CTA bus drivers are sounding the alarm about deteriorating working conditions, particularly concerning safety and the mounting violence they face on a daily basis. At a recent Illinois House Transportation Committee hearing, a group of bus drivers shared harrowing stories of assaults and threats encountered during their routes.
In 2024 alone, 184 CTA employees reported being assaulted while on duty, as highlighted by Keith Hill, president of Local 241, the labor union representing CTA and Pace bus drivers and mechanics.
Hill emphasized that these numbers only reflect reported physical assaults, not including other alarming incidents such as spitting, verbal abuse, or threats involving weapons.
“Those are just reported physical assaults, those are not the people who were spat on, or cussed at, or had a weapon pulled on them,” Hill noted in an interview with the Sun-Times.
Despite the CTA investing about $83 million in private security contracts last year, bus drivers argue that this effort is grossly inadequate to address the increasing dangers they, and their passengers, face on city streets.
“We see the individuals day after day, the same threats, the same violence, because the word is out, there’s no one coming to help us,” Hill elaborated.
He acknowledged that while the Chicago Police Department (CPD) genuinely cares, their resources are overstretched, resulting in bus drivers bearing the brunt of these violent encounters.
The testimonies brought to light the deep-seated fears that CTA drivers grapple with every day.
Michelle Griffin, a veteran bus driver since 1998, recounted a terrifying experience when she was held at gunpoint earlier that month.
Griffin described the incident: “Two young men armed with Dracos approached me, demanded everything. I relinquished. Thirty dollars, that’s what my life would have amounted out to. Thirty dollars — that was the price of my security and peace of mind.”
Other drivers also shared chilling experiences of violence, with some holding up their photographs showing bruises and scars from attacks.
Lee Key, another CTA driver, recounted an episode where he was shot with a paintball gun at the end of his route, while Eric Sylvester discussed a recent incident in which a bullet narrowly missed him.
“The bullet came so close to hitting me in March, if I was sitting straight up, I wouldn’t be here now,” Sylvester lamented.
In a response to the safety concerns, earlier this month, the CTA’s board of directors approved a $1.2 million contract extension with ZeroEyes to enhance surveillance capabilities using gun-detecting technology on 1,500 cameras through the summer of 2026.
The CTA acknowledged the challenges faced by their bus operators and stated their commitment to working closely with the CPD to enhance safety measures.
They claimed, “The CTA works closely with CPD to identify and apprehend suspects involved in cases of harassment or assault on our employees.”
However, Hill expressed frustration that none of the assailants who attacked the drivers providing testimony have been caught.
Legislation passed last year allows the Chicago Transit Board to fine or revoke riding privileges for individuals who create unsafe conditions for workers.
While Hill believes this is a step in the right direction, he maintains that increased police presence is essential for improving safety on public transportation.
State Rep. Marty Moylan, a D-Des Plaines legislator and chair of the state’s transportation committee, expressed strong support for better safety measures for CTA drivers.
“It’s just unrealistic that the CTA doesn’t take care of drivers, and the mayor is invisible,” Moylan stated.
According to Moylan, transit safety reforms are crucial to restoring ridership, highlighting the need for funding to bolster security measures.
He proposed potential collaborations with local law enforcement to create a dedicated force to enhance safety on public transport, asserting, “We’re going to get the money for that.”
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