CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Transit Authority is facing a $770 million budget shortfall, and the newly approved Illinois state budget provides no new funding to prevent possible massive service cuts by 2026. Despite urgent warnings from transit officials and advocates, the $55.2 billion spending plan passed by lawmakers late last week left the regional transportation crisis unresolved.
According to WGN-TV, the state’s 2025–2026 budget fails to address a looming “fiscal cliff” caused by the expiration of pandemic-era federal aid. Without replacement funding, the CTA, Metra, and Pace could be forced to reduce services by up to 40%, impacting millions of daily riders.
Lawmakers Passed Budget—But Skipped Transit Funding
While the state approved increases for education, pensions, and health care, mass transit received no new operational aid. A bill that would have raised revenue via a $1.50 delivery tax passed the Senate but never got a vote in the House, leaving no plan in place.
“We moved closer to the cliff,” said Joe Schwieterman, DePaul University transportation expert, in an interview with WGN-TV. “There’s no clear solution. It’s a scary time.”
Without legislative action, the RTA estimates layoffs, route eliminations, and rider disruptions will begin as early as next year.
CTA Riders Already Feeling Uncertainty
The potential service loss is especially concerning for students, seniors, and low-income workers who rely on CTA daily.
“I’ll be commuting for school. I’m transferring to Chicago next year, so that makes me nervous,” said college-bound rider Madeline Jackson to WGN.
“Am I going to have a train to get to school?”
Other riders fear that reduced bus and train access will hurt job access and public safety.
RTA Hopes for Special Session or Revenue Fix
The Regional Transportation Authority has issued a statement urging lawmakers to revisit the issue over the summer or in a special session. In the meantime, advocates continue to push for dedicated revenue sources, such as the delivery tax proposal or statewide service fees.
RTA leadership stressed they are “grateful for the support shown by many lawmakers,” but made it clear that unless funding is secured, crippling transit reductions are inevitable.
What’s at Risk?
If the budget gap is not resolved, commuters across the region could see:
- Longer wait times on buses and trains
- Entire route eliminations in some neighborhoods
- Reduced off-peak service
- Major job losses within CTA, Metra, and Pace
Experts warn that this could further damage economic recovery in Chicago, especially for neighborhoods with limited transportation alternatives.
Do you use CTA, Metra, or Pace to get to work or school? What would service cuts mean for your daily routine? Drop a comment below and let us know how the state’s transit decisions affect your life.
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