CHICAGO — Chicago-area transit agencies will begin planning for massive service cuts in the wake of the legislature’s failure to address the region’s funding shortfall — but there could still be a chance to avoid a 40% reduction in service.
Legislators could still pass a bill in a special session or a fall veto session to provide funding for the Regional Transportation Authority and its operating agencies, Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority, and Pace. But, because such legislation would come after the end of the regular session, it would require approval by 60% of lawmakers instead of a simple majority, the Chicago-Sun Times reports.
Streetsblog Chicago, in this article, breaks down the numbers that would be required to pass a bill under that standard, as well as details of funding that were included in a bill that passed the state Senate but was not voted on by the House.
Without the legislation to address the $770 million shortfall, the agencies must begin planning for the 2026 operating year based on already allocated funds. The RTA has already said that before any potential cuts can be finalized, they will have to be assessed through a lengthy process including public hearings. [See “Chicago transit agencies paint dire picture …,” Trains News Wire, March 21, 2025.] Metra told the Sun-Times cuts could come as soon as January, while the CTA could see reductions as early as March.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said during a Sunday press conference that any transit bill needs to address the needs of agencies statewide, not just in the Chicago region. “I think there’s significant work that will need to be done over the summer and through the fall to make sure it gets across the line,” he said. He said he would not support any action requiring an increase in “broad-based” taxes, which he defined as personal and corporate income tax, and sales tax.
