Advocates detail qualifications necessary for next CTA leader and call for transparency and a nationwide search
As the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) undergoes a transition in leadership and faces significant challenges with a looming fiscal cliff, community advocates urge our city’s leaders to reflect upon the qualifications necessary for the system’s next president.
Leading a transit agency is a highly specialized role, and given the specific challenges CTA riders have weathered over the last several years, they deserve an experienced, world-class transit leader who is ready to tackle the system’s challenges on day-one.
This means that the Chicago Transit Board in consultation with Mayor Johnson should hire a qualified executive search firm to conduct a thorough, nationwide search after engaging in robust stakeholder engagement with community, advocates, and CTA advisory committees. This is standard practice throughout the public transit industry nationwide.
Chicago deserves a transit leader who can demonstrate the following:
Deep experience running a public transit system in a major metropolitan region. Running a transit agency requires being able to manage large numbers of staff with specializations in rail and bus operations, skills that take many years of direct experience to acquire. CTA needs a leader ready to utilize those skills on day-one.
Experience with understanding, securing and navigating the complexities of federal funding. This is especially critical as we face increasing uncertainty while our values on inclusivity, equity, and climate are targeted.
Long-time practice of consistent and recent transit use. A commitment to using Chicago's transit systems during their tenure as a leader is important, and we need a leader who has an existing practice of regular public transit ridership. CTA deserves a leader who fully understands the challenges that the riders experience on a daily basis.
Record of a commitment to values of equity, transparency, collaboration, and accountability. A successful transit leader is one who fosters strong and trusting relationships with advocates and community stakeholders – one who has invested time in listening and understanding. They need to be able to effectively collaborate with other transit agencies and local, state and federal agencies.
Bold vision for an expansive, accessible, and reliable transit system. They must develop a long-term vision to expand transit access – particularly to underserved communities. This includes but is not limited to, a commitment to innovations like Bus Rapid Transit and coordinating with other agencies to increase service on underutilized lines. They must be firmly committed to achieving a fully accessible system that serves all riders, including people with disabilities.
Championing public transit. Riders deserve a leader who is enthusiastic about public transit, who understands the profound impact it has on the daily lives of our residents, and who is ready to fiercely advocate for a strong, fully funded, accessible and reliable system at the local, state, and federal levels.
Perhaps most critically, a search must take place after the Spring 2025 legislative session in the Illinois General Assembly concludes. Given the conversations around transit legislation in Springfield and the potential for significant changes in governance, any leadership search prior would lack critical context necessary to seek the right candidate for the role. Until then, the best thing for CTA and the region it serves is consistency and stability in leadership. Over the last 4 months, CTA has made strides in rebuilding trust with ridership and overseen the rollout of substantive improvements like the ‘Frequent Bus Network.’ We hope that work can continue.
We are at a critical juncture for public transit in Chicago. The needs and concerns of transit riders deserve attention and we urge Mayor Johnson and the Chicago Transit Board to demonstrate their commitment to building a strong, safe, reliable, and accessible transit system that riders can trust. This starts with a transparent and nationwide search for a candidate that has the experience and qualifications outlined above.
Signed,
Access Living
Active Transportation Alliance
Better Streets Chicago
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Commuters Take Action
Elevated Chicago
Metropolitan Planning Council
Katanya Raby, Chairperson, CTA Citizens Advisory Board
Laura Saltzman, Chairperson, CTA ADA Advisory Committee