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RTA Chicago

@rtachicago.bsky.social

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The Regional Transportation Authority is the unit of local government charged with regional financial & budgetary oversight for CTA, Metra, and Pace.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

This morning the RTA met with agency leaders at CTA, Metra, and Pace to discuss the approaching fiscal cliff, budget gap numbers for the next few years, and the ongoing need for transit funding and reform. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

Long thread below! 🧵👇

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 1d

📢 Help us improve transit and human service transportation in the Chicago region!

The RTA is collecting feedback to understand the unmet transportation needs faced by you and your family. Take the short survey now: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MobilityRTA

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 1d

Thousands of riders signed letters urging Illinois legislators to find a transit funding solution before it is too late.

Like Karl, you can join the fight to help us win funding and reform to build a better system for everyone who relies on it. Visit
SaveTransitNow.org.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 2d

Over 10,000 riders have already urged legislators to find a transit funding solution to prevent service reductions. The message is clear: Chicagoland deserves safe, reliable, frequent service. Add your voice at SaveTransitNow.org. 📲🚌

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 3d

🔔 Wondering why our regional transit fiscal cliff number has changed and where we stand just one week ahead of veto session? 👇 Read our fact sheet for projections on 2026 and 2027 now: www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 3d

Last week, for the final Transportation Tuesday webinar of the year, @lreddenrta.bsky.social was joined by @septaphilly.bsky.social for a conversation on how Philadelphia and Chicago are each facing their looming fiscal cliffs. 💻

Read the recap: www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/10...

Regional Transportation Authority | Transportation Tuesday Recap – What’s next for the transit fiscal cliff: A conversation between Chicago and…

For the final Transportation Tuesday webinar of the year, RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden was joined by Jody Holton, AICP, Chief Planning and…

www.rtachicago.org

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 5d

There is often public and media conversation framing Chicagoland’s transit fiscal cliff as a fight between the city and the suburbs. CTA, Metra, and Pace have different needs, but a thriving system requires sustainable funding for all three agencies.
www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 5d

Imagine one app to plan your trip, pay your fare, and transfer across CTA, Metra, and Pace. Seamless travel for all Chicagoland riders is possible if the General Assembly passes a sustainable transit solution. Sign a letter to your legislator at SaveTransitNow.org 📲

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

Our sincere hope is that Springfield acts on reform and funding as soon as possible. Tell legislators our region and our riders deserve a transit system that is not constantly under threat of being cut by sending a letter at www.savetransitnow.org.

Regional Transportation Authority | Save Transit Now

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…

www.savetransitnow.org

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

Following the end of the legislative session we analyzed the bill that did passed the Senate and held another coalition meeting to discuss it with the public, continuing to value transparency throughout the process. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

Regional Transportation Authority | 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…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

The RTA’s legislative proposal included several programs that were also included in legislation that passed the Senate but was not voted on by the House in May, such as a transit ambassador program. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/03...

Regional Transportation Authority | What Chicago can learn from transit ambassador programs around the country

Earlier this year, the RTA released Transforming Transit , a vision for the regional transit system with $1.5 billion in annual operating funding…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

We also didn’t come up with these reforms alone. RTA worked with riders, advocates, organized labor, local officials, and state lawmakers to draft a legislative proposal to deliver an efficient, accountable, affordable, and integrated transit network. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/05...

Regional Transportation Authority | RTA legislative proposal can deliver faster, more frequent, safer, reliable transit service

Transit riders overwhelmingly support increased transit funding to deliver their priorities around frequent, fast, and reliable service, according to…

www.rtachicago.org

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

Funding crises and reform debates have swirled around Chicago’s transit system for decades. To understand today’s challenges, and ensure these reforms do the most for riders, we looked back nearly 50 years to inform our proposal. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/04...

Regional Transportation Authority | History of transit reform in the Chicago region

The current conversations on transit reform and funding are also not new, but a continuation of a larger regional conversation that has evolved over the…

www.rtachicago.org

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

Our reform proposal includes more seamless fares, improved customer service and transit service standards to ensure riders have access to fast, reliable service guaranteed by a single accountable public agency. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/02...

Regional Transportation Authority | RTA proposes reforms to integrate fares, require accountability for faster and more reliable transit

These reforms include integrating fares and customer service and setting transit service standards to ensure riders have access to fast, reliable service…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

This moment is one of crisis but also could be one of transformative investment in transit. Investing in the system beyond filling the gap could bring the world-class system our region deserves. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/01....

Regional Transportation Authority | RTA is seeking $1.5 billion in annual operating funding. What would that mean for your commute?

Adequate funding would allow a strengthened RTA to oversee region-wide minimum service standards that cut customer wait times for transit by as much as…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

This year, the RTA proposed 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. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/01...

Regional Transportation Authority | RTA proposes reforms to increase efficiency, transparency, and accountability across transit system

On January 15, RTA released Transforming Transit , the agency’s vision for a world-class regional transit system with $1.5 billion in annual operating…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

We have held coalition meetings and summits to discuss our reform proposals with hundreds of people, hear your concerns and add your ideas to our work. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/04...

Regional Transportation Authority | Riders and regional officials call for sustainable funding and reform to improve service at RTA’s Transforming Transit…

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…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

The RTA has long called for transit governance reform as well as funding. Chairman Kirk Dillard presented the agency’s proposal, Transforming Transit, in January based on the priorities we heard from riders, and the RTA has been advocating for it all year. www.rtachicago.org/region/trans...

Regional Transportation Authority | Transforming Transit: Our Vision for Chicago's Future

Leading up to the 2025 legislative session, RTA unveiled our bold, rider-focused vision for the future of transit, which details how an empowered RTA,…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

This is no excuse for Springfield not to act. Waiting means more chaos, and taxpayer dollars wasted as we delay needed work, layoff qualified employees, and continue to run a system that is not funded to provide the service riders want, need, and deserve. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/05...

Regional Transportation Authority | Transit Riders Speak: Hear what thousands of residents are telling lawmakers when asking them to Save Transit Now

These are just a few of the powerful messages submitted by people across the Chicago region: Transit is essential to daily life “I'm a constituent and I'm…

www.rtachicago.org

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

CTA, Metra, Pace, and the RTA have acted early and acted together — with transparency and accountability. We have been vocal about this funding gap for years and worked to delay the impacts for as long as possible, while also advocating for reform the system needs.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

In 2027, all federal relief funds will have been spent, and we will have a full-scale crisis. The region will experience rolling cuts, more transit operators will be laid off, and riders will suffer with less frequent and reliable service.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

Beginning in 2026, the CTA will run out of funding and be forced to cut service. Layoff notices to transit operators whose routes are affected by cuts will go out in the second quarter of 2026 with cuts starting in the third quarter of 2026.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

The cost saving actions along with the higher-than-expected revenue will delay cuts slightly but will not provide the transit agencies with the resources needed to deliver what riders want -- more frequent and more reliable service.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

At this early stage of the budget process, we can project an estimated budget gap of approximately $200 million for 2026 that will balloon back to the full cliff of about $790 million in 2027 and will grow each year.

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

If lawmakers continue to delay action on funding and reform, riders will begin to feel the pain through service cuts and fare increases in 2026, with worsening impacts when the full cliff hits in 2027. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

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RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 8d

We have also benefited from increased operating revenue from the RTA sales tax due to a change in state law related to online sales. These actions will buy lawmakers a little more time, but the funding gap still looms.

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