“As Mayor of Chicago, I will move safe, clean, and reliable public transit from the Wish List to the To-Do List”
Chicago, IL, October 1, 2026 – In celebration of the CTA’s 79th Birthday, mayoral candidate Susana Mendoza today revealed her Public Transit Plan 2027, a comprehensive blueprint to transform Chicago’s public transit system into a safe, clean, and reliable service that every Chicagoan deserves with built-in accountability based on rider feedback.
“Safe, clean, and reliable public transit is essential for Chicago’s growth,” said Mendoza. “My Public Transit Plan is designed to transform our public transit system, address our fiscal deficit, improve public safety, and restore confidence in City Hall. I will take immediate steps to advance this plan on Day One.”
Mendoza’s plan is anchored in three first-term commitments: reducing fare evasion by 30 to 50 percent; achieving system-wide on-time performance of 80 percent – a significant improvement from current performance; and conducting an annual Rider Survey to measure feedback on reliability, cleanliness, and safety.
Stopping the revenue bleed on Chicago’s transit system
“Fare evasion is a significant problem and factors into fiscal and safety problems,” said Mendoza. “My plan installs advanced fare gates to protect system revenue and reduce fare evasion by 30 to 50 percent in my first term. The money we save by reducing fare evasion should be invested into the rider experience – service improvements, maintenance, and frequency upgrades for those who depend on the system every day.”
As Illinois Comptroller, Mendoza saved taxpayers money while improving services. She eliminated a $17 billion bill backlog and collaborated with the governor and General Assembly to secure 12 consecutive state credit rating upgrades and rebuild the state’s Rainy Day Fund – marking the most significant fiscal turnaround in Illinois history.
“The CTA is the second-largest public transit system in America. It should be performing like it,” Mendoza said. “I know how to stop a revenue bleed. I did it for the State of Illinois, and I will do it for Chicago’s transit system starting on Day One.”
Focus on public transit safety
“A safe CTA will be a Mayor Mendoza priority,” said Mendoza. “When I’m leading City Hall, we will advance partnerships with the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police to ensure a safer experience on every platform, every train, and every bus. Public transit riders should not have to feel like they are on their own when it comes to safety.”
Mendoza’s Public Transit Plan calls for a formal, sustained Police and Transit Partnership, a dedicated law enforcement presence at rail stations during peak hours and on the system’s highest-ridership and most problematic routes. Mendoza’s City Hall will work with CPD and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police to design and implement the partnership within the first 100 days of her administration.
Mendoza noted that violent crime on the CTA is already down significantly this year, the result of work by the Sheriff’s office. “Enforcement works. It shouldn’t have taken a crisis to get here. A Mendoza City Hall will work to make the CTA the best public transit experience in America.”
Rebuilding confidence in Public Transit – and City Hall
“This City Hall has earned a vote of no confidence in managing Chicago’s public transit system. Late trains, dirty stations, unsafe rides, and a system that feels stuck in a previous era have eroded Chicagoans’ confidence in the way our City works,” said Mendoza.
“Restoring the CTA is more than a transit policy. It is proof that City Hall can work – and lead – again.”
Mendoza says she will launch an annual Rider Survey to collect feedback on system performance, cleanliness, safety, and satisfaction. “Making public transit more attractive to Chicagoans is part of making living in Chicago more affordable,” said Mendoza. “It should be safe and reliable for the working Chicagoans who rely on it every day.”
“I’m a believer in world-class public transit for a world-class city. As Mayor, I will bring back our Mojo,” said Mendoza. “Our public transit system is going to make Chicago proud.”
About Susana Mendoza
Susana Mendoza is the Illinois State Comptroller and a candidate for Mayor of Chicago. An experienced legislator, Chicago City Clerk, and fiscal crisis manager, Mendoza brings a trifecta of proven leadership, a record of accomplishments, and experience leading the most significant fiscal turnaround in Illinois history. As Comptroller, she eliminated a $17 billion bill backlog and worked with the governor and General Assembly to earn 12 consecutive state credit rating upgrades and restore the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Born in Little Village, Mendoza is running for Mayor with plans to improve affordability and safety in every neighborhood with the theme Progress Is Greater Than Promises.
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