THE HEARING WAS CONDUCTED BY A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE SECURITY MANAGER OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (RTA) DEFINED THE TRANSIT SECURITY ISSUE IN TERMS OF THREE TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS: ENVIRONMENT, CRIME, AND POLICING. RTA'S ORDINANCE NUMBER 78-163 PROVIDED FOR COOPERATION WITH LOCAL AND TRANSIT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, MONITORING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFECTIVENESS, AND WORKING TO CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PERSONAL SECURITY MEASURES. OTHER TESTIMONY CONCERNED (1) THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY'S (CTA) EFFORTS IN THE AREAS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY; (2) PUBLIC FEAR AND ANXIETY REGARDING SAFETY ON CHICAGO'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES; (3) SPECIFIC CRIME PROBLEMS FACED BY SENIOR CITIZENS USING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THE NEED FOR A FULL-TIME ARMED FORCE TO OPERATE THE MASS TRANSIT; (4) TRANSIT WORKERS' UNION VIEWS AND PROPOSALS TO USE HIGH IMPACT SAFETY GLASS TO PROTECT BUS DRIVERS AND TO MAKE OTHER CHANGES. THE TRANSIT WORKERS UNION PROPOSED A NEW CIRCUIT COURT BRANCH TO HANDLE ALL CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY CASES, CHARGING OF PICKPOCKET CASES AS FELONY 'THEFT FROM PERSON,' CHARGING AS FELONIES ANY ASSAULTS AND BATTERIES ON CTA EMPLOYEES AND PASSENGERS, USE OF PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS FOR RIDING THE BUSES, EMPHASIS ON ARRESTS, IMPROVED TRANSIT CRIME REPORTING PROCEDURES, AND OTHER MEASURES. PHOTOCOPIES OF CTA EMPLOYEES' PETITIONS CALLING FOR BETTER POLICE PROTECTION AND STRICTER LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE CTA ARE INCLUDED. FOR OTHER VOLUMES OF THIS HEARING RECORD, SEE NCJ 64813-64815 AND 64817. (CFW)