METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Chicago Transit launches 'Safe and Secure' program to improve safety

Program will upgrade 3,800 system cameras to high-definition and add 1,000 new cameras; $33 million of improvements to be funded by ride-hailing fee.

March 1, 2018
Chicago Transit launches 'Safe and Secure' program to improve safety

New lighting, repairs and other improvements will enhance safety at all 146 CTA rail stations.

David Wilson

2 min to read


New lighting, repairs and other improvements will enhance safety at all 146 CTA rail stations. David Wilson

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval R. Carter Jr. announced the new “Safe and Secure” program, a multi-faceted effort to increase safety across the CTA system and provide a more secure, comfortable traveling experience.

“In Chicago we are investing in a world-class public transportation system that provides a comfortable, safe and secure experience for transit riders,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Chicago is the first city in the nation to create a ride-hailing fee dedicated to transit, making it possible to continue to invest in the latest technology and improvements that enhance commuting and improve the quality of life in our city.”

Ad Loading...

Beginning later this year, CTA will add 1,000 new cameras and upgrade more than 3,800 older-model cameras throughout the system. Additionally, new lighting, repairs and other improvements will enhance safety at all 146 CTA rail stations. New cameras will also be installed at more than 100 CTA bus turnaround locations and video monitors will be added to all CTA rail stations to aid personnel in monitoring station and customer activity.

CTA’s security camera network has doubled in size since 2011. The cameras, found at every rail station and on every bus and train, have been an important tool to help Chicago Police identify crime suspects and detect crime patterns. All of CTA’s buses and trains have multiple cameras. The newest buses have 10 to 14 cameras per vehicle depending on size.

Additionally, CTA has worked closely with the Chicago Police Department’s Public Transportation Unit to strengthen and deploy strategies to fight crime that include expanded police patrols, rail saturation missions, and undercover operations. Since June 2011, CTA cameras have aided police in the investigation, arrest, and charging of more than 1,300 individuals.

CTA’s Safe and Secure is funded by a new, innovative fee on ride-hailing services championed by Mayor Emanuel, the first such fee in the country dedicated to public transportation improvements.

More New Mobility

New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Chicago's Pace Expands VanGo Mobility Program

The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.

Read More →
BusJanuary 22, 2026

Biz Briefs: BART, Uber Launch Partnership and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Transit agencies depend on safe, reliable vehicles to deliver consistent service. This eBook examines how next-generation fleet software helps agencies move from reactive processes to proactive operations through automated maintenance, real-time safety insights, and integrated data. Learn how fleets are improving uptime, safety outcomes, and operational efficiency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Transit signal priority and public transit agencies.
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 16, 2026

How AI is Redefining Transit Operations and Signal Priority

In a recent episode of METROspectives, LYT CEO Timothy Menard discusses how artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity, and real-time data are transforming traffic management, boosting bus reliability, and enabling system-wide transit optimization across cities.

Read More →
New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 15, 2026

U.S. Transit Trails Global Peers, Transportation for America Report Outlines Path Forward

The analysis finds that a $4.6 trillion investment across all levels of government over 20 years ($230 billion per year) would be required to build, operate, and maintain a transit network that approaches the level of service within a cohort of 17 global cities with world-class transit systems.

Read More →
RailJanuary 15, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Supplying TTC Subways, SilverRide Lands California Contracts, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Railby Staff and News ReportsJanuary 9, 2026

Biz Briefs: Hitachi Rail, GreenPower, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
An image of a woman exiting a Via microtransit fane with text reading "How to Scale Microtransit Through Data."
New Mobilityby Elora HaynesJanuary 8, 2026

Microtransit’s Next Chapter: Data, Equity, and Job Access at Scale

Via data shows microtransit boosts job access, equity, and commutes when designed to feed fixed routes, not compete with them.

Read More →
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 5, 2026

Forest River Working to Redefine Reliability, Responsibility in the Bus Industry

As the transportation landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, few manufacturers have faced, or embraced, change as decisively as Forest River Bus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsDecember 24, 2025

Biz Briefs: Electric Paratransit Buses in San Francisco and More

Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.

Read More →