Illinois is standing at the edge of a transportation crisis.
This past spring, lawmakers left Springfield without resolving the looming transit fiscal cliff—a budget shortfall so severe it could slash service by up to 40 percent, shut down entire bus and train routes, and force longer wait times on riders across the state.
If the legislature continues to delay, the consequences will be catastrophic.
Imagine more traffic jams, more pollution, and fewer safe, affordable travel options.
Think of the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on buses and trains every day to get to work, school, doctor visits, and other essential destinations. Without intervention, their ability to move freely and reliably will collapse—along with thousands of transit jobs.
Facing the same transit budget gaps as Chicago, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in late August cut transit service by 20 percent.
The result has been weeks of transit chaos in Philadelphia—soaring rates of student absenteeism and late arrivals, commuters showing up at bus stops on eliminated routes, and fares increasing by 21.5 percent.
“I would describe [the cuts] as an unmitigated disaster,” a Philadelphia transit advocate told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s a tremendous legislative failure.”
This crisis is not inevitable in Illinois. Lawmakers can still prevent disaster during the October veto session by:
- Passing the critical reforms in SB2111 and HB3438
- Pairing the reforms with a $1.5 billion investment in Illinois transit
Please urge your lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly to fix and fund transit during the October veto session.
In recent weeks, we joined a large coalition — 70 organizations — that sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them to deliver critical funding and reforms for the state’s public transit system in the upcoming October veto session.
“This is not a kick the can down the road moment,” the letter explains. “A temporary fix is not enough. We cannot ‘let transit go over the cliff’ and see what happens. Just filling the budget gap doesn’t solve our myriad transit problems.”
These reforms are not just about plugging a budget gap. They are a roadmap to a stronger, more equitable future for public transportation in every corner of Illinois. Here’s what they’ll deliver:
- Better service and safety for riders statewide
- Integrated transit across CTA, Metra, and Pace—including one fare system for the entire network
- More frequent, faster service that makes transit a real alternative to driving
- Support for the 50 transit agencies outside of the Chicago region, including downstate metro systems and rural services
Time is running out. Transit agencies are already preparing devastating service reductions and bracing to hand out pink slips to the hardworking men and women who keep this system moving. But we don’t have to let it happen.
Now it’s up to all of us: Contact your lawmakers today and ask them to fix and fund transit during the October veto session. A future with frequent, reliable, clean, and affordable transit is still possible—but only if we fight for it.