Security

Your safety and security is our No. 1 priority.

The safety and security of public transit riders is the No. 1 priority for both the CTA and the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

CPD provides law enforcement for the CTA, primarily though the Public Transportation Section, a unit of officers dedicated solely to our bus and train system. We supplement those efforts with unarmed security guards and our extensive security-camera network, which now boasts approximately 39,000 cameras. We have a strong partnership with CPD that addresses crime prevention in multiple ways.

This decades-long partnership is the most effective and prudent way to handle law enforcement on our transit system. Having CPD in stations and on buses and trains not only benefits our riders, but the City as a whole, something that would not be achieved with an independent policing unit. We also benefit from officers and detectives from CPD districts patrolling and responding to our various rail stations and bus facilities.

CPD also operates a Strategic Decision Support Center (SDSC), staffed 24/7 by CPD. It features smart-policing technology and full connectivity to our extensive security-camera network, as well as detectives dedicated to CTA-related crime.

Overall crime is low

The CTA is a safe system when compared to overall ridership. Currently, we carry an average of 1 million passengers every weekday, and incidents of crime are very low. In fact, crime on CTA is only a small fraction of overall crime city-wide. The overwhelming majority of rides taken on our system are without incident and safe.

Crime is not isolated to CTA nor is it unique to us: It is a broader issue affecting cities across the nation as well as every major transit system in the United States.

System security

Behind the scenes, there are ongoing and extensive efforts under way to prevent crime and to investigate and prosecute criminals who commit crimes on our near our properties. CTA’s Security Department works closely with CPD's Public Transportation Unit, a dedicated unit to CTA, on a number of ways to keep passengers safe each day.

CPD and the suburban police departments of Evanston, Forest Park and the Oak Park all provide police protection on our buses, trains and stations via the deployment of both uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as surveillance missions and other policing strategies.

What's new

We are taking a data-driven approach—leveraging rider and employee input, as well as where and how crimes are occurring—to determine the strategic deployment of existing resources and informing future investments. The following are among our newest security initiatives that reflect this approach:

• Security Surge Plan: In December, we announced a surge in security personnel, which was accomplished through a 30% increase in the overall hours provided by CPD officers, plus a 9% increase in canine security guards. This includes a 67% increase hours worked by sworn police officers patrolling the bus and rail system on their days off through CPD’s Voluntary Special Employment Program (VSEP).
• Expansion of CPD’s Strategic Decision Support Center (SDSC): to improve real-time, remote policing capabilities, leveraging CTA’s expansive security camera network.
• Strategic Missions & Deployments: Since spring of 2025, we’ve been leveraging rider and employee input, along with other data to inform several strategic security and police deployments on our system, including:
  • Anti-Smoking Missions: Led by CTA Security teams, and supported by CPD. These missions are conducting up to three times a week, targeting locations based on rider input.
  • Code of Conduct Missions: Daily patrols of the Blue Line by K-9 security teams to educate and enforce policy outlining more than 35 prohibited activities on CTA properties.
  • TRIP Missions: Conducted daily at multiple CTA locations by CPD officers who check in with riders and personnel, and board trains to travel to adjacent stations to continue these efforts.

Other efforts to provide a more comfortable riding environment

We continue to invest in improvements to improve the customer experience.

Our Refresh & Renew program helps provide a cleaner, brighter and more comfortable travel environment for you and our employees. As part of this ongoing, cyclical program, we’re performing a wide variety of improvements inside and outside our rail stations, including graffiti removal; fencing repairs; turning temporary repairs into permanent fixes; replacing old/damaged signage; upgrading old lighting throughout the facilities with new, brighter LED lights, and so much more.

These improvements are part of our larger effort to provider a safer travel environment and encourage new and returning riders to take public transit for more than just to school or work. Together, these improvements and increased ridership, help deter others from engaging in unruly or even criminal activities.

Reporting misconduct or crimes on CTA

CTA encourages riders to always be aware of their surroundings while in any public setting. If the immediate safety of you or someone else is threatened, always call 911.

If you are a witness of any misconduct or crime while on our system, we ask that you report the matter to the appropriate authorities. We recognize that it’s not always easy to do so in the moment, which is why we also suggest reporting an incident once you’ve safely reached your station or destination. 

How do I report?

During an emergency, if the immediate safety of you or someone else is threatened, always call 911. You can also request assistance from a CTA employee (i.e., bus operator or rail station attendant) who can call/radio for police or emergency assistance.

For non-life threatening matters or service-related issues (i.e., smoking, vandalism, soliciting, harassment, dirty vehicle, etc.), options for reporting include:

• While in transit, you can notify your bus operator or the employee on duty at the station upon exiting your train.
• While on a train, use the Passenger Intercom Unit (PIU) located under the blue light in every railcar to speak with the train operator.
• At rail stations, you can either use the emergency call box located on platforms or press the Customer Assistance button on the booth in the mezzanine.
• Contact CTA Customer Service at 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282) or online at transitchicago.com/contact/.
• Or use the CTA Chatbot, which allows you to report issues, provide feedback, and receive answers in real-time. (See lower right corner of of our web page).

What do I report?

Whether you notify 911, local police or CTA, be prepared to provide key details of the incident, including: date and approximate time, route/rail line, vehicle number, direction of travel, nearby intersection or rail station, as well as any other identifying details of the offenders or issue being reported. 

Press releases and other information