You spoke. We listened. In September, we will officially deploy our new Safe Ride Specialist Program pilot as part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all!
The pilot will add dedicated teams of non-law enforcement rider engagement resources across the Red, Blue and Green lines, bringing trained, compassionate outreach professionals into the system to meet riders where they are. This program will help every rider feel welcome, connect vulnerable riders to the support they need, and complement recent investments to increased law enforcement resources.
About the pilot
Safe Ride Specialists will maintain a highly visible presence by proactively riding the system in teams across targeted stations, trains, and buses to address anti-social behaviors and provide a reassuring presence for riders.
Specialists will wear distinct, branded uniforms and are trained in trauma-informed care, compassionate crisis response, de-escalation, proactive conflict resolution, and anti-bias principles.
Every team will carry outreach materials, care and hygiene kits, and Narcan.
The Safe Ride Specialist Program pilot was developed collaboratively in partnership with riders and more than 30 mental health and social service experts, community organizations, and labor leaders at CTA’s Transit Community Safety workshop held in August 2025.
The pilot is another layer of our comprehensive safety approach that was strengthened with the passage of the NITA Act in 2025. This program also complements our recent partnerships with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Cook County Sherriff’s Office to deploy additional officers across the system. The new law also establishes a regional transit ambassador program led by NITA, in partnership with CTA, Metra, and Pace, to assist riders and connect with law enforcement, social services, and community resources, as needed.
What role do Safe Ride Specialists play?
Safe Ride Specialist Program pilot will deploy Specialists who are trained to serve two core roles:
- Crisis Intervention Specialists: Support riders experiencing mental health crises and substance abuse disorders by connecting them to treatment, housing, and social services.
- Community Violence Intervention Specialists: Engage youth and young adults to build positive relationships, de-escalate potential conflicts, and redirect energy into constructive behaviors.
When and where will Safe Ride Specialists be deployed?
Starting this fall, Safe Ride Specialists will focus on the Blue, Red and Green lines, with unique staging locations and access points determined through rider and employee feedback, as well as access to areas for rider engagement and the availability of wraparound resources. While the pilot zones are targeted to areas of highest need as identified by riders, front-line personnel and security resources, riders and personnel across the entire system will experience the benefits of these pilots.
What agencies is CTA partnering with to pilot the Safe Ride Specialist Program?
Partner agencies include Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS), Street Samaritans, Housing Forward, and Metropolitan Peace Initiatives – a division of Metropolitan Family Services. Each organization brings significant outreach experience and a network of wraparound services that riders can directly access, including dedicated shelter beds, respite locations, mental healthcare, and much more.
How does the pilot fit in with CTA’s existing outreach and engagement initiatives?
The Safe Ride Specialist Program adds to our existing resources for unhoused riders on the 24-hour Red and Blue lines through a partnership with Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS).
Currently, Thresholds operates outreach teams on the Red Line during daytime, evening, and nighttime hours focused on mental health care, psychiatric support, and housing connections.
Haymarket Center deploys mobile outreach teams on the Blue Line to assist riders with substance abuse treatment, behavioral health services, and basic essentials. Haymarket operates 24/7 Monday through Friday as well as 7:00 am to 3:30 pm and 11:00 pm – 7:30 am on Saturday and Sunday.
The Night Ministry sets up physical outreach hubs at the Howard Red and Forest Park Blue line stations on Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively, to provide healthcare, food, hygiene supplies, and case management.
How is the pilot program funded?
The total cost for the pilots is $9.6 million and will be supported by previously allocated funds under the CTA budget with additional funding authorized by the RTA Board in May after the passage of the NITA Act.
How will the pilot be evaluated?
During the one-year pilot, CTA will measure program effectiveness through various key performance indicators, such as incidents de-escalated without the use of law enforcement; reduction in service delays; improved safety for front line personnel and riders; connection to wraparound resources; and vulnerable rider outcomes beyond the initial engagement. These indicators will be evaluated to determine the future of the program and help inform the regional safety initiatives being led by NITA.
More info
Chicago Transit Board Approves New Safe Ride Specialist Pilots (8/12/26)