https://illinoisfoia.org/public-bodies/chicago-transit-authority/ 2025-04-29T00:00:00Z https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2025-pac-85533/ 2025-04-29T00:00:00Z

The requester, an attorney and law professor, sought contracts, policies, and disciplinary and complaint records concerning a transit agency's use of a private security-canine vendor, and the agency failed to substantively respond despite months of follow-up. The Public Access Counselor held that the agency violated section 3(d) of FOIA by failing to comply with, deny, or properly respond to the request within the statutory period. The agency was directed to disclose all records responsive to th

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82787/ 2024-09-18T00:00:00Z

Under FOIA, a requester can avoid recurrent requester status if they are 'news media' and the request is for a news purpose. The requester here claimed to be a regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune Opinions section but provided only a redacted email that did not clearly show an affiliation with a news organization. The PAC found that without sufficient documentation—such as official credentials or an email from the news organization's domain—the CTA was justified in applying the recurrent r

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80130/ 2024-08-15T00:00:00Z

A requester asked the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for video footage of a fatal incident at a train station. The CTA refused to release the video, arguing that it could reveal sensitive security information. The Attorney General's office reviewed the case and decided not to take further action, noting that the law allows agencies to withhold records that could compromise security measures.

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79991/ 2024-06-20T00:00:00Z

A requester asked the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to change their status as a 'recurrent requester' by claiming one of their previous requests was actually made on behalf of a non-profit group. The Attorney General's office ruled that the CTA was not required to accept this change after the fact. Consequently, the CTA's original designation stands, and the agency did not violate the law.

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2024-pac-79748/ 2024-03-15T00:00:00Z

The requester, a reporter, sought a transit agency president's public schedule and calendar for a six-month period, and the agency extended its response deadline but then never substantively responded despite repeated inquiries from this office. The Public Access Counselor held that the agency violated section 3(d) of FOIA by failing to comply with, deny, or properly respond to the request within the statutory period. The agency was directed to disclose all records responsive to the request, sub

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/ 2016-07-22T00:00:00Z

A requester sought detailed audit information about the manufacturing origins of railcar components for a Chicago Transit Authority project. The Attorney General's office determined that the CTA properly withheld the percentages of components from suppliers other than Bombardier, but improperly withheld the percentages of components supplied by Bombardier. The CTA also properly withheld the percentages and subcomponents in the Buy America Compliance Certificates, but improperly withheld the Desc