Public Money, Private Miles: The CTA's Car Conundrum

The CTA, Chicago's public transit agency, spent over $26, 000 on three vehicles for top officials in 2023 and 2024. This isn't just about the money, though. It's about how these cars were used. For instance, the former CTA President, Dorval Carter, used his SUV more for getting to and from work than for actual business trips. From February to August 2023, he drove 177. 8 miles for work but 774. 4 miles just to commute. This pattern continued in the following months, according to handwritten logs. The CTA's response to a public records request was slow. It took over seven months to provide all the information. Public agencies usually have up to 10 days to respond to such requests. The CTA missed this deadline by a long shot, providing records in bits and pieces over several months. This isn't the first time the CTA has been criticized for how it handles public records requests. In the past year, five lawsuits have been filed against the agency over Freedom of Information Act responses. The CTA has a fleet of 51 pool vehicles, and these can be used for commuting in certain situations. The spending on these vehicles is notable because the CTA and other regional transit agencies are facing a budget cliff when federal COVID-19 relief funding runs out in 2026. As watchdogs start looking for places to cut costs, this spending will likely come under scrutiny. The CTA's spokeswoman, Catherine Hosinski, said the vehicles are used for official business when public transit isn't an option. They can also be used for commuting in specific situations, like responding to emergencies or attending offsite meetings. However, the use of these vehicles by top officials raises questions about the agency's commitment to public transit. After all, if the leaders aren't using the system they oversee, why should the public? The new acting president, Nora Leerhsen, hasn't used a take-home vehicle for commuting. She uses the CTA for her daily commute and only uses a vehicle for business purposes when necessary. This is a stark contrast to her predecessor. It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction. The CTA needs to do more to regain the public's trust, and that starts with leading by example.