CTA Attack Spurs Renewed Demands for Transit Safety Reform

A brutal attack at one of Chicago’s busiest transit hubs has reignited concerns about safety on the city’s public transportation system.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Nov. 17, Bethany MaGee, 26, was attacked and set on fire after exiting a CTA Blue Line train at the Clark/Lake Station. MaGee, an analyst for Caterpillar, suffered burns to 60 percent of her body and remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Chicago Police later arrested Lawrence Reed, 50, who reportedly shouted “burn alive bi*ch” during his arrest. Reed, who has more than 70 prior arrests, now faces federal charges, including an act of terrorism against a mass transit system. U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally ordered him held without bail.

Some observers questioned whether a Cook County judge would have issued the same ruling.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of public safety on Chicago’s transit network. Critics argue that Mayor Brandon Johnson downplays violent incidents and places emphasis on systemic issues, such as mental-health failures, rather than boosting police presence. One critique said, “Johnson’s instinctive response to violent incidents such as this macabre CTA attack is to shift blame away from criminals to systemic failures … and deflect from any call for increased police presence.”

According to the article’s analysis, with the mayor not prioritizing transit safety, responsibility shifts to the Chicago City Council, particularly as ridership continues to decline and CTA faces long-term financial pressure.

Recent state and city legislative actions have directed significant funding to transit—including shifting $860 million in state motor fuel tax revenue, redirecting $200 million annually from transit interest funds, raising Chicago’s sales tax by 0.25 percent, and increasing state tolls. However, critics argue that these measures fail to address the underlying issue of deteriorating safety and weakened public confidence.

A recent overhaul bill rebrands the RTA as the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority, yet leaves most oversight structures unchanged. Personnel costs make up more than two-thirds of CTA’s operating budget, with nearly half of employees working in administrative rather than transit-operational roles.

Major capital projects continue to face cost overruns, including the Red Line Extension, which has climbed from $3.6 billion to $5.75 billion. Debt projections have also risen.

Safety concerns remain a central issue in CTA’s ridership challenges. Systemwide use is at roughly 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while fares cover only about 20 percent of operating costs. A WBEZ survey found nearly half of riders feel unsafe on trains or buses; only 7 percent reported feeling “very safe.”

In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 2,200 crimes were reported on CTA property, including hundreds of violent offenses. Violent crime per trip has tripled since 2015.

Chicago currently assigns just 135 police officers full-time to transit, compared with more than 1,000 dedicated officers in New York City’s subway system. Private security contractors employed by CTA do not have arrest powers and have been described as undertrained and underpaid.

Last year, the city allocated $88.5 million toward CTA security—an amount that critics argue could fund hundreds of full-time police officers focused exclusively on transit patrol.

According to one statement urging change, “The shocking assault on November 17 demands budget reprioritization, not more deflection.”

Suggested courses of action include using forthcoming Transit TIF projects—potentially unlocking up to $2 billion in federal funding—to strengthen safety standards; exercising the City Council’s veto power over mayoral appointees based on expertise instead of political alignment; and passing stronger nuisance ordinances targeting disruptive conduct across transit property, including fare evasion and incitement of riots.

Another call to action states, “Only decisive action from the City Council to prioritize policing and accountability can reverse the decline,” emphasizing the connection between improved safety and CTA’s financial future.