(The Center Square) – With federal authorities now threatening to cut Chicago Transit Authority funding due to rising violence across the system, Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford worries actions being taken by the federal government could put vulnerable riders even more at risk.

Chicago police data shows at the same time transit system arrests have dropped, overall violent crime across the system hit its second-highest level since 2015 in the 12 months ending in July. Riders reported 2,893 crimes or 2.7 transgressions for every 100,000 riders.