CHICAGO CITY HALL (WBBM Newsradio) -- The head of the CTA told aldermen that the agency's focus on improving safety and security for train and bus riders is paying off, but her message played to a nearly empty house in City Council.
"I come here today with good news," Chicago Transit Authority acting president Nora Leerhsen told aldermen during Wednesday morning's hearing, scheduled under an ordinance calling for the head of the CTA to brief aldermen every three months about operations at the agency.
Leerhsen's report included news that ridership is at its highest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic "and growing," and incidents of what she described as "serious" crime have gone down 40% compared with May of 2025.
"The steep drops in crime in the past year are like nothing we have seen," said Leerhsen, who also noted that workers have shaved ten minutes off slow zone-related delays and that riders' complaints about delays on the system have dropped by 90%: "Riders can rely on us."
However, the hearing adjourned as soon as she finished her remarks, because not enough aldermen were in attendance at City Hall. Several aldermen were standing by to attend the hearing remotely, but the lack of a quorum meant the committee members who were physically present weren't able to approve their participation.
Aldermen leaving the hearing vented their frustration, including North side Ald. Andre Vasquez, a frequent critic of the CTA who famously dressed as a "ghost bus" for a City Council meeting before Halloween in 2022.
"We have colleagues who want to talk about how much they care about transit. They shouldn't be ghosting CTA because it's the second time we haven't had quorum," said Ald. Vasquez (40th Ward), referring to a previous transit hearing that was unable to proceed because of attendance issues.
North side Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) suggested it was another sign that the Council needs to do away with "Rule 59," the pandemic-era rule that allows members to attend meetings remotely: "It's time everybody got back to work down here."
Asked what his first question would have been if the hearing would have been able to continue, Ald. Vasquez only paused for a moment: "Where the hell are the rest of my colleagues!?"
The next transit hearing is set for the fall. Leerhsen has led the CTA since the retirement of controversial former President Dorval Carter in January of 2025. Mayor Brandon Johnson has not said whether he intends to recommend Leerhsen for the role on a permanent basis, nor has he suggested when he might announce a selection.
But lack of quorum forces council hearing to adjourn: "disappointing"
But lack of quorum forces council hearing to adjourn: "disappointing"
