RTA is seeking $1.5 billion in annual operating funding. What would that mean for your commute?

January 28, 2025

On January 15, RTA released Transforming Transit, a vision for the regional transit system with $1.5 billion in annual operating funding supported by a stronger RTA to achieve a world-class transit system. While the impending budget gap is $770 million, independent agencies, including the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (the region’s designated planning agency for transportation) and advocates agree that we need $1.5 billion annually to achieve the system riders deserve. If this funding is provided along with reforms outlined in the report and below, the RTA has committed to spend all funding beyond the amount needed to fill the budget gap on what matters most: more buses, more trains, more service. Not on bureaucracy, but on results. And for the first time, RTA has put forth details on what this investment might mean for riders.

Wait times cut by as much as 50%

With $1.5 billion in additional operating funding, service investments could include more frequency on existing routes, route extensions, more routes offering weekend and off-peak service, or new routes. Adequate funding would allow a strengthened RTA to oversee region-wide minimum service standards that cut customer wait times for transit by as much as 50%.

• City rail wait time of 3-6 minutes: The ‘L’ can operate every 5-10 minutes all day, every day. This predictability means more convenient service midday, evenings, and overnight throughout the week.
• City rapid bus wait time of 4-8 minutes: City rapid bus service will run every 10 minutes or less all day, every day on at least 40 routes. This means faster bus service on these corridors for all trip types, not just during rush hour.
• City local bus wait time of 6-12 minutes: Local buses on less busy corridors will run every 15 minutes or less, serving as feeder routes to rapid bus and rail stations. This level of frequency connects riders to the regional network with a single transfer.
• Regional rapid bus wait time of 7-15 minutes: Regional rapid bus service will run every 15-30 minutes seven days per week. This can connect riders to employment centers and other destinations with faster service, especially where rail service is not available.
• Regional rail wait time of 15-30 minutes: Regional rail service will increase on select lines to 30-60 minutes all day every day—not just during rush hour. This means reducing midday gaps in service and increasing evening and weekend service.
• Regional local bus wait time of 20-30 minutes: Regional local bus service will run every 45-60 minutes seven days per week. This means better service on weekends, midday, and evenings and better connections to rail lines.

A more seamless experience

Transforming Transit also outlines a variety of reforms to how the regional transit system is governed that shift more authority be granted to the RTA to make the system more seamless and integrated. To transform the customer experience, a strengthened RTA would serve as the rider hub for fares and customer service, launching a single, unified regional app and rider hub to ensure access to simple, easy-to-understand fares and discount programs for all riders.

This regional app and rider hub would feature ticket purchasing, systemwide free and reduced fare certification, and ADA paratransit certification. It would mean RTA would manage and set all fare policy, simplifying the process of riding CTA, Metra, and Pace. It would also include expanding the Access pilot program for all riders experiencing low incomes region-wide. And RTA would set uniform customer information design standards and centralize deployment of real-time tracking information for the entire system and integrate how that information is provided to riders at stations and stops.

Service standards guaranteed by one accountable agency

To realize the vision of transforming our system, a strengthened RTA would set minimum performance standards for efficient, reliable, and safe transit services in different parts of the region. These standards would include required levels of coverage, hours, and frequency by mode and geography, and funding would be allocated in part by operators’ ability to deliver service that meets standards.

The way this could look in practice is that CTA, Metra, and Pace would report quarterly to the RTA Board on adherence to the service standards RTA has set. The RTA Board would vote to certify compliance or require changes before granting additional funds. If service standards are not being met, the RTA could use available discretionary funds to pay for new routes or services that fill gaps in the network—for example, providing rideshare vouchers to transit riders whose bus or train runs aren’t frequent enough.

Join the Transit is the Answer Coalition

While Transforming Transit envisions service improvements with sustainable investment, Illinois policy makers must reach a transit funding solution by spring 2025 to avoid service cuts of up to 40%. The RTA is working with policy makers at all levels of government to develop sustainable funding solutions and improve the system for all riders. Join the Transit is the Answer Coalition to help bring about the legislative changes needed to support transit at this pivotal moment.