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22 RTA 1156 2026 regional transit budget available for public comment, lays out future with new sustainable funding

The RTA has released the Proposed 2026 Regional Transit Operating Budget and Five-Year Capital Program for download and public comment. The budget comes on t...

November 17, 2025
Downtown Illinois legislators pass landmark transit funding and reform bill, averting fiscal cliff. What does it mean for riders?

A new era has begun for transit in the Chicago region. In the early morning hours of October 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB 2111, a landmark tra...

November 10, 2025
22 RTA 0922 Save Transit Now stories: Hear from residents urging lawmakers to fund the regional transit system

This year, more than 20,000 letters have been sent to Illinois legislators through RTA’s Save Transit Now campaign, urging them to pass sustainable transit f...

October 22, 2025
Image 22 RTA0717min How are transit operations funded in Chicago vs. peer regions?

As Illinois legislators continue to discuss and consider ways to address the Chicago region’s looming transit fiscal cliff, there’s value in reviewing how tr...

October 13, 2025
22 RTASAMPLES 037 Illinois transit farebox recovery ratio requirement is uniquely high and harms riders

Since the release of the Transit is the Answer strategic plan in 2023, RTA has consistently advocated for lasting change to Illinois’ 50% farebox recovery ra...

October 9, 2025
22 RTA 0827 How to achieve greater regional authority in Chicago area transit

As the fiscal cliff approaches and legislative discussions about funding and reform continue, one thing many agree on is the need for the regional authority ...

October 9, 2025
Graphic that says "Transportation Tuesday, attend a four-part webinar series #TransportationTuesday" Transportation Tuesday Recap – What’s next for the transit fiscal cliff: A conversation between Chicago and Philadelphia

Beginning in 2026, the RTA system is facing a fiscal cliff, growing to 20% of the operating budget in 2027 and 2028. On May 31, the Illinois General Assembly...

October 3, 2025
22 RTA 0827 Addressing Chicago’s transit fiscal cliff should not be a city vs. suburbs issue

With the Chicago area’s transit fiscal cliff approaching, there is often public and media conversation framing the issue as a fight between the city and the ...

September 30, 2025
22 RTA 1142 How service standards could ensure all communities benefit from the transit system

Earlier this year the RTA released Transforming Transit, the agency’s vision for a world-class regional transit system with $1.5 billion in annual operating ...

September 23, 2025
221107 RTA 1573 Coalition members provide feedback on funding, reform as fiscal cliff nears

More than 200 riders, advocates, and other stakeholders met virtually with the RTA on August 13 for the eighth quarterly Transit is the Answer Coalition meet...

August 19, 2025
22 RTA 0647 RTA legislative proposal can deliver faster, more frequent, safer, reliable transit service

With the Chicago area’s transit system facing a $771 million fiscal cliff starting in 2026, RTA released our Transforming Transit vision for sustainable fund...

May 8, 2025
RTA Summit 2025 resized Riders and regional officials call for sustainable funding and reform to improve service at RTA’s Transforming Transit Summit

Chicago's transit system is facing a fiscal cliff in 2026 that will mean drastic service cuts across CTA, Metra, and Pace. The RTA is advocating for addition...

April 24, 2025
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