Now that Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter has stepped down after a 40-year career in public transit, his leadership in advancing accessibility for people with disabilities must continue as a priority for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s next appointee.
While concerns about system safety, cleanliness and performance have driven calls for leadership changes, disability advocates expect the next CTA president to uphold Carter’s strong commitment to accessibility.
In 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, fewer than 10 CTA rail stations, about 6%, had elevators. The ADA does not require legacy rail systems to retrofit all stations, but it mandates accessibility for new and significantly rehabilitated stations, as well as key transfer points. Despite these limitations, Carter publicly committed to a long-term vision of making every CTA station accessible. With input from Chicago’s disability community and transit experts, he launched the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), the first nationwide plan detailing a phased approach to achieving full vertical accessibility while modernizing aging elevators.
Today, 104 CTA rail stations are vertically accessible, with four more Red Line stations reopening later this year.
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Renovating 100-year-old stations in a dense urban environment is complex and costly. During President Joe Biden’s administration, Carter partnered with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., along with a national coalition, including Access Living, to secure $1.75 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure bill for accessibility improvements. This federal ASAP program, named after Chicago’s, now helps transit agencies nationwide, including CTA and Metra, fund critical accessibility upgrades.
Carter’s dedication has significantly advanced transit access, yet much work remains, including enhancements to wayfinding, emergency response, communication access and customer service training. Accessibility benefits everyone, whether a wheelchair user, parent with a stroller, traveler with luggage or someone with vision or hearing loss.
As the mayor considers the next leader of one of the nation’s largest and most complex transit systems, he must prioritize candidates with the needed transit experience to commit to expanding accessibility for people with all types of disabilities. Chicago’s active community of disability and transit advocates are ready to collaborate to achieve full accessibility for all.
Karen Tamley, president & CEO, Access Living
Not all state workers, leaders have been law-abiding
While reading the article about Gov. JB Pritzker barring Jan. 6 rioters from state jobs, I laughed out loud when I read his quote, “Our State workforce must reflect the values of Illinois and demonstrate honesty, integrity, and loyalty to serving the taxpayers.” Really? How many state workers have been accused of wrongdoing? How many Illinois politicians have been tried and convicted of crimes and sent to jail? Gov. Pritzker, I believe you need to heed the warning of the old adage, “Don’t throw stones in glass houses!”
Barbara Piltaver, Schiller Park
Partiality for Caitlin Clark
Once more, the Sun-Times showcasing an Associated Press article recognizing the retirement of Caitlin Clark’s college jersey number reinforces the idea that partiality is shown toward her. A’ja Wilson and Clark are both outstanding players and both contribute enormously to women’s basketball. Wilson’s jersey was retired on the same day as Clark’s, yet there was no mention of it in Monday’s newspaper, as was done for Clark. This is what rouses the feathers of true sports fans. Neither of these athletes is a Chicago native, so why recognize one and not the other?
Saul Holmes, Chatham
A gulf of confusion
Thanks to Neil Steinberg for his column on the conundrum caused by Donald Trump’s declaration of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Once upon a time, it made sense to refer to the Gulf as that of Mexico. Mexico governed almost all of the coastline.
Upon the founding of our republic, the United States had — shall I say? — no beachfront property on the Gulf.
It was only with the Louisiana Purchase that we gained a toehold in 1803. Spain ceded Florida to us in 1819. And then there was the little matter of the seizure of Texas from Mexico in 1845.
So now, in 2025, we want to seize the naming rights as well?
Scott Summers, Harvard
Musk’s actions harm us all
Now that Elon Musk has gotten access to all Americans’ financial, personal and private information, why do we need passwords and pin numbers to protect us? Is this what those who voted for Donald Trump really intended for the American citizen?
Ginny Williamson, Frankfort
On the road to autocracy
Living in a country with a long tenure of democratic rule, it’s difficult to imagine that it won’t last forever. But we are just fooling ourselves if we think that it can’t happen here.
In most countries where democratic rule has fallen, the eventual autocrat had popular support, some even winning elections before declaring them unnecessary. Prior to World Ware II, most Germans were hard-working, educated, and family-oriented folks, and most were Christian. Unfortunately, many were stirred up by nationalism, convinced they were being denied their greatness because of scapegoats and traitors, and encouraged by the promise of revenge on those who wronged or weakened them. Some big businesses gave Adolf Hitler money and support to increase their control over the masses, while others did the same because they feared communism.
Any similarities to the above and what’s happening now in America are purely intentional.
Dennis Gorecki, Orland Park
Fox is not ‘fair and balanced,’ as its old slogan claims
A letter to the editor printed in Tuesday’s paper, from William Desmond of Beverly, stated MSNBC News as the culprit of Soviet-style propaganda instead of Fox News. MSNBC covers stories in depth, while Mr. Desmond’s favorite, Fox News, does not. The Fox folks deal in the right-wing rage message of the day. They are part and parcel of the right wing scream machine spewing political pablum for the weak of mind.
Gary Fox, Mount Prospect
Fighting words from Jeffries
Why would House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries even use the words “fight in the streets” in reference to undermining Donald Trump’s agenda after he recently condemned the release of Jan.6 rioters? Since when do two wrongs make a right, as Jeffries’ use of those words certainly sounds like he is condoning the same behavior he has condemned.
Janet Lumm, Schaumburg