Current funding structures, which are over reliant on rider fares, will not be sufficient to keep transit running at current levels when federal COVID-19 relief dollars run out. Chicago’s regional transit system is facing a projected operating shortfall of more than $730 million annually—or nearly 20% of the regional operating budget—starting in 2026 because of historic underfunding and lower fare revenues from changing post-pandemic travel patterns. The RTA, Service Boards, and advocates have been ringing the alarm bell about the fiscal cliff for years, and work toward a sustainable funding solution continues.

With more resources and a funding structure less reliant on fares, the Service Boards could focus on enhancing service and providing transit coverage across the region which broadens access to areas that have been historically underserved. This would also allow the region to innovate with different fare levels and models, such as seamless transfers or free or reduced rides for residents experiencing low incomes.

During and after the pandemic, many public agencies, including the RTA, had to reimagine how and to what degree they engaged the public in decision-making.

This has led to several changes in the way that RTA has involved stakeholders, including intentionally inviting a broader and more diverse group of voices to participate in projects and making compensation available to people who do; expanding our communications channels and following to ensure that our work is shared as broadly as possible; and increasing staffing and resources in governmental and external affairs.

Encouraging transit-friendly policies and investment in walking and biking infrastructure for the more than 200 communities within the RTA region will help improve transportation for all.

The RTA’s Community Planning and Access to Transit programs have helped local governments plan for multi-modal, pedestrian friendly, sustainable communities near transit stations and along transit corridors and complete capital projects that make transit more accessible by foot and bike. Even with these programs, there is still work to be done across the region in continuing to maximize the value of transit and to making sure that there is equitable access to affordable housing near transit.

The RTA is committed to cultivating relationships between riders and transit agencies with two-way engagement that empowers communities’ role in transit decision making.

Capital needs for Chicago's transit system, the money required to maintain and invest in new infrastructure such as vehicles and stations, are significant. While recent federal infrastructure investments are critical to meeting the capital needs of the region, additional sustainable funding is needed to address decades of underinvestment and respond to changing post-COVID rider needs. Historically, roadway agencies have received significantly more money for transportation projects than transit agencies, but the economic, equity, and climate benefits of transit suggest that a change should occur to how funding is allocated.

The Service Boards demonstrate, on an annual basis, the great need for additional capital infusions. The region’s 2023 capital program identifies 76 Priority Projects for the next 10 years with a total cost of $36.6 billion. The 2023–2027 5-year capital program only funds 15.6% of this total 10-year need, with only nine of the projects fully funded. Important projects to maintain and transform the regional transportation system are delayed as the Service Boards work to put funding strategies together to advance key projects like the Red and Purple Modernization project, Red Line Extension, Metra bridge replacement, and CTA and Pace bus electrification efforts.

Dedicated space on roads for Pace and CTA buses is critical to improving speed and reliability. It will take a coalition to inspire the political will within the highway and road agencies to build more transit-friendly streets and bus rapid transit (BRT) in the Chicago region. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, both CTA and Pace bus modes retained more riders than rail modes in our region. Buses often carry people more reliant upon transit and play a critical role in connecting neighborhoods in areas lacking access to the rail network. Furthermore, transit-friendly streets not only move buses more quickly, but they can strengthen and safen all modes and contribute to the development of streets suitable for all users.

In recent years bus speed, reliability, and ridership have declined with growing congestion on local streets and competition with ride-hailing services. Transit-friendly streets can help free buses from congestion and give buses well-deserved priority over single-occupancy vehicles. With more resources, RTA, the Service Boards, and roadway agencies could build more widespread Transit Signal Priority and BRT corridors. In addition, more cultural and political support is needed to meaningfully expand BRT in the Chicago region.

All riders and operators deserve to feel safe on transit. That’s why the RTA is working with partners to increase collaboration and launch new programs to make the transit system safer and more welcoming.

The RTA safety and security summit in February 2024 convened elected officials, social workers, law enforcement, transit advocates, riders, and agency staff to explore holistic solutions to transit’s safety issues.

A new Transit Station Activation pilot launched under the RTA’s Community Planning program in spring 2024, providing funding to activate transit stations and stops to make them feel more safe and welcoming. The pilot funded eight activations throughout the region including markets, live music, yoga classes, and more. Additional funding can achieve further progress on this item. Upgrades such as improved lighting and cleanliness, as well as increased staff presence, service levels, and ridership, all contribute to a safer system.

All buses and trains in our region’s transit system are already ADA accessible, but there is still work to be done to our stations and infrastructure around transit.

CTA and Metra are making progress toward fully accessible stations; CTA released an updated All Stations Accessibility Plan in July 2024, and Metra’s My Metra, Our Future plan prioritizes station rehabilitation projects including ADA accessibility upgrades. The RTA’s Access to Transit program continues to fund infrastructure projects throughout the region that improve connections to transit stations for people walking or cycling. And the agency’s Local Planning team is creating a Transit-Friendly Communities Guide with useful tools and standards to make development and land-use decisions that improve transit access and ensure safe travel.

The RTA also streamlined its ADA Paratransit application process by making changes through customer feedback. Pace’s Transit App integrates on-demand scheduling, and certified ADA passengers can ride free on any Pace fixed route.

Additional funding can achieve further progress on this item. The regional transit system’s capital needs are great, and it is estimated to cost the CTA $4.9 billion to make all stations accessible.

Transit riders should have clear, accurate information about when and where their bus or train will arrive. The RTA and Service Boards are listening to public feedback and making continuous improvements.

The RTA has continued to install more interagency signage and has partnered on a committee to perform an accessibility audit throughout the system. The result will be improved in-vehicle and at-station transfer announcements and real-time messaging. CTA is upgrading their bus tracker interface and on-board displays on buses, as well as piloting a ChatBot feature to answer rider questions and provide the ability to report issues. Metra launched a new train tracker in January 2023, allowing riders to see where their train is in the system in real time, and has begun to install new digital signs showing train arrival times at stations. And Pace has partnered with the Transit App to create a one-stop shop for digital travel information.

With more funding, the agencies could update their central operating software and hardware on vehicles more frequently, which would make location reporting more robust and accurate. Additional digital signage could also be installed and improvements to the Ventra app could be made. Additional technical staffing at all agencies would also help advance projects more quickly.

Riding, and paying for, transit across CTA, Metra, and Pace should be easier to navigate. That’s why the RTA is working with partners to increase collaboration, launch new programs, and streamline processes in an effort to improve rider experience.

Programs including the Access Pilot Program, which provides reduced fare Metra rides to residents experiencing low-incomes, and the distribution of $500,000 worth of free card cards to survivors of domestic violence, are making transit more affordable for those who need it most.

Plans are underway for a regional day pass — announced in June 2024 — that will allow riders to purchase one fare card to use on all three systems. Meanwhile other administrative changes, such as ensuring that benefits provided to riders with disabilities will automatically renew are making transit easier for riders across the region.

Additional funding can achieve further progress on this item. An RTA report released in July 2024, “Building a more equitable fare structure for public transit in the Chicago region” recommends that the Illinois legislature more adequately fund free and reduced fare transit programs both to help lessen the budget gap, but also to improve equity and access for riders.

Decreasing the environmental footprint of transit and reducing single occupancy vehicle travel is essential in moving toward a more sustainable network and aiding the climate crisis. The Service Boards are committed to exploring clean technology and transitioning all our fleet by 2040 to become a zero-emission regional transit system.

Metra and Pace have secured electrification funding wins, with Metra receiving nearly $170 million in funding to buy battery-powered zero-emission trainsets and Pace receiving over $30 million to further its goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2040.

With more funding, the agencies could transition their fleets quicker and more thoroughly and make other energy-efficient updates to transit stations and facilities. With resources, the agencies can improve the resiliency of the systems and buffer the effects of climate change.

The RTA and Service Boards are now advancing the regional capital strategy program to better integrate other regional planning processes, respond to legislative mandates, consider input from stakeholders, and combat disinvestment in communities.

Capital programming is a core function of the RTA that ensures that major transit investments are guided by regional goals, budgeted based on available funds, and completed in an efficient manner. After adopting Transit is the Answer, 15 evaluation metrics for capital projects have been adopted to track how these investments will help our transit system work toward major goals including equity.

The Service Boards are advancing several major capital projects with equity at the forefront, including the CTA’s Red Line Extension on the Far South Side, Metra’s $800 million investment in the Metra Electric Line which runs between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and south suburban University Park, and Pace’s prioritization of electrification for communities that face disinvestment and poor air quality.

With more funding, the Service Boards could expand staff resources to improve asset management and evaluation strategies while also continuing to replace and modernize more transit infrastructure across the region.

Transit is a lifeline for many riders, and since the start of COVID-19, when, where, how, and why many residents use transit has changed.

All three Service Boards have working to improve and adapt their service models, including CTA’s Better Streets for Buses framework to improve street infrastructure for public transit, Metra’s Systemwide Network Plan that will provide a roadmap to a regional rail model, and Pace’s ReVision network revitalization plan that will reimagine Pace suburban bus service.

Service changes that have already occurred include CTA’s restoration of 59 bus routes in 2024, bringing the bus system back to 98% of pre-pandemic scheduled service levels; Pace’s expansion of its bus-on-shoulder initiative; the launch of the Pace Pulse Dempster Line bringing frequent service between Evanston and O’Hare Airport; and additional service to Metra’s UP-N, MDW, and BNSF lines, which have helped catapult weekend ridership well past pre-pandemic levels.

There is a major transit funding crisis looming, but with expanded funding, the agencies could provide additional service across the region and continue to develop new service models that meet the changing needs of riders.