The Vast Majority of Riders Suspended by Chicago Transit Agencies are Black or Latino

An analysis by the Chicago Tribune reveals that a little-known program that allows transit agencies to ban riders has overwhelmingly been used against Black and Latino riders. 

According to an article by Talia Soglin in Chicago Tribune, “The mass transit suspension program was made possible by a 2023 change in state law that allows the CTA, along with commuter rail system Metra and suburban bus agency Pace, to suspend riders accused of violence or threatening behavior on their systems.” The CTA suspended 40 people in 2024 and 2025, of whom 90 percent were Black and 10 percent were Hispanic. By contrast, just 27 percent of the agency’s riders are Black. On Metra, roughly two-thirds of suspensions involved Black riders. 

According to Matthew Hendrickson, a spokesperson for the public defenders’ office, “We hope this analysis will lead transit agencies to review their policies and procedures related to these suspensions, including whether the administrative hearing process is being fairly adjudicated.” The agencies say “The only factor used to determine whether to move to suspend a rider is whether they have committed an act subject to suspension.”