Coalition
Transit is the answer to many of the region’s challenges but is threatened by lack of sufficient operating and capital funding after years of disinvestment and a global pandemic. Our region’s current transit funding structure is also overly reliant on fares. Together this leaves our transit agencies to face an existential crisis that neither fare hikes nor service cuts can solve while preserving a useful and equitable system.
We need your help to win sustainable funding for transit and build a better system for everyone who relies on it.
Join Our Coalition
If you or your organization would like to sign on to be part of the Transit is the Answer Coalition to support and advocate for transit's future in northeast Illinois, please fill out this form.
Coalition Members
AARP
Access Living
Active Transportation Alliance
Alliance of the Southeast
American Lung Association
Amtrak
Association House Barrington Area Council of Governments
Better Streets Chicago
Chicagoland Chamber
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Commuters Take Action
Cook County Staff
Crossroads Collaborative
CTA
DuPage Mayors and Managers
Elevated Chicago
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago
Equiticity
Hoffman Estates
Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois Environmental Council
Kane County Staff
Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors
McHenry County Council of Mayors
McHenry County Staff
Metra
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
MPC
Village of Mundelein
City of Naperville
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council
Northwest Municipal Conference
Pace
Roseland Chamber of Commerce
Schaumburg
Shared Use Mobility Center
South Suburban Mayors and Managers
Southwest Conference of Mayors
Thresholds
TransitCenter
University of Illinois—Chicago
U.S. Department of Transportation
Coalition Meetings
Transit is the Answer's Agenda for Advocacy and Action lays out a path to position the system for long-term success by seeking new funding, making improvements for riders, and supporting communities working to increase transit access.
We recognize we can’t do this alone. Many of the advocacy and action items in this plan are not under the control of RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace. Leadership from a diverse group of elected officials and community leaders is needed to achieve meaningful change.
Watch the first and second Transit is the Answer Coalition meetings on our YouTube Channel.
More than 100 riders, elected officials, advocates, and other stakeholders met virtually with the RTA on May 9, and again on August 8, 2023 for the first and second quarterly Transit is the Answer Coalition meeting, receiving an update on strategic plan implementation and then taking a deep dive into an implementation project currently underway.
Read more in a recap of the first and second coalition meetings on the RTA Connections blog.
The Transit is the Answer Coalition will next meet in-person on Tuesday, December 5. Learn more and register now through Eventbrite.