Dorval Carter

by Harjas Sandhu

On January 13, the CTA announced that the agency's embattled President Dorval R. Carter was stepping down after more than a decade on the job. As Streetsblog discussed that day, elected officials and transit advocates had major problems with the way he ran the system, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. They cited major problems with reliability, crime, and cleanliness. As early as last April, everyone from the grassroots group Commuters Take Action to Governor JB Pritzker was calling for new leadership at the agency.

This week, the Chicago Transit Board appointed Dorval Carter’s Chief of Staff Nora Leerhsen to serve as the acting president for the agency, replacing the departing — and controversial — president until a permanent replacement is found. 

Two major themes dominated September meeting of the CTA's transit board, held on Wednesday, September 11.

The 'L' stop, which originally closed in 1948, provides easy access to the United Center, and it will be surrounded by affordable housing.

At today's Council meeting Vasquez got signatures from 26 alders calling for the resolution to be resuscitated.

While Carter isn't filling a recent chairperson opening at the federal Surface Transportation Board, that raises interesting questions about a possible golden parachute.

Acree admitted to a City Council committee that he usually drives, feels uncomfortable critiquing Dorval Carter, and had never heard of the region's looming $730M transit shortfall before.

Here's a look at what elected officials and other media outlets have said about the issue recently.