CTA faces massive cuts as Illinois budget ignores looming $770M shortfall

CHICAGO (WGN) — Lawmakers wrapped up the spring session without allocating any funding for the Chicago Transit Authority, leaving no plan in place to address a looming large fiscal cliff next year.

“We moved closer to the cliff, there was not a favorable outcome in Springfield. And we’re now left quite concerned that we could see these draconian cuts and there’s no clear solution,” Joe Sweeterman said. “It’s a scary time.”

Sweeterman, a transportation professor at DePaul University, spoke Sunday about a $55.2 billion budget approved by a Democratic controlled legislature, which includes millions of dollars in new taxes but no money for the CTA.  

“It was a shock. The so-called cuts are just months away,” Sweeterman said.

Right now, the CTA faces a $770 million budgetary gap in 2026 due to the expiration of COVID-19 federal grant funding and a decline in ridership but it’s still a vital mode of transportation for many.

“I’ll be commuting for school. I’m transferring to Chicago next year, so that makes me nervous. Am I gonna have a train to get to school? Am I gonna have to get there early? Is it safe?” Madeline Jackson said.

If the shortfall isn’t addressed, the CTA, Metra and Pace could see services slashed by an estimated 40% and result in thousands of job cuts.

Michelle Velasco uses the system regularly and says any reduction of services would be devastating.

“I think it helps everyone that comes here. It’ll make it harder for people to get to work or to live,” Velasco said.

One bill to help alleviate the pressure proposed a $1.50 tax on food and parcel deliveries. It passed the Senate but never made it to the House Floor.

“We certainly thought there might be at least a stopgap solution to buy some time. It is discouraging to see this get kicked down the road,” Sweeterman said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Regional Transit Authority told WGN in part:

“We are grateful for the months of work of the General Assembly toward both funding and reform for the region’s transit system. It’s clear that many in both the House and Senate support transit, and our intention is to build on that shared support to identify the funding needed to avoid devastating cuts and disruption for everyone in Northeast Illinois.”

Lawmakers could head back to Springfield in the summer for a special session to address the issue.