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CTA Ends Unarmed Guard Contract, Redirects Money to Police and K‑9 Units

The shift follows federal warnings that a weak safety plan could put tens of millions in transit aid at risk.

Overview

  • The agency, which ordered patrols to halt Friday night, removed roughly 250 guards from trains and stations, including 159 represented by SEIU Local 1.
  • The CTA says it will expand sworn police coverage, add more K‑9 teams, and roll out crisis‑response staff as part of a safety plan that targets buses and rail lines with higher crime.
  • That plan, submitted in March, commits to a 75% jump in patrol hours using Chicago police and Cook County sheriff’s deputies, with ride‑along missions on bus routes and inspections on trains.
  • New security spending outlined last week directs about $20 million to CPD patrols, $10 million to K‑9 units, and $12 million to added sheriff’s deputies.
  • Monterrey Security says the cut came weeks after a renewal on a $44 million contract that city records show could run through April 2027, while a CTA letter said funding was exhausted and Black Caucus leaders are demanding a transition plan for displaced workers.