Regional Transportation Authority Board to vote on plan to delay CTA service cuts

CHICAGO — On Thursday, the Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors is expected to meet to vote on a plan to delay cuts for CTA services.

The meeting comes as Metra, Pace and the CTA face a budget deficit.

RTA officials are planning to pull $74 million from Metra and Pace and hand it over to the CTA in an attempt to delay cuts.

Despite the efforts, all three agencies could see a 40% reduction in services and dozens of employees could be laid off if the deficit is not addressed.

The CTA is currently expected to hit its fiscal cliff first before Metra and Pace.

According to RTA officials, allocating more money to the CTA would push the fiscal cliff back to two or three months, until the middle of 2026.

That delay would provide state lawmakers more time to pass long-term funding for public transit throughout the entire region.

Back in the spring, lawmakers passed a $55.2 billion budget, but it did not include any money for the CTA.

In an effort to address the deficit, three democratic state senators are calling for a special session next week.