The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is ramping up its security presence across the city’s bus and train lines.
Beginning Friday, Dec. 19, the number of Chicago police officers patrolling the system will jump from 77 to 120 per day.
The surge is part of a revised safety plan designed to make security more visible to the public.
In addition to more police officers, the CTA is increasing its private K-9 security teams from 172 to 188 guards daily.
“We expect the additional police and K-9 presence on our system to further increase security visibility,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen.
A New Way to Patrol. To find the extra staff, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is launching a pilot program. Under this plan, officers will volunteer to patrol CTA stations and vehicles on their regularly scheduled days off.
This move follows pressure from federal officials to improve safety. Public concern grew recently after a violent incident in November, where a woman was set on fire while riding a Blue Line train.
Crime Stats vs. Public Perception. While high-profile incidents have sparked worry, recent data shows a downward trend in transit crime. According to CPD data:
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November 2025: Crimes on the CTA were down 19% compared to November 2024.
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Year-to-Date: Crimes have dropped 3% compared to the same period last year.
CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling noted that the two agencies are working closer than ever.
He pointed to the updated Strategic Decision Support Center, where detectives now work directly inside the CTA’s monitoring room to speed up investigations.
The extra patrols are expected to remain a fixture of the commute as the city looks to restore rider confidence in the transit system.
