The overseer of Chicagoland public transit, Regional Transportation Authority Executive Director Stephen Schlickman, announced today that he will step down this October at the end of a tumultuous five years.
As head of the agency that oversees and provides funding to the CTA, Metra and Pace, Schlickman was the most powerful full-time staff member at the RTA.
Since he took the post in 2005, he oversaw multiple “doomsday” scenarios as the RTA’s subsidiaries struggled to balance their budgets — including another that may rear its head before he’s out the door.
How much power Schlickman and the RTA exactly possessed has been frequently questioned and assailed by legislators and union chiefs, among others, calling the agency a needless layer of bureaucracy jamming the wheels of public transportation.
In a statement released by the RTA this afternoon, Schlickman said he was pleased with his service, but is looking forward to being able to having more flexibility in his life.
“I am proud of the work that we accomplished during my tenure, and I think whomever succeeds me can continue to work with CTA, Metra and Pace to strengthen the system at a time when transit is more important than ever to improve mobility and air quality while creating jobs,” Schlickman said.
Schlickman said he will go back to working as an independent transit consultant, as he was before coming to the RTA.
“Since [2005], an incredible amount has been accomplished largely due to Steve’s leadership. Despite the current economic downturn, the system is in much better shape now,” said RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly. “Every transit rider in the region owes Steve a debt of gratitude.”