Contact Contact

How to join the RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace in moving the region’s transit system Forward for All

April 12, 2022

RTA Rides On v6 Combined Page 06

On April 3, the RTA launched the “Forward for All” campaign to show that transit is essential to the recovery and ongoing vibrancy of the Chicago region. In the face of COVID-19’s impact on transit ridership, this initial phase of “Forward for All” aims to strengthen trust and pride in the region’s transit system by building awareness of the economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits of public transportation.



Advocacy is an important factor in building and maintaining a transit system like the Chicago region’s, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact when and how people ride. Throughout the pandemic, transit has seen historic and sustained reductions in ridership, forcing agencies the world over to rethink their systems to meet riders’ changing needs. But some things have remained constant and true: transit impacts the economy, the environment, and quality of life in ways and at a scale nothing else can.

On the economic development front, an estimated 85% of regional commercial construction in 2017 was built within one-half mile of a transit station. Indeed, 60% of all new jobs added to our regional economy between 2005 and 2015 were located along high-quality public transit (Invest in Transit, 2018).

Transit is one of our greatest tools in the fight against climate change. Exhaust from cars, trucks, and planes is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions—the largest contributing factor to climate change (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Public transportation offers our region the greatest opportunity to reduce carbon emissions: bus emissions per passenger mile are 33 percent lower than cars, and passenger trains are 76 percent lower (Transit Means Business, 2018). Public transportation’s overall effects save the U.S. 6 billion gallons of gasoline a year (American Public Transportation Association).

Finally, on contributing to affordability, the average American household spends 16 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 93% of that goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing (American Public Transportation Association). Cars are prohibitively expensive for so many. Transit offers the most affordable and safest way to move around our region, connecting people to opportunity.

Reminding ourselves, our peers, and our elected officials of the importance of public transportation is the first step in moving the region’s transit system Forward for All. Join the RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace in advocating for transit by learning more at www.RTAChicago.org/ForwardForAll and sharing your favorite transit fact on social media using this toolkit.

Future phases of “Forward for All” will address challenges to the system and build support for comprehensive solutions stemming from the Regional Transit Strategic Plan currently in development by the RTA, CTA, Pace, and Metra and slated for adoption in early 2023.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Type your email address here
What emails would you like to receive from the RTA
Tagged in: Climate Change | COVID-19 | CTA | Equity | Metra | Pace | RTA | Sustainability

Related Articles

22 RTA 1142 Transit Riders Speak: Hear what thousands of residents are telling lawmakers when asking them to Save Transit Now

Over the past month, more than 12,000 letters have been sent to Illinois legislators through the Save Transit Now campaign, urging them to act before the spr...

May 22, 2025
221107 RTA 1611 RTA rider survey shows strong support for increased funding and an empowered RTA

Since 2021, the RTA has been conducting a quarterly panel survey to better understand transit rider experience and gather input from transit users across the...

May 20, 2025
22 RTA 0974 Public Comment Open Through June 13 on Proposed Updates to RTA’s Performance-Based Capital Allocation Process

As part of our commitment to transparent capital planning, the RTA is seeking public input on proposed updates to the performance-based capital allocation pr...

May 20, 2025
22 RTA 1417 RTA Releases 2025 Report Showing Gains in Transit Capital Funding—But Significant New Investment Still Needed

One-quarter of regional transit infrastructure exceeds its useful life, long-term investment is needed to bring our transit assets to a state of good repair ...

May 20, 2025
22 RTA 0395 What RTA can learn from peers transitioning to a zero-emission transit system

Transit is the Answer commits the RTA to accelerating the transition to a zero-emission regional transit system and prioritizing communities burdened by poor...

April 22, 2025
Metra blog 4 Metra Electric station upgrades complete with more underway, prioritizing ADA accessibility

As part of Metra’s commitment to Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs, the agency is investing more than $800 million over the next decade to upgrade numer...

March 13, 2025
RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
Copyright © 2025 Regional Transportation Authority. All Rights Reserved.