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Riders press CTA board for accessibility, Narcan pilot and a national CEO search
Summary
Public commenters at the May 14 Chicago Transit Board meeting urged the agency to prioritize accessibility in the presidential search, to launch a stalled Narcan dispenser pilot at six stations, and to address late-night safety concerns; board members promised follow-up.
Public commenters urged the Chicago Transit Board on May 14 to prioritize disability access and harm-reduction measures while continuing debate over how the board should pick the agency’s next president.
Ben (a daily CTA rider who is blind) told the board accessibility must be a ‘‘core value from day one’’ for the next president and asked that people with disabilities be included in leadership conversations. He listed features riders with disabilities rely on, including audible stop calls, beeping bus stops and well-placed truncated domes.
Sheila Henneke of the Westside Heroin Opioid Task Force asked CTA to finalize a pilot program to install Narcan dispensers on platforms at six stations across four lines. Henneke said interagency agreements with Cook County Health were near completion in February but the pilot has stalled for about 90 days; she said Chicago Recovery Alliance would stock and maintain dispensers and Cook County would fund and manage the machines in the pilot. Henneke and board members noted existing harm-reduction machines at 95th that include hygiene items, but she said the proposed pilot would offer Narcan specifically and be more accessible on platforms.
Trudy Leon of the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce said constituents are increasingly reluctant to ride transit late at night because of violence and urged more overnight security presence and follow-up on canine-unit and employee treatment concerns. The board’s acting president acknowledged the complaint and said Veronica Alaniz, the chief operating officer, would follow up.
Several speakers from community groups, including Julia Hodge of the Transportation Equity Network (representing a coalition coordinated by the Center for Neighborhood Technology), urged a nationwide executive search for the next CTA president and recommended hiring a search firm and conducting robust stakeholder engagement. At the same time, an unscheduled alderman spoke in favor of a named candidate and criticized calls for a search, prompting a multi-member exchange on whether to allow unscheduled elected officials to speak and on how the board should balance mayoral appointment prerogatives with calls for a national search.
Board response and next steps: Acting President said he had contacted Henneke’s group and staff would stay connected with the working group; he also indicated staff planned to update the board next month on the Narcan pilot’s status. Board members stressed the need to treat regular public commenters and elected officials fairly and to follow a consistent public-comment process; several directors voiced support for a national search while others emphasized deference to the mayor’s appointment authority and the board’s confirmation role.
What’s next: CTA staff said it would follow up with stakeholders on the Narcan pilot and that Veronica Alaniz or another senior staffer would brief the board on security deployment and pilot steps at a future meeting.
