As the Illinois legislature kicked off its fall veto session this week, dozens of advocates joined together in Springfield, speaking with lawmakers, waving signs, and lifting up voices that too often go unheard.
Their message: Lawmakers must act now—securing the needed $1.7 billion—to keep buses and trains reliable and affordable for millions, including working families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Please contact your legislator today—every voice makes a difference.
ON THE CLIFF’S EDGE
Headlines say the fiscal cliff has been postponed, but that’s just smoke and mirrors. The RTA faces a $220 million shortfall in 2026 that will soar to nearly $850 million in 2027.
Without full funding, immediate damage starts: hiring freezes, a 10 percent fare hike, firings, slashed routes, and cuts to vital paratransit services.
This isn’t just inconvenient—it threatens basic access and affordability for Chicagoans who depend on transit.
THE COST OF INACTION
Transit isn’t a luxury. It’s the backbone of affordable travel in our region.
Service cuts will force many into driving—a mode that costs over 20 times more than a monthly transit pass. For countless families, seniors, and people with disabilities, this risks putting everyday trips out of reach.
Layoffs could reach 1,800 CTA and Metra workers, affecting households and our economy. Key programs like paratransit will be suspended. By early 2027, bus and train service could be down by at least 21 percent—the largest reductions in CTA’s history.
Everyone will feel the impact: more congestion, higher emissions, and lost opportunities.
PATCHES AREN’T SOLUTIONS
Relying on one-time sales tax boosts or short-term budget transfers is not enough—these patches disguise the real size of the emergency.
Philadelphia’s experience shows that short-term fixes lead to long-term damage as operational needs eat up capital funds, leaving old vehicles and failing infrastructure.
Metra’s trains date to the 1970s, and CTA’s Forest Park branch already suffers from extensive slow zones due to neglected repairs.
If Illinois doesn’t intervene, breakdowns and delays will drive even more riders away.
THIS IS PERSONAL—ACT NOW
This crisis threatens millions who count on affordable, reliable transit. Shrinking service, rising fares, and fewer operating hours hit our region’s most vulnerable residents hardest.
Only $1.7 billion in firm funding can prevent lasting harm to transportation choices and family budgets.
Transit agencies are operating with bare minimum budgets, unable to fix problems or invest for the future. The RTA’s confusing communication makes things worse. Civic groups and riders are calling for a comprehensive funding plan, not more confusion.
Springfield cannot wait: $1.7 billion in new support will secure strong, equitable, and affordable transit for all.
Please contact your legislator today and insist on full transit funding—a fair future for Illinois depends on it.
