Chicago RTA: Transit services will be cut without state help

If the Illinois General Assembly doesn't find a funding solution for an estimated $770 million budget shortfall for the Regional Transportation Authority – Chicago’s (RTA) transit system, public transit services may be cut by 40%.

The three agencies the RTA oversees — Metra, Chicago Transit Authority and Pace — need a sustainable funding solution by the end of the state General Assembly’s spring session in May, RTA officials said last week in a press release. The RTA is calling for a $1.5 billion investment in additional state operating funding from the General Assembly. 

The service cuts would leave one in five Chicago workers without a route for their daily commutes, according to RTA. At least four of the eight CTA rail lines would have service suspended on all or part of the lines, and over 50 rail stations would close or have services reduced.

Additionally, the CTA would need to implement service reductions across the remaining rail network.