CTA To Deploy Unarmed Guards Across Rail Systems

The guards, accompanied by a canine, are a part of CTA’s plan to address safety concerns among riders.

Screenshot/ CTA Website

CHICAGO— Public transit riders will start seeing new faces on trains soon— one being a canine. On Aug. 24, CTA revealed that they entered an agreement for unarmed K-9 teams to patrol stations across the “L.”

The K-9 teams will consist of two unarmed guards and a canine representing CTA’s commitment to providing security for customers and employees as safety concerns rise. One hundred guards and 50 canines are expected to be active daily as part of CTA’s 18-month contract with Action K-9.

The contract is a follow-up to their “Meeting the Moment: Transforming CTA’s Post-Pandemic Future” action plan that outlines an approach to improving rider experience and ensuring CTA is the first choice for transportation around the city.

Dorval R. Carter Jr., Chicago Transit Authority President, believes that the new initiative will play an imperative role in helping workers keep their system moving daily.

“As a part of ‘Meeting the Moment,’ we promised we would be increasing security to ensure customers’ peace of mind when choosing to take CTA,” Carter said. “The addition of K-9 units is just one way we’re following through on our commitment to security for our customers, as well as our frontline employees who play a vital role in keeping our systems moving every day.”

Currently, about 300 unarmed guards are already seen throughout CTA platforms. However, violence from shootings, robberies, and sexual assaults at rail stations and trains, especially the redline, is at its highest.