Chicago City Wire

A recent investigation by the Chicago Tribune has revealed that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) paid some employees to work from home, despite claims of financial hardship and a need for additional funding. The report highlights that around 10 workers in the CTA's "vault operations" were allowed to work remotely two days a week over five years, although their roles required hands-on tasks.

The Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) reported these employees received approximately $303,932 from May 2022 until February this year without performing their duties at home. The OEIG noted that while remote work policies were justified during the pandemic, they persisted unnecessarily into early 2025. Investigators found no valid reasons for continuing these payments post-pandemic.

CTA spokesperson Catherine Hosinski responded by stating that managers who permitted this situation have been dismissed. She affirmed that the agency has adopted all recommended measures to improve its policies and practices.

Meanwhile, the CTA faces a $770 million budget shortfall and is seeking financial assistance from Democratic Governor JB Pritzker during state budget discussions. Despite these efforts, Illinois legislators concluded their spring session without allocating extra funds for Chicago's transit systems in their $55.2 billion budget.

The CTA warns of potential service reductions and fare increases if support from Springfield does not materialize. The organization notes possible cuts to bus routes and anticipates a minimum fare hike of 10 percent.

Other mass transit entities in Chicago, including the Regional Transport Authority, Metra, and Pace, are also requesting increased state funding amidst declining ridership numbers. The Illinois Policy Institute reports current usage is only about 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson argues that mass transit ridership is rising; however, it remains below pre-pandemic figures when budgets were smaller. In 2019, CTA provided over 456 million rides with a $1.552 billion budget compared to just 309.2 million rides on a $1.996 billion budget in 2024.

Proposals suggest merging duplicative agencies to reduce redundant staff as one solution to address financial shortfalls. Even without such consolidation, there remain opportunities within CTA’s workforce to cut costs as labor expenses have increased significantly since 2021 despite decreased ridership.

The example of unnecessary remote work policies underscores ongoing wasteful practices within the organization needing attention and reform.