Local leaders support sustainable transit funding, raise concerns about consolidation

As conversations on transit funding and reform continue in Springfield ahead of the fiscal cliff, local elected officials across the region have raised their voices on the need to fully fund transit operations and preserve regional, consensus-based decision making in transit governance.

Four regional councils of government—the Northwest Municipal Conference, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, McHenry County Council of Governments, and the Barrington Area Council of Governments—have passed resolutions that call on the legislature to enable sustainable funding for transit operations and pursue reforms that increase efficiency, accountability, and coordination. The resolutions express opposition to full consolidation as proposed in the Metropolitan Mobility Act, raising concerns about the costs and complexity of a consolidation process that could delay progress on needed service improvements.

Importantly, nearly all the resolutions also call on the legislature to pair any reforms with the funding needed to enhance service. This funding, as directly put in many of the resolutions, should include a mix of durable sources that will grow over time and do not place an undue burden on individual riders or taxpayers.

These initial perspectives and vocal support for sustainable transit funding and regional decision making led to broader coordination and agreement amongst the regional councils of government on a set of guiding principles that support these goals. Ultimately, eight regional councils of government—representing more than 200 municipalities, townships, park districts, colleges, and millions of transit riders—support these principles, providing a unified voice that calls on lawmakers to invest in transit’s current and future needs in both urban and suburban communities.

In Springfield, lawmakers are considering a variety of legislative proposals, ranging from full consolidation to enhancing the region’s current structure by enabling strategic reforms. The RTA is advocating for a plan that invests an additional $1.5 billion annually in transit operations supported by a stronger RTA to improve frequency and accountability. Whichever option lawmakers choose to advance, a decision on funding is needed before the 2025 spring legislative session adjourns in May to avoid severe service cuts in 2026.

Municipal leaders agree that transit is essential and finding a funding solution is critical. “The (DuPage Mayors and Managers) Conference supports all efforts to strengthen the region's transit system and understands that transit is crucial to addressing the region's goals of improving mobility, increasing economic development and competitiveness, combating climate change, and building a more equitable region.”

Municipal leaders overwhelmingly support regional governing with local voices

Over the past year these municipal resolutions have called on the Illinois General Assembly to preserve local input and decision making on the boards of RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace in any transit reform package, including the consensus-building supermajority voting requirement used by the RTA Board of Directors. This rule, which requires 12 of 16 members to agree on any major decisions, ensures that all parts of the RTA service area agree on important items like the annual budget, two-year financial plan, five-year capital program, and the agency’s strategic plan.

Currently, the Chicago region’s transit system is governed by four boards of directors—one for the RTA and each of the three Service Boards. The RTA Board of Directors consists of 16 members—five appointed by the Mayor of Chicago, five appointed by the Cook County Board, and one from each of the collar counties, all who elect a 16^th member as chair.

The CTA is governed by a seven-member board with four appointees from the mayor and three from the governor. Metra, an 11-member board, has five appointees from the Cook County Board, one from the Mayor of Chicago, and five from each of the collar counties. Pace is governed by a 13-member board, all of whom are required to be current or former mayors, with one appointee from the Mayor of Chicago, six appointees from the Cook County Board, five from each of the collar counties, and a chair elected jointly by each of the appointing authorities.

This structure seeks to ensure that the needs of riders in different parts of the region are represented in board decisions on key rider priorities, including service. Riders in urban, suburban, and rural parts of the region rely on transit in different ways, and the CTA, Metra, and Pace each operate different kinds of service. Having a governing body for each of the Service Boards allows the region’s transit providers to better hear the needs of their riders and adapt service accordingly.

“(Northwest Municipal Conference) is deeply concerned that this proposed consolidation could diminish transit services in suburban areas and reduce the input of suburban leaders in the transit decision-making process while also increasing costs for suburban taxpayers,” according to their resolution. “The NWMC opposes consolidation of the RTA and the three service agencies - CTA, Metra, and Pace—each with their own debt, liability burdens, contractual, labor and other legal obligations as proposed under the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act as this will shift the burden and obfuscate the operational and budget issues of each transit service rather than allowing those issues to be addressed and remedied in order to meet the region's evolving needs.”

Strategically reforming existing governance will realize rider-focused goals

The RTA is proposing a historic restructuring of the region’s transit governance to maximize the impact of new operating funding and ensure all riders experience an improved, reliable, efficient, integrated transit network. Outlined in Transforming Transit, the RTA’s vision for the regional transit system with $1.5 billion in annual operating funding, strategic reforms in three key areas will realize these goals.

The first reform is empowering the RTA to set service standards across the region. Coupled with the funding needed to grow the transit workforce, 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 second reform would transform the customer experience with a strengthened RTA serving as the rider hub for fares and customer service. This would include launching a single, unified regional app and rider hub to ensure access to simple, easy-to-understand fares and discount programs for all riders. With additional funding, RTA can consolidate special fare programs and take the lead on implementing an income-based regionwide reduced fare program.

The third strategic reform is for the RTA to lead the capital project prioritization process for all transit projects in the region. The RTA is well positioned to assume regional capital responsibilities, setting the vision and taking the lead on key federal and state grant applications to maximize benefits for the region. As these discretionary grants become increasingly competitive, a coordinated approach is needed to secure the most for our region.

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 May 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.