FTA attacks Gov. Pritzker, Illinois over CTA safety
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
CTA Red Line train. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios
The Federal Transit Administration is once again calling out safety problems on the CTA, but this time, they're blaming Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the state.
The big picture: The FTA on Tuesday announced it's launching a safety inspection of the city's transit system, chastising Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation, saying the state had "not properly leveraged its oversight authority and resources to protect Chicago passengers and transit workers."
Between the lines: IDOT took over safety oversight of the CTA from the Regional Transportation Authority in 2016.
State of play: FTA said it has "identified repeated and persistent deficiencies in IDOT's oversight," including "weak accident investigation governance" and ineffective action on correcting past safety concerns.
Zoom in: The federal agency is launching a Safety Management Inspection to review IDOT's involvement in safety investigations, including the CTA's Roadway Worker Protection program, which aims to protect people working on or around CTA tracks.
What they're saying: "I've made clear since my first day on the job – safety is non-negotiable," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a statement. "Governor Pritzker and state leaders should be embarrassed for the chaos they've allowed on Chicago's subways, buses, and rail lines. While they may not care about your safety, this administration does."
The other side: "As the Trump Admin fails to keep airports running and make transit safer, Sec. Duffy launched a sham investigation into our local transit. Maybe when you care less about pajamas at the airport and more about real solutions as we do, we'll take note. Get back to work, Sean," Pritzker responded in a statement.
Catch up quick: The FTA and CTA have gone back and forth for months about safety measures on the CTA, with the feds continually saying the country's third-largest public transit system isn't doing enough to protect riders and workers.
- This latest directive comes less than a week after the CTA announced it was adding more police presence across the system, including teams of 6-8 officers at high-incident stations.
- The CTA's latest plan was announced after the feds had rejected previous safety efforts dating to December.
What's next: IDOT must designate a primary point person for the safety investigation within the next three days and then meet with the FTA about timelines and next steps.
- IDOT tells Axios, "We're taking a look and will circle back as soon as possible."