[remote or in person] Regular Board Meeting of Chicago Transit Board

Chicago Transit Authority

Transportation

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. CST

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567 West Lake Street Chicago 60661 (Directions)

CTA Headquarters, 2nd floor, boardroom

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Maureen Dunne

The Chicago Transit Authority board may implement a pilot program that uses AI to detect when people or large objects fall onto train tracks.

Mo Dunne

❄️Good morning Chicago!! 🚅 I'll be live tweeting today's Chicago Transit Authority board meeting for @CHIdocumenters starting now. Follow along in this thread or watch from home at transitchicago.com/board/video/

transitchicago.com/board/video/

10:03 AM Feb 12, 2025 CST

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 2/16

@CHIdocumenters 1: Here is today's agenda: The board is considering a pilot program with ATV, Inc. to install surveillance technology on platforms to prevent riders from falling on the tracks by flagging risky behavior and alerting first responders. The pilot will run for 20 weeks

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 3/16

@CHIdocumenters 2: The meeting is called to order at 10:22 a.m. with a quorum met. Directors Michele Lee and Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes join remotely.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 4/16

@CHIdocumenters 3: Public comment begins with Arthur Harold from Evanston advocating the CTA Second Chance Program creates full time-apprenticeships for those re-entering the workforce. transitchicago.com/secondchance/

transitchicago.com/secondchance/

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 5/16

4: The next public commenter, from the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce, advocates for small businesses occupying vacant CTA property in Rogers Park.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 6/16

5: The third public commenter advocates for the CTA transitioning to clean energy. A written public comment from someone from the DSA's Fix the CTA Campaign implores the board to improve transit times, CTA employee conditions and install public bathrooms in stations

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 7/16

6: Committee reports begin with the ADA committee chair Laura Saltzman. "Unreliable or reduced service is an accessibility issue all on its own," Saltzman said, advocating for a return to pre-pandemic service frequency. She said smoking on the train is a public health issue.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 8/16

7: Saltzman thinks smoking is so prevalent on CTA trains, unlike busses and the Metra, because people feel a lower likelihood of being caught. She advocated for consistent enforcement of the no smoking rule.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 9/16

8: The Citizen's Advisory board report discussed safety while riding public transit. The board wants to check in on the feasibility of reinstating CTA police officers. Other concerns include offering a more subtle way to call for help on vehicles & station cleanliness

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 10/16

9: Nora Leerhsen, The CTA's interim director, takes the mic to announce her priorities in her new role. She said she's focused on stability and service delivery. news.wttw.com/2025/01/15/cta…

news.wttw.com/2025/01/15/cta…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 11/16

10: Leerhsen said she wants to set a tone of listening to riders and engaging with their concerns to improve service. She's been visiting the garages across the city to meet some of the CTA's 11,000 employees.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 12/16

11: Smoking on the train is a concern all the way up to the top of the CTA's organization. She said not all rule violations are created equal, but this one deserves enforcement. "I'm looking at a clean, on-time train, and that's ruined by smoking," Leerhsen said.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 13/16

12: Though the CTA can't solve all societal issues, Leerhsen wants to work across city agencies to address homelessness by advocating for more shelter space for unhoused people and offering those services to CTA riders.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 14/16

13: Board members congratulate Leerhsen on her new role and direct questions to her. The board then enters executive session -- closed to the public.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 15/16

14: The Board returns from executive session at 12:00 p.m. The board approves the omnibus motion including the contract presented by the finance committee to initiate a pilot program for an AI-powered surveillance safety tool at certain stations.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 16/16

15: The board votes to defer the construction committee report until its next meeting. The meeting adjourns at 12:04 p.m. Follow @CHIdocumenters for more local meeting coverage!

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Note-taking by Madeleine Davison

The Chicago Transit Authority board may implement a pilot program that uses AI to detect when people or large objects fall onto train tracks.

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Agency Information

Chicago Transit Authority

www.transitchicago.com

(312) 681-5022

ctamedia@transitchicago.com

@cta ‏

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To govern and administer the Chicago Transit Authority.

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