of all, I just want to say, you know, we
have seen some improvements.
have seen some improvements in certain aspects. Um, some
good things that have happened the red line extension. Um,
it was happy to help work with your staff to get that
through. Um, the hiring fairs have been a great
Improvement. Um the refresh
Improvement, um, the refresh and renew of some of the
stations has been very helpful. Um, but I think um, you
know, just sort of dovetailing on what some of my
colleagues have already brought up in terms.
colleagues have already brought up in terms of the issues
of um,
timeliness of buses and of
Timeliness of buses and of the trains. Um, I actually take
the blue line down here for City Hall.
the blue line down here for City Hall, uh, whenever I come
down and um, you know, it's been uh kind of an up and down,
um in terms of cleanliness in terms of those rules of
conduct and and of course, uh timeliness, uh,
conduct and and of course, uh timeliness, uh today I happen
to take it outside of the um, Rush Hour timing so, you
know,
it
It works when it's outside of Rush Hour. It doesn't seem to
work very well when it's when it is Rush.
work very well when it's when it is rush hour and a couple
of the uh con.
of the uh, constituents brought up, you know, just trying
to get more trains.
to get more trains in there and I I understand the the
limitations with the blue line, but it's something uh that
I haven't seen I think for quite a few decades.
I haven't seen I think for quite a few decades, um, you
know, whether you're coming in from the airport you're
flying in that is the first impression.
flying in that is the first impression that you have of
Chicago and I've talked to you about this before it's not a
very good impression.
um people
Um people flying in uh, whether they're friends family.
businessmen, whoever it might be seem to look at uh the
option of taking an Uber or ride share as the better
option.
instead of the the train. Um, so I think we need to
continue to work on that. Um,
continue to work on that. Um dovetailing on what alderwoman
Nugent had just brought up. Um, could we get uh,
I know that there's some signage on the train.
I know that there's some signage on the trains and the
buses that says the CTA does prose.
buses that says the CTA does prosecute for violations of
rules of conduct particularly on the criminal conduct. So
could we get through the chair? Um how many people were
removed from buses or trains for viol?
removed from buses or trains for violent or criminal
conduct?
Um how many arrests?
Um, how many arrests were made? Um, and how many were Pro?
prosecuted uh with a push from the CTA?
and then um
And then um, it might be too many to count but we need to
know that.
know that number uh, and then if we can include on that
rules of conduct or the PSA remoov.
rules of conduct or the PSA removal of your backpack while
you're in the middle of rush hour that might help.
bit.
um
second thing is um looking at the
Second thing is um looking at the finances for the CTA. So
we've been uh carrying on with some of the coid funding and
some other Federal funding for the last few years.
some other Federal funding for the last few years, but
we're obviously reaching a fiscal cliff. Um, I know that
Mr. Fine has testified, uh, maybe at the board and maybe at
the general assembly just on the last couple months about
um, the fine at amount of funds that that coid and and
other funding uh represents,
um
and I it's my understanding that's going to
And I it's my understanding that's going to be depleted
sooner than later. If it not if it already isn't.
sooner than later. If it not if it already is in or
appropriated.
So, um
What have you done?
uh to address these potential implications for 20
Uh to address these potential implications for 2025.
and I know it's been
And I know it's been talked about is 2026. But with the
fiscal issues we're having.
fiscal issues we're having what are the revenue projections
that you have for?
that you have for the next couple years. Um, and what
specific?
specific and concrete ideas. Have you identified either?
or through chairman Barkley to um,
or through chairman Barkley to um find uh new ideas for
this General?
this General generational investment. We need for the for
the system.
So as you know there there has been a discussion.
So as you know there there has been a discussion that has
already started down in Springfield.
already started down in Springfield about providing, uh, an
increase level of funding.
increase level of funding for public transportation in this
region that conversation.
region that conversation and that dialogue is ongoing as we
speak.
Um, we are working very closely with the legislature in
Springfield to figure out what the solution is should be.
Uh, we are currently in a position.
Uh, we are currently in a position where we we have enough
funding.
funding to cover our needs from both this year and 2025. So
we're not facing an immediate fiscal cliff. Um, but
recognize that we need to come to some resolution about
this.
this, uh, cmap actually put together a report where they
laid out.
laid out a number of options around funding, uh, which we
were a part of um, uh, that report was requested by the by
the leadership down in Springfield.
the leadership down in Springfield that they start this
dialogue and where obviously committed to working with them
to figure out what the appropriate solution.
to figure out what the appropriate solution for our fiscal
crisis will be um, what I can tell you is that the size and
magnitude of the gap.
magnitude of the gaps that we're talking about are not of
the nature.
the nature that allows me to come up with
Plan on how we're going to survive it. Um, uh, I it the
impact of a you know,
impact of a, you know, 700 million dollar Gap in our
budget.
Is basically completely devastating. Um, uh, I don't
believe personally we're going to get to that point where
that will become a reality for what we need to deal with
but we certainly need to figure out what the solution is
going to be and that's certainly what we're working with
this with the legislature.
this with the legislature to do.
so 1 of the issues
So 1 of the issues, um, is that the people that are on that
committee and the general?
committee and the general assembly are not. Uh, I don't
think any of them are.
think any of them are leadership from Chicago. Um, there
might be a couple people.
might be a couple people from Chicago.
on that committee, and the
On that committee and the general assembly that um, I think
it was chairman Barkley.
it was chairman Barkley testified in front of um,
is there an appetite for some of those?
Is there an appetite for some of those uh ideas that cmap
put forward? Yeah, and I I think it's important to point
out that you know, first of all the the issue with and just
unique to CTA it includes an
unique to CTA. It includes an impact of Metro and pays for
which covers the entire Northeast, Illinois, uh scenario,
but in addition to that there are smaller versions of this
plane to self.
plane to self out throughout the entire State it's with
smaller Transit AG.
smaller Transit agencies. They may not have the same type
of numbers that we're talking about.
of numbers that we're talking about, but we're all facing a
similar type of of challenge here. And so there's been a
lot of interest from the down-state agencies as well as
obviously here in the Chicagoland region for a solution
from Springfield. And so I think there is a broader
understanding that there's some things that need to be done
we
Had to be the noisiest part of that conversation.
and then when you're looking at those, uh funding
opportunities, um, I mean, I read some of them were
increased the motor fuel.
increased the motor fuel tax road re Road usage charges.
Expanding the sales tax base, which we've been talking.
Expanding the sales tax base which we've been talking about
for a decade at least. Um
about for a decade at least um increased tolling in a
laundry list of other uh opportun
list of other uh opportunities there. Which ones do you
specifically um in conversations with the mayor or the
governor? Which ones do you?
governor, which ones do you uh propose or which ones do you
get behind?
get behind we haven't gotten to that stage in the
conversation yet?
conversation yet. Um, uh,
so I I can't really answer that question. You know what
we've been doing.
we've been doing at this point in the conversation is
really trying to educate the legislature on what the
problem is.
problem is and and what it will take to solve it. I expect
the next phase that that conversation will be the phase in.
which we have the conversation you're talking about. I have
yet to have those conversations with the mayor's office
about what they would support.
about what they would support or not support in terms of
those that issue. Um, uh, and I suspect that we will have
those conversations going.
those conversations going forward to ultimately put forth
what we're comfortable with, you know,
what we're comfortable with, you know from from the city's
perspective in terms of fun.
perspective in terms of funding the uh, Gap that we're
talking about
um when we're talking about the this fiscal cliff and the
funding issues, um, do they does either the mayor or the
governor talked to you about the
overall, um condition of the system and what people have
been
concerned about the issues that
Concerned about the issues that we see every day. I know
people I know a lot of the people here probably.
people I know a lot of the people here probably show up at
the the board meetings as well. So what?
the the board meetings as well. So what what type of
conversations do you have with the mayor or the governor?
conversations do you have with the mayor or the governor
around just the day-to-day service? Well, I think that both
the mayor and the governor have expressed their concern.
about how we continue to get the get CT.
about how we continue to get the get CTA and indirectly the
city back on track. Um, uh, I have not had specific
conversations.
conversations about specific details around these
challenges.
challenges, but certainly I've heard the message from both.
the mayor and the governor that we have to do better and we
have to get to a better place and that's part of the reason
why you hear the things that I'm doing this year that I
believe.
believe are going to actually impact that
okay.
Um chairman, that's all I have for right now and maybe
around 2.
Thank you. Thank you. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. All right, um now I'll move on to
questions from the non-members starting with vice mayor
Bernett followed by Mono hopping world.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Um, good good.
Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon. Um.
Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon. Um, so um, just a few
questions 1 I want to commend you all on the uh,
that you have that allow for.
that you have that allow for returning residents to be able
to uh,
uh get employed with CT.
uh get employed with CTA temporarily and then possibly uh
permanent.
permanently how is that going it's going well.
permanently, how is that going it's going well, um, uh, the
program has grown over.
program has grown over the what is it called again Second
Chance program second chance.
Chance program Second Chance program, uh, it has grown over
the past, you know,
several years and uh we have
Several years and uh, we have good participation in the
program. Um, I'm looking forward to you know, continuing
that program.
that program and negotiating the appropriate adjustments to
it.
it with the Union as part of the collective bargaining
agreement process that we're about to undertake. So if and
when they do become permanent, they end up getting in the
unions anyway, though, right? That's correct.
That's great. So I was uh also thinking about you know, the
safety issue is really a concern for everyone.
safety issue is really a concern for everyone right and
everyone worried and concerned about their loved ones
getting on the train with just their kids. They parents
that uh, siblings whatever the case may be.
that uh, siblings whatever the case may be, uh CTA affects
all of us. Have you ever thought about a u
all of us. Have you ever thought about ah, uh,
an ambassador program
uh, you know, like, uh the department of
uh, you know, like, uh, the department of uh, um, tourism
have ambassadors, right? So, I don't know if you know.
have ambassadors, right? So, I don't know if you know like
you come when you come to Chicago there's a desk and
there's some ambassadors.
there's some ambassadors that tell you about give you
information they volunteers
information. They volunteers, right?
You know, it'll be great if we had an AM.
You know, it'll be great if we had an ambassador program
for CTA.
for CTA because like a lot of times people, uh, you know to
come to get on the trains or whatever the case may be.
need folks to tell them where to go and how to get there.
and get them some information but also
and get them some information. But also, uh, I'm thinking
those folks can possibly be eyes.
those folks can possibly be eyes and ears, um for uh, you
know for uh police officers or whatever the case may be as
far as safety goals
far as safety go. Yeah. Um, we have thought about it. Um 1
of the points that I like to make is that my ambassadors
are the the customer service assistant that I have at every
station. That's part of what that's part of what
my my my my
My my my my audience here, but that's part of part of
their.
responsibility as well is to to provide that kind of
information and support to customers when they when they
come on.
come onto our onto our system. Um, we also have as was just
mentioned we have the security guards.
mentioned we have the security guards who are also able to
to provide some eyes and ears and that's really their
primary function provide eyes and ears on what's going on
and to basically alert either
PTA Personnel or the police if there's something going on
that's inappropriate. Um, you know, the Ambassador programs
that I've looked at and I should point out. There's
actually
there's actually a meeting happening with RTA later today
in which we're going to be hearing.
in which we're going to be hearing from some of the other
systems about how they approach some of these issues
including their ambassador program.
including their Ambassador programs stuff like that. But
the ambassador program that I have seen.
the ambassador program that I have seen have 1 been very
limited in scope. Um have usually been run by the police
department themselves. They're not considered a part of the
of the transit AG
of the transit agencies. Um, um responsibility
of the transit agencies, um, um responsibility. Um, and
haven't really
significantly impacted the customer experience. Um
having said that
I do.
I do think that there are locations where having Transit
ambassadors other thing may be worth discussing.
particularly as you pointed out like at o'
particularly as you pointed out like at O'Hara and at
Midway airports where you have a lot of people who come in
who are not familiar with the city and who are not familiar
with using the system. Uh, and for which our csas now
currently spend a lot of time.
currently spend a lot of time really showing them how to
use the system.
use the system as much as just basically, um doing their
normal.
normal or regular Duty. So, um there may
normal or regular Duty. So, um, there may be some limited
location or functionality where that may make sense, but I
haven't really felt that it would add that much.
haven't really felt that it would add that much indeed
value to CTA to have a force of ambassadors, uh that are
out there.
top of the security guards on top of
Top of the security guards on top of the CSA. It's on top of
all the other CTA Personnel that I have out.
all the other CTA Personnel that I have out of the system
every day.
Okay, so so
like for instance, I just think about a spot in my ward on
Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Grand and hosted.
right, that's
Right. That's the uh, stop that people get off on on the
blue line.
blue line to go to the highest tourist area.
blue line to go to the highest tourist area in the city,
which is Navy Pier, right and you have people from all over
the world getting off right there.
the world getting off right there and it's crazy, right?
because you got all those you got 6 Corners over.
because you got all those you got 6 Corners over there and
you know what I'm saying, and that's what I'm saying. Is
that there there could be strategic locations.
I mentioned the airports, but that would be another.
destination tourist spot like that where you have a lot of
trans.
Transit service and where maybe having additional Personnel
who?
who could support the the customers?
who could support the the customers both in terms of um
accessing our system or or or leaving the system that may
be that may make some sense. Yeah, but I don't I don't view
it as a generic.
it as a generic Ambassador. You just have riding around the
system all over the place that that that was my point.
Well, I'm I'm I'm thinking that you know, there's people
who really love this city, right? Uh, there's some folks
that been here probably several Generations really love.
this city and they're proud of the city and
make you know, make the city better and
but probably not looking for a pay.
but probably not looking for a paycheck right? I mean there
are there's a lot of folks.
up to do and uh and want to contribute in any way, uh, you
know to put the best space on the city of Chicago. So just
a just an opportunity because I I tell you when I talked to
those, uh ambassadors like at the airport, uh, you should
see how proud these uh folks are to to help you out.
see how proud these uh, folks are to to help you out right
because they, you know, they retired folks.
because they, you know, they retired folks and you know,
they probably was some other profession.
they probably was some other profession in the past and and
they doing something and they they understand what people
are going through but also at the same time if they have on
certain type of outfits or what have you. Um,
certain type of outfits or what have you. Um it it'll make
uh, I would I would imagine potential, uh,
potential criminals
You know.
You know Mayfield as though it's some other ads on them.
Just a thought.
just a thought so so and you know disagreeing with you.
Yeah, so, okay, so just a just an idea but
Yeah, so, okay, so just a just an idea. But but also, uh, I
wanted to ask about so I if I'm not mistaken you put the
dogs back on. Yes, so I'm going to tell you.
dogs back on. Yes. So I'mma tell you the dogs to me work,
right? I mean folks, uh, you know, folks have a different
feeling about dogs. Uh,
And I think that I think having them on the C.
And I think that I think having them on the CTA has really
helped. I'm glad that they're back on on their.
helped. I'm glad that they're back on on there. Um, I think
that's very helpful. Uh, also I want to ask, uh,
know, I know you all have had job fairs.
know, I know you all have had job fairs worked with some of
your folks in the past.
And I know at 1 time it was very hard.
and I know at 1 time it was very hard finding people to
come and apply I know and all of these areas uh in every
Department.
Department here in the city of Chicago. We got baby
boomers.
retired like 40 going north.
retired like 40 going north and uh,
and and there's a lot of
And and there's a lot of openings. How are you all doing
with your with your Manpower? And do you still have a lot
of openings over?
of openings over there? We still have openings. Um, we I in
don't quote me on the numbers, but we we still have I think
another 200.
another 200 bus operator positions to fill and another 100
150 rail operating positions to fill that's part of what
we're really focused on this year. Like I said last year,
we we actually hired a thousand over a thousand bus
operators, which is the most we've ever hired in the
history of our of our agency. Uh, we're we're we're as
aggressive this year.
aggressive this year as we were last year to keep those
numbers up and to keep us ahead of attrition on the rail
side of the house. We're committed to hiring 200 hiring is
the wrong word training.
the wrong word training 200, uh rail operators this year.
the wrong word training 200, uh rail operators this year we
have
3 classes already underway of 20 operators each. Um, uh, the
first class will finish be complet.
first class will finish will be completed, uh in the next
week or 2. Um, uh, we're doing 10 classes.
week or 2. Um, uh, we're doing 10 classes 20 operators in
each class to get to 200. We believe that will give us
enough.
enough operators to basically get back to full
pre-pandemic.
service. Uh, and we also believe that it will keep us ahead
of what we are seeing as our attrition.
of what we are seeing as our attrition rate for um for that
position,
position. Um, we're also in a position where we have more
than enough flaggers already in the pool to allow us to
meet that need. I think we have like a hundred and 190 60
looking at my chief Ministry on we have like 160 people in
the pool right now.
the pool right now, um available to basically fill these
positions,
positions and we're still adding people to that pool every
every week. So I'm not concerned about our ability to get
to 200 and when we get to 200 then we will be basically at
a pre.
pandemic level
Pandemic level in terms of our Workforce, which will ensure
me.
me as as why I'm comfortable when I say that by
this year. We'll be able to restore our rail service.
to to pre-pandemic levels. Fantastic.
to to pre-pandemic levels fantastic. So so that sounds
great. And and so so it sounds like there's no budget
challenge with that.
challenge with that either that you have the money that
you're able to so you get all of that budgeted already for
those folks to work. Yes. Yeah, all that is already.
budget. Yeah, so we just got to get
Oh.
Oh www.rich.com. Just put in a request.
All right. Uh, so um
So I think that's great. Um, and and hopefully some of
those uh, Second Chance folks will be able to transition.
Absolutely a lot of them do Transition now,
Absolutely. A lot of them do Transition now clearly they
get preferential consider.
get preferential consideration for vacancies that they wish
to pursue. Um out of the pool. So so there as you know,
there are a lot of Second Chance employees who are
currently operators on the bus side and on the rail side,
uh, who started off at Second Chance in the second chance
program. All right. Well, thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you Vice chair, uh vice mayor. Um, just
we're getting close.
We're getting close to time. We're slated to have this room
into.
into 12:30. I may be able to extend it, but just want to
put that on everybody's radar we still have
put that on everybody's radar. We still have uh non-members
mono hopping word CEO Lopez Lee and Lopez.
Thank you.
Thank you cheer. Thank you president for being here. Uh, I
first want to thank um those who came.
first want to thank um, those who came to give public
comment today. Um, I really appreciate uh, your employee
who came to say, uh, Natasha who said that, you know
trains,
are not a homeless shelter and they are not there to
provide.
law enforcement, so I guess building on what um
uh Walter Bernette was saying in terms of
Uh Walter Bernette was saying in terms of um, how we are
building.
building up pipeline, uh for many different things.
including um, how volunteers engage with the CTA how
students might first be um, introduced to
students might first be, um, introduced to CTA and what
they do. Um, how
they do, um how um, those formerly incarcerated, uh,
re-enter.
re-entering how they um can get involved. Um,
re-entering how they um can get involved, um, including
employment or volunteer positions.
employment or volunteer positions, you know, I um,
it's uh, it's outstanding to me that we are um CTA is
second largest transit system in the nation. Um, and I was
also disheartened to hear um
some of my colleagues talking about
Some of my colleagues talking about their their um Wards
are trained deserts.
are trained deserts, you know, um, obviously there's
there's a lot of stuff to do, but I'm I'm glad to hear that
you are uh working.
you are uh working on um, increasing um employment.
you are uh working on um, increasing, um, employment, uh,
working towards that end and um, I just want to thank you
again for my uh constituents. I'm up.
again for my uh constituents. I'm uptown Edgewater and
Andersonville and in the Uptown area, I have constituents
who have gone through the second.
who have gone through the second chance program and um,
they say, why are we not talking about this more? There's
so many others that need to to hear about it. We just had a
uh, um a drive by
in in the on Thorndale, um as
Kids were leaving high school kids.
Kids were leaving high school kids were leaving sin and
going to the red line to.
going to the red line to to go back home and now um, you
know in the wake of that.
death we are talking about public safety and how all of our
public entities are connected our school.
public entities are connected our schools our transit
system our Parks our roadways.
system our Parks our roadways and um, I I do want to um
also say that I am in support of any kind of Ambassador.
type of program that you might want to um,
type of program that you might want to um reinstate because
we are already talking about that. Um, we have been um at
the school level.
the school level in our business corridors, you know, um,
all of this is infrastructure and CTA.
all of this is infrastructure and CTA is really a vital
part of it. So, um,
So please if you are.
So please if you are, um going down that path I would like
to be involved in.
to be involved in that conversation because we already are
with um, police departments and our business leaders.
with um, police departments and our business leaders and
our schools. Um, and I think that really C.
our schools. Um, and I think that really CTA needs to be at
that table, too.
No, I I I agree with you and and I will point out that
there is a lot.
there is a lot that we do when we have a summer internship.
program. Um, uh that has grown EXP.
program. Um, uh that has grown exponentially over the last
several years where we try to provide.
several years where we try to provide opportunities for
students to engage with CTA to to um experience what it's
like to be a
Who we hope we're also sort of in some ways softly
recruiting to to.
recruiting to to pursue careers as CTA down the road.
um, you know, that's 1 of many ways that we try to engage
particularly younger people. Um, uh with our
particularly younger people, um, uh with our agency we work
obviously we work very closely with Chicago.
obviously, we work very closely with Chicago public schools
and and with our other partners here in the city to
ways to support what we're trying to do and I think at the
end of the day, um, we're all looking to create a
comfortable and experienced as possible.
comfortable and experienced as possible for the people who
engage at CTA. Um, uh regardless of
engage at CTA, um, uh, regardless of whether you're a
student or you're an adult or you're a senior citizen or
whatever and I think there are numerous opportunities and
ways that we can do that my my chief of of community
engagement 1 of her responsib.
engagement 1 of her responsibilities is to really be more
proactive and pursuing those opportunities and identifying
ways in which we can better connect with the community and
provide.
provide opportunities like the ones you're talking about to
work with us. Uh, and so I think you're going to see
more of that as we move forward.
more of that as we move forward and and obviously you've
been a big supporter of CTA personally, and I've
appreciated that.
that and any yeah any advice or any input that you would
like to have what will welcome and what be glad to have you
participate.
you participate in yeah, and I I also want to appreciate um
CTA for even having an equity officer. I think that's
really important, especially when we're talking about our
young people. Um, you know, my my family uses has used CTA
I use CTA. Um, my kids went to Jones High School
You know, um their friends were from all over the city and
they want to visit their friends. So we want to um have
those opportunities for our young people.
those opportunities for our young people because that
really connects them to um to the city and to their friends
and to their peers but um, you know the fact
and to their peers but um, you know, the fact is that some
um students
um
friends of of my kids they
they just will never feel comfortable.
they just will never feel comfortable with more presence of
police officers.
You know, they will never feel that way. And so I would
like to challenge us to think.
like to challenge us to think of alternative ways to
increase our Public Safety and our public.
increase our Public Safety and our Public Image. Um, that
does not involve policing.
does not involve policing even on the CTA.
I I am open.
I I am open to any and all strategies that improve safety
on.
on CTA there. There's no
n
Nancy or 1 solution to that problem. I know that there are
people who will tell us that they want more police
officers. There are people who will say that they are
intimidated.
intimidated by police officers. There are people who say
they want.
they want more guard dogs and there are people who view the
image of a guard dog as raising all sorts of other.
image of a guard dog as raising all sorts of other issues
particularly in my race, uh over, you know,
particularly in my race, uh over, you know over the years
and so you know, it it is a
and so, you know it it is a very challenging activity to or
problem to solve. Um, but I'm willing to use every tool in
the toolbox to try to solve it. I have I have no pride of
ownership.
ownership here.
Thank you.
I I wanted to thank you for that because all of this is
really, you know, these are systemic problems and the root
causes we need to address them houseless and food and
security.
insecurity. Um, I know that you're working really hard with
DF.
dfss, and I know that Night Ministry is working really
hard.
hard, uh with you on both ends of the red line. That's my
uh with you on both ends of the red line. That's my line.
Um, I also know I'm an ex smoker and it's really hard to
get on some of those trains. Sometimes it's really hard to
breathe. So I appreciate that you're investing more in
Janet toriel.
Janet, toriel and sanitation services. Um, and also um in
terms of where you're going to pile it these Ambassador
programs if you do I would
programs, if you do I would say consider areas that are
destinations.
destinations for so many that are um, maybe they're first
language is not English.
language is not English like Asian Argyle. Um, and how
we're going to um, great opportunities to have that, um
those neighborhoods spaces.
those neighborhoods spaces as destinations through Transit
know.
know you're absolutely right and 1 thing that that
1 Bright Spot in our ridership conversation of late it
1 Bright Spot in our ridership conversation of late. It has
been what we've seen special events.
been what we've seen special events, um, our ridership
around special events be it. Um, Taylor Swift, uh, or
special events be it. Um, Taylor Swift, uh, or, you know
Riot Fest or any of the other things that we're current.
It's actually gotten back to pre-pandemic.
It's actually gotten back to pre-pandemic levels and so
doing more and I think that's part of the strategies that
we're trying to put in place doing more to get people.
encourage people to take C.
normally
Uh view particularly in non-work-related trips. I think it's
going to be a critical.
going to be a critical component of our strategy going
forward for how we get our ridership back up.
forward for how we get our ridership back up to where we
want it to be. Absolutely we we want more people riding and
um, you know in terms of um,
in in our
In in our area in the 40th Ward and on the North side,
we're very grateful.
we're very grateful to be. Um,
able to you know celebrate
Able to you know celebrate the Reconstruction of the red
line after 100 years.
line after 100 years and um, this is going to be huge.
our neighborhoods. Um, who are really
in pandemic time suffering our business corridors have a
lot of empty storefronts because of um, the challenges of
the pandemic and because of the construction that's been in
the works for the last 10 years. So we're glad to see the
end of the tunnel coming up we're getting there.
end of the tunnel coming up we're getting there and and uh,
and I was really glad that you came to visit. Um, I was
also um, I'm very heartened to know that um these new um,
stops are going to be 88 accessible. I want to um, thank
our Senators, you know, it was Senator Duckworth including
because um, I know that um, she was invited to a CTA event
and it you know, the train line just wasn't accessible.
so we we want that not just for our Senators but for every
single person because it is a public institution. We want
that available for everybody. Um, I want to say that um,
there are going to be empty par.
there are going to be empty Parcels of CTA land. Yes, and
so when we're talking about Equitable Transit oriented
development, can I get your commitment that you're going to
work with the business neighborhood?
work with the business neighborhood development, uh
Department of planning.
Department of planning, um our our education, uh
Department, um, and and every other department,
Department, um, and and every other department to um, find
ways to create more afford.
ways to create more affordability in every neighborhood,
but especially now when you know, the embankments came down
last year, we didn't know that was going to happen and now
we're going to have all this empty space. Um, can I get
your commitment that you will work with these Department?
to figure out opportunities? Absolutely. Um, look forward
to doing that. Thank you. Thank you, Mom.
to doing that. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. All right,
where are we coming at the end, but we have um,
uh, Co Lopez and and and and lie, so you're the last 2
Thank you. Um, thank you chairman and the um
Thank you to the the president as well for.
Thank you to the the president as well for being here.
Um, I want to just alev.
Um, I want to just Elevate some of the some of the comments.
that were made.
um, but the but the audience um,
and I think I know.
and I think I know we we talked about often times of being
CT.
CTA. Um
has go back.
has go back to pre-pandemic levels and I think that what
we're hearing here, I think from um, Chicago.
we're hearing here, I think from um Chicagoans and I think
um for many elected official.
um for many elected officials is that we want a quality.
public transportation system. That is
public transportation system that is loud and clear.
I think that what we have heard.
I think that what we have heard today from you know, the
very trag.
very tragic and an acceptable. Um
very tragic and an acceptable, um sexual assault of a
teenager.
teenager to cleanliness frequency of services.
teenager to cleanliness frequency of services and so on.
I also think is important.
I also think is important to always recognize that.
are cities like New York and DC for instance.
are cities like New York and DC for instance that have gone
and exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
So when it comes to the expectations and I think
So when it comes to the expectations, and I think it's very
important that we clear on expectations. I think Chicagoans
are talking about
cual
quality public transportation
for the future
and I I think this is a direct ask to the president. Do you
think that what we heard today? And I think I just try to
Encompass that from with her from other.
Encompass that from with her from other council members and
as people on the in the audience.
as people on the in the audience, do you think that this is
a ref?
a reflection of the leadership of CTA?
because
if the expectations are not clear and I think from the city
council, I think that you you have the willingness I think
in.
in this Administration to work in coordination with you.
but what we cannot even coordinate with the own
departments, I mean we heard from here.
in this in this audience today people talking about even no
coordination with the Chicago Police Department even not to
block. Um,
uh pedestrian or or
Uh pedestrian or or bike Lanes. I mean basic coordination.
So my question again.
So my question again is how much is this reflective?
So my question again is how much is this reflective of the
leadership of CTA today? And what is going to take to
change those expect?
change those expectations that I think today are unaccept.
unacceptable Chicago is a world-class City and to be a
world class City. We need to have world.
world class City. We need to have world class public
transportation that what I heard today. It is not happening
today. So again the question is how is that reflect?
today. So again the question is how is that reflective of
the leadership in CTA?
First of all, I agree with you.
First of all, I agree with you that Chicago should have a
world-class Transit System.
it is world class City and we should have a
It is world class City and we should have a world-class
transit system. I certainly have a lot of ideas.
we're going to get there.
I also know.
That the challenges that we have faced here.
That the challenges that we have faced here are not unique
to us and unlike what you have heard. We are not alone or
isolated in terms of the recovery that we've been going
through from.
through from the pandemic.
I can tell you both, Philadelphia.
I can tell you both Philadelphia and Boston are at the same
place that we are.
place that we are in terms of their recovery in terms of
ridership and terms of service. Um, New York is an anomaly
because it's New York. You can't get anywhere in New York
unless you drive public transportation, so
unless you drive public transportation. So it kind of its
kind of its own thing. Uh, it always has been but the point
isn't really to sit there and compare each Transit.
isn't really to sit there and compare each transit to each
other because they're unique issues that that each Transit.
Agency is dealing with as they recover from what they had
to deal with.
to deal with the point is what's the commitment to get?
better?
the commitment of this leadership team has never
The commitment of this leadership team has never wavered
throughout any of this and we have shown.
throughout any of this and we have shown we have shown
exactly what we said we were going to do.
exactly what we said we were going to do we first wanted to
stabilize the workforce. We did that. We then wanted to
start bringing service back we
start bringing service back. We are doing that. We are
doing what we said we were going to do.
doing what we said we were going to do we laid out a plan
the first plan that anyone had ever done anywhere about how
we're going to do this.
we're going to do this and we executed on that plan and
you're right.
you're right now is the time for us to start talking about
the future.
We have worked our way through the pandemic.
we
We are at a point now where we can start to do the things
that we talked about doing that we were talking about
doing.
before the pandemic hit and a big part of that is the
conversation. We're going to have down in Springfield.
which is really intended to lay the foundation.
which is really intended to lay the foundation for the type
of transit system that City like Chicago should really have
I'm not looking to compare this transit system to New York.
You know, what I'm looking to do. I'm looking to compare
this.
this transit system to London.
this transit system to London to Paris to Hong Kong to the
best.
best transit systems in the world. And the reason I'm
looking to do that is because we have everything we need.
right here to do the same thing. We have the infr.
right here to do the same thing. We have the infrastructure
that is competitive with any other.
that is competitive with any other transit system. You see
around the world what we need are the resources
and the policies to make it happen.
And the policies to make it happen. I've got 1 of the best
leadership teams of any.
leadership teams of any Transit Agency in the country. I
don't doubt their commit.
don't doubt their commitment or their passion to deliver on
what I'm talking about. We need the support of everyone in
this room to make that happen and I don't doubt that all of
you believe.
you believe as I believe that we have the ability to really
improve.
improve where we are to where we want to be. I'm looking
forward.
forward to taking that Journey with all of you. I'm looking
forward.
forward to having you support and give me input and
as to how best to do that but at the end of
have the same goal and I think that we
goal if we work together.
Thank you. Um my second question, I'm glad that we we are
talking about Chicago is a world class.
talking about Chicago is a world-class City again, we when
we when we are making those comparisons, right? I think
that Chicagoans are asking us to Excel or expectations.
to be the best quality public transportation that we can be
what we heard today is not reflective of what you're
telling me. So again what you heard today is reflective.
telling me. So again, what you heard today is reflective of
what what we what we have been dealing with over the past
year. I haven't said that this past year.
year. I haven't said that this past year was the best
transit system in the in the history of CT.
transit system in the in the history of CTA. What I've
said, is this past year has been an attempt for us.
is this past year has been an attempt for us to stabilize
and get us up to the point that we need to be.
judge me on what I do this year because
Judge me on what I do this year because this is the year
where you're going to start to see everything come back.
as I come in here every quarter and I present the
And as I come in here every quarter and I present the data
that's going to reflect the improved service and quality of
service. We'll have the same conversation. We're having
right now.
right now, but the judge me on what was the
pandemic that I needed to have the time to rebuild. I don't
think it's fair to me or to my team everyone here at
working as hard as they can to deliver the best service
that we can.
that we can under excruciatingly difficult circumstances
and we did the best we could I'm not saying that that was
good. I'm not saying it was the best what I am.
that it's going to get better.
tell you that.
from
From what we like to see versus what we have right? There's
a big gap and we need to close it you have here in the
council many of us who have supported, you know, the
extension of the red line. For instance. I think that you
are talking with a council that is more than happy to
support you. You said that you have all the resources yet.
The results are still questionable.
the resources. That's not what I said. Let let me just
finish my question, right?
finish my question right is around oversight. I think this
is another thing that we have heard.
is another thing that we have heard here from the audience
and from many council members over.
and from many council members oversight what we're talking
about developing local plans.
about developing local plans to make sure that we have that
coordination that levels of oversight so the department
City departments, deleg
City departments delegate agencies and city council members
are looking what's happening in.
are looking what's happening in our neighborhoods. Look I
mean and I will give you examp.
mean and I will give you examples right off the bat. We
have neighborhoods today, where when we
have neighborhoods today where when we don't have an answer
because we have leaking railroad, uh, uh systems the answer
is well.
answer is well block it off. We we we cannot be there
rather.
matching the discourse with our actions.
is that oversight must include council members. I tell you
I've been Council. I've been a council member for 4 years.
right? I am just here to Res.
right? I am just here to reset right to reset and work with
you and work.
you and work with anybody in leadership. So that the
expectations and the results match or discourse. That's
what I'm telling you President Carter today. I cannot tell
you that that is the case.
you that that is the case, but I'm telling you that we can
be before and we want to make sure that the oversight from
council members.
Council Members word by word reflects the priorities that
you discussing. That's what and I think how we can make
sure that that part.
sure that that partnership. Is there President Carter are
you and I know that that communication will council members
the same council members that are called to hold you
accountable and have oversight do not have that.
accountable and have oversight do not have that level of
oversight and communication and we need to change that.
Understood. All right. Thank you.
Understood. All right, thank you and and and and respect
your appearing so I'll be looking to work with you to make
sure we we do just that okay? All right.
automatically
thank
Thank you, Miss.
and I'll be
And I'll be quick. I will my questions a lot of my questions
have already been asked.
have already been asked but I'm going to
take us back to um.
personnel and the the trained
Personnel and the the trained flaggers. Yes. Um
What?
What I so it sounds like we've done some great hiring.
We've got people.
We've got people in the pipeline. We have enough flaggers
that are sort of in the queue already. Um, there's a
there's a 12-month training process. You have to be a
flagger for 12. No, not anymore. No.
flagger for 12. No, not anymore know you you've never had
to be a flagger for problems. I think that
be a flagger for problems. I think that part of the the
misunderstanding that took place. There's no minimum
requirement to be a flagger usually the time frame that it
takes for someone to move from flagger.
takes for someone to move from Flagger to a rail operator
is just a seniority of people in front of them and how long
it takes for them to move up.
With the numb with the amount of hiring that we're doing
right now.
right now flaggers are moving into real operating positions
soon.
sooner than a 12-month window. So you think you've got the
attrition problem sort of solved for between retirements
and just regular attrition at this point. Okay? Yes, great.
Well that
Well, that was a quick easy 1. Um, I want to I want to just
sort of go back to some some comments.
about Security on the trains and well and I'll back up to I
want to acknowledge all the hard work that you
team have actually done, um to to bring us back, uh to as
you said stabilize.
you said stabilize the workforce and begin to bring back.
service. Um, I you know, I think that Public Safety
our transit system is much like
or for more, uh police on those but it is a very much a
chicken and egg situation right now. So, you know, I
acknowledge the fact that there there are people who would
prefer.
prefer not to have police, but I will tell you most of the
constituents that I speak with.
They're they're scared to ride.
They're they're scared to ride the train. I mean and I know
I'm not saying anything different than what you've heard.
from many of my colleagues, um here today. Um,
and I do think that there, you know we need to
and I do think that there, you know, we need to instill
trust we need to build trust with the with the public once
again, uh so that they know that public trans.
again, uh so that they know that public transportation is
there for them to serve them. Um, and that it's not just a
a a place where people are sort of using as homes or you
know, where where they're going to be victims of crimes
because that that is a lot of what we hear. Um, and with
that I've also heard from constituents about the security
that has been hired by CTA. I think we've got contracts
with intercon and Monterey, right? Okay. Um, can you talk
to me about like what what sort of metrics do you?
this point in terms of the you know, how successful that
investment has been
We we do.
we we do follow the we do track both the interactions of
our security guards. Um, uh, what action
our security guards. Um, uh what actions they take to to
both engage with the public.
both engage with the public and also obviously to report,
you know activity that ultimately results in the police.
Um, uh interv
um, uh intervention and we can get you that both
performance better through the chair. I'd love to have that
and I'd love to have that.
and I'd love to have that by rail line, you know, because
obviously I've got I've got the red
Line in the ward. Um
You know and beyond that where?
You know and beyond that where where are we currently with
these 2 contracts?
Like at what point if it's a 5-year contract are we?
like at what point if it's a 5-year contract, are we in the
third year and I think they're I'm I'm looking over at my
security person the 5 year.
security person the 5-year contracts.
3 year contracts with 2 year, okay, and we're like
3 year contracts with 2 year. Okay, and we're like in the
second for about middle. Yeah about 2 2.
second for about middle. Yeah about 2 2 and a half years
then.
great I and
Great, I and as we continue to have these quarterly
updates, I think that's something.
updates. I think that's something that we'll look to have
updates on to especially as they're coming up on.
updates on to especially as they're coming up on uh, you
know reconsideration for re-upping a contract.
know reconsideration for re-upping a contract sure. Um, and
you and you know, I I like to make a
and you and you know, I I like to make a couple of points
to to your your concern 1.
I've never looked at the security guards as being the
solution to the crime problem. They were they are really
extra eyes and ears as you.
extra eyes and ears as you pointed out. I completely agree
with you to the police and and that's how we tend to use
them. They have a deterrent effect.
Um, uh, uh,
how you measure the
How you measure the deterrent effect is really hard because
I can't I can't.
I can't I can't measure crime that doesn't happen as a
result of this I can only speak.
result of this. I can only speak to what does happen on our
system.
Crime is down on CTA. And I know that that doesn't
necessarily resonate in terms of of anecdotal experience
and things like that, but it the crime is down 5% uh on the
system as a whole and um a lot of that has been
system as a whole and um, a lot of that has been the result
of the work that the police department has been doing here.
They have ramped up resources they have
They have ramped up resources. They have become, um, even
more strategic in their approach to dealing with issues on
CTA and like I said, they coordinate
CTA. And like I said, they coordinate very closely with our
our internal security.
our internal security staff on what we should be doing how
to be deploying.
to be deploying all these resources. The thing to keep in
mind. Is that when
mind is that when you've got 900,000 people riding CTA
every day
You're carrying.
You're carrying almost the equivalent of the city of
Philadelphia.
Philadelphia on a daily basis.
when you look at
When you look at it in that context the crime is actually
extremely low.
Not that that matters at all in the conversation that we're
having.
having but I I think it is always important to kind of put
all of this.
all of this into some context around what we're talking
about.
about safety is a concern on CTA.
about safety is a concern on CTA safety is concerned to me
personally. Um, um, how we ultimately solve that is going
to require a holistic approach to dealing with it and and
we look forward to that dialogue with City Council.
we look forward to that dialogue with city council and
sharing with you the data that we have and the
that we're trying to apply to address those issues as
forward. That's great. I know you've mentioned several
times the 900000 Riders at uh, cta's caring today.
Where would you like to see ridership B?
Where would you like to see ridership be to to you know if
you were to sort of?
you were to sort of go out there and say you know, what? We
we've done it. We're successful. We've brought.
we've done it. We're successful. We've brought people back
and now everybody is like what does what does that number?
Well, you know rather than give you a specific number. We
were carrying 1.4.
were carrying 1.4 million passengers a day pre-pandemic,
okay.
Okay, there's no reason that we shouldn't be carrying 2.
million a day if we if we really
million a day. If we if we really strategically approach
what I'm talking about if we go forward.
what I'm talking about if we go forward if we get the in if
we get the resources from Springfield if we continue to
make the investment.
make the Investments that we're making in our system build
the red line extens.
the red line extension and other things our ratchet is only
going to grow and you know, I don't even put 2 million at
the feeling. I'm just saying that we're going to blow
through what our previous high was when we get our system
fully up and running.
fully up and running again and when we get the resources
that we need to really make it.
that we need to really make it make things happen that we
would want to see happen and what I would refer to as a
world-class Transit,
And I have a whole bunch of ideas about what Pollock.
And I have a whole bunch of ideas about what policies we
would put in place to support that. I'm happy to spend the
whole session. Just having that conversation.
whole session just having that conversation in terms of
what a world-class transit system would look like in
Chicago.
Chicago, but we have the the ability to do that and
and then writer ship numbers will at
parallel ratchet numbers that you see in New York or you
see in Paris you see in Metro if we combine a good Transit
System.
system with the holistic approach to policies that drive.
ship and and prioritize
transportation. There's no reason like you will see in
other.
other world-class cities. There's no reason you can't see
that kind of ridership on CGA. Well, thank you. Um, I
we've talked this is the last Point chairman. Um,
we talked a lot about the ecosystem that really needs.
we talked a lot about the ecosystem that really needs to
come together. And I know that not all of this rests with
you. I'm not trying to put all of this on CTA. Um
but it's such an important part to making sure that we
are in fact a world class city with the transportation
system that serves everybody. Um
system that serves everybody, um, what sort of uh, what
sort of
Surveying do you do of customers?
we
We actually do quarterly customer surveys now, which we
publish.
published the results on our website, but we also do focus
groups. Um, we do, um what they call field.
I missed any of we have to go out in the field. You
actually talk to people.
actually talk to people like whatever that's called from
the from the my planning.
the from the my planning people, but we we have a number of
feedback loops.
feedback loops and and in addition to that. We're we're
planning.
planning to launch in the very near future a chat GPT
feature.
feature that's going to allow for customer feedback to come
back to us.
back to us in real time about issues that may be happening
on C.
on CTA. So we have a number of what I call Tradition.
on CTA. So we have a number of what I call traditional, uh,
surveying and and and feedback.
surveying and and and feedback loops. We're creating new
feedback. Loops.
feedback loops all of which we've been feeding in through
our understanding of the customer.
our understanding of the customer experience that all can
be will drive the decisions that we make in
Well, I invite you to invite all of us.
Know what the word level I'd love to be able to tell my con.
constituents when you're having, you know, focus groups in
our area.
our area or you know, if there is a survey out to remind
people.
people to answer those. Um, so I think what what would be
great to evolve to is and come from a corporate, um
background so, you know net.
background so, you know net promoter scores were really
important to us at the airline. Um, and that is about how
many people who ride the CTA today?
many people who ride the CTA today would tell other people.
Hey, it's great come back and ride.
Hey, it's great come back and ride because that's more of
what we need if we're going to get to that 2 million
number. Yes. We need people who are riding today to tell
people that it's safe. No, you're absolutely right. And and
that is 1 of the questions.
that is 1 of the questions that we asked people in our
survey. So, um we
survey. So, um, we can share more of the survey details.
I'd be very interested. Thank you. Uh, it's also on our
website, so if you ever want to just look at
website. So if you ever want to just look at what our
surveys are, uh, we do post them. Um, but we can we can get
you some more detailed information. Thank you very much.
Thank you cheer. Okay. Thank you cheer autum.
Thank you cheer. Okay. Thank you cheer Autumn Lee, um that
we are out of time everyone. I appreciate the next
committee, um chair
allowing us this extra time. I want to take this time to
uh, thank president darver for Carter for uh,
uh, thank president darver for Carter for uh engaging with
us this morning and your leadership team.
and um, we'll we'll see you in uh in in about
And um, we'll we'll see you in uh in in about about 3 months
or 3 months. Okay? All right.
or 3 months. Okay? All right, they're being no further
business before the committee. Can I get a motion from?
Alderman Lee to adjourn by the same roll call vote as
applied to determine quorum.
ottoman lie so moves on the motion all in favor say
Ottoman lie. So moves on the motion all in favor say I
Those opposed no.
Those opposed no independent chair the eyes have it the
meeting of the committee on trans.
meeting of the committee on transportation and public way
is adjourned.
10 minutes for the joint committee on health and Workforce
10 minutes