Chicago Transit Leaders Oppose Merger Legislation, Pleading for More Funding

Ahead of a multi-million dollar fiscal cliff in 2026, CTA, Metra, and Pace pushed back on a potential merger at the first of several hearings to determine their futures in the wake of decreased ridership.

2 minute read

July 17, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Cameron Lind


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

wonderlustpicstravel / Chicago train

At a recent hearing addressing dwindling funding and the looming end of COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, Nick Blumberg reported for WTTW News on what CTA, Metra, and Pace leaders said their approach would be to fight the $730 million fiscal cliff in their path. They pushed back on a $1.5 billion proposal from lawmakers to merge the three agencies, reasoning that more individual funding and reforms would have a greater positive impact.

All three heads of agencies–Melinda Metzger of Pace, Dorval Carter of CTA, and Jim Derwinski of Metra–acknowledged the cash deficit and proposed more individually directed funding and reforms in lieu of a merger. Blumberg reports that transit leaders said the merger “wouldn’t create the cost savings advocates hope for, would reduce the impact of local input and expertise, and wouldn’t do much to increase service levels.”

Adding to this sentiment, RTA board chair Kirk Dillard told lawmakers that, having been a part of similar debates in recent years, the kinds of reforms that transit agency leaders are proposing have created “one of the nation’s best transit systems.” In support of increased funding for all three agencies, he added that “funding cures most ills.”

In return, government leaders made it clear that there is little room for additional funding without significant changes to make the transit system not only reliable, but “accountable and transparent,” State Sen. and chair of the Senate Transportation Committee Ram Villivalam said in the hearing.

Reforms mentioned by Metzger, Carter, Derwinski, and Dillard that would garner that additional funding include shifting Metra schedules from a commuter rail model to a regional rail model, addressing repair backlogs to keep trains moving safely and smoothly, and a new daily pass that would allow riders to access CTA, Metra, and Pace.

Sen. Villivalum ended the hearing with the conclusion that the merger may move forward or lawmakers may explore other avenues of improving the Chicago area’s public transit system, depending on their consensus. More hearings will take place across the area through October.

Sunday, July 9, 2000 in WTTW

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Two Rivian trucks charging at Rivian branded charging ports.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate

The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

1 hour ago - CALmatters

Metal U.S. Geodetic Survey marker in stone in Arizona.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency

The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

2 hours ago - Wired

Close-up of 10 mph speed limit sign.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law

Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.

3 hours ago - The Urbanist