Chicagoland Transit Agencies Call for State Funding as Budget Shortfall Looms

Illinois transit agencies want to see changes to a law requiring them to collect half of their revenue from transit fares, arguing that low ridership and staffing shortages will lead to a massive budget gap without intervention.

2 minute read

March 24, 2023, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Chicago elevated train over busy city street surrounded by high-rise buildings

wonderlustpicstravel / Chicago train

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Illinois is calling on state lawmakers to change a law that requires half of the agency’s revenue to come from transit fares, citing continued low ridership after the pandemic, when emergency exemptions kept the agency afloat. Writing in Crain’s Chicago Business, Andrew Adams explains that “Last month, RTA's board approved a strategic plan that includes seeking increased funding overall to the system and developing a new model that is less reliant on fares.”

Members of the state Senate Transportation Committee said they would likely support assisting the RTS and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which it oversees, but expressed interest in addressing “certain reforms and issues, like safety and accessibility, that need to be addressed.”

“Beyond the long-term inequities in access, the CTA has also faced criticism from lawmakers and advocates about increased wait times for services and ‘ghost busses,’ a term to describe when a bus is scheduled to come but never does,” problems the CTA attributes to a worker shortage.

The challenges aren’t unique to the Chicago area. “Transit systems in Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Kankakee and DeKalb have all faced decreased ridership since the pandemic began.” According to Adams, “As of December, the combined number of trips being taken on these systems is down to 69 percent of what it was at the same time in 2019, according to data from the Federal Transit Administration.”

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Crain's Chicago Business

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

View from lakeside with green grass and pink blooming flowers

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?

A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

20 minutes ago - PNAS

Close-up of black parking meter with blurred street in background

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit

The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

1 hour ago - Next City

Multi-Family Housing

Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says

Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.

2 hours ago - Axios Nashville

Project Manager III

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

UDO Transportation Planner

City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.