Our vision for transit’s future: A stronger RTA empowered to lead a world-class system

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Melissa Meyer, Communications Manager (312-913-3121, [email protected])

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RTA releases "Transforming Transit," a vision for $1.5 billion in additional annual operating funding, which could lower customer wait times by 50 percent, improve public safety, and create the seamless transit system the Chicago region deserves

CHICAGO, January 15, 2025 - Announced with a speech by Chairman Kirk Dillard at the City Club of Chicago today, the Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois (RTA) released "Transforming Transit," a $1.5 billion vision aimed at shaping the future of transit funding and governance ahead of the 2025 legislative session which must resolve transit's historic funding gap.

Like many other transit systems across the country, the Chicago region's system is facing a fiscal cliff beginning in 2026. The $770 million gap represents 20 percent of the regional operating budget. The Illinois legislature must put forth a sustainable funding solution by the end of its spring session this May to avoid service cuts and fare increases at catastrophic and unprecedented levels. The agency, along with CTA, Metra, Pace, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and advocacy organizations, are advocating for $1.5 billion in new annual operating funding from state and local sources to not only fill the budget gap but double down on service in ways that will increase ridership, stimulate the economy, and mitigate climate change. "Transforming Transit" lays out what improvements to the system could be possible with this level of sustainable operations funding coupled with governance reforms aimed at improving rider experience regionwide.

"Our regional transit system has been drastically underfunded for decades; while systems in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia get up to 50 percent of their funding from their state governments, state funding here makes up about 17 percent," said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. "We know our riders deserve world-class service. To provide it, we need to secure sustainable funding. And this document describes exactly what our riders and our region could get out of this level of investment."

Up to 50 percent reduction in wait times

With $1.5 billion in additional operating funding from state and local sources and continued capital investment, service investments would include more frequency on existing routes, route extensions, more routes offering weekend and off-peak service, or new routes. Adequate funding would allow a strengthened RTA to oversee region-wide service standards that cut customer wait times for transit by as much as 50 percent. Examples of potential rider impacts include:

• City rail wait time of 3-6 minutes: The 'L' could operate every 5-10 minutes all day, every day. This predictability means more convenient service midday, evenings, and overnight throughout the week.
• City rapid bus wait time of 4-8 minutes: City rapid bus service could run every 10 minutes or less all day, every day on at least 40 routes. This means faster bus service on these corridors for all trip types, not just during rush hour.
• City local bus wait time of 6-12 minutes: Local buses on less busy corridors could run every 15 minutes or less, serving as feeder routes to rapid bus and rail stations. This level of frequency connects riders to the regional network with a single transfer.
• Regional rapid bus wait time of 7-15 minutes: Regional rapid bus service routes could run every 15-30 minutes seven days per week. This can connect riders to employment centers and other destinations with faster service, especially where rail service is not available.
• Regional rail wait time of 15-30 minutes: As commuter rail services transition to a regional rail service structure, it could lead to an increase of frequency on select lines to 30-60 minutes all day every day-not just during rush hour. This means reducing midday gaps in service and increasing evening and weekend service.
• Regional local bus wait time of 20-30 minutes: Regional local bus service could run every 45-60 minutes seven days per week. This means better service on weekends, midday, and evenings and better connections to rail lines.

More frequent, reliable and expanded service will be transformative for transit users, saving time and money while opening new possibilities on travel and connection across the region.

Historic restructuring of the region's transit governance

The RTA is proposing 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.

While seeking new funds, the RTA is working with CTA, Metra and Pace to increase efficiencies and achieve cost savings. RTA is proposing that any new operating funding beyond filling the budget gap can only be used for operations to improve and expand service-not to fund administrative or management positions.

A stronger RTA would play a key role in saving costs through consolidating similar functions. The RTA estimates overhead efficiencies of $50 million a year. Additionally, a fare increase of 10 percent would generate $50 million, bringing the agency and rider contribution to partly addressing the cliff to $100 million.

A fully integrated and accountable regional transit system

Rather than distributing key responsibilities across organizations as is done today, the RTA's proposed reforms would result in one agency-the RTA-being accountable to riders and legislators on the most important systemwide issues: fares, service quality and capital investment. State law currently does not empower the RTA to engage proactively in these interrelated areas and doesn't grant the agency the authority to institute changes and improvements throughout the year.

"Transforming Transit" envisions these reforms resulting in a regional fare policy established by the RTA, regional service standards and enforcement mechanisms, and capital project prioritization based on RTA evaluation and level of need.

Integrated fares and customer service

To transform the customer experience, a strengthened RTA would serve as the rider hub for fares and customer service, combining many free and reduced fare programs into one and creating the potential to launch additional enhancements, such as a single, unified regional app to ensure access to simple, easy-to-understand fares and discount programs for all riders. Additionally, future investments in rider information solutions can be centrally located at the RTA. For example, this could take the form of:

• Better digital signage at transit stations and stops, with arrival information from all relevant operators

Fast, reliable service guaranteed by a single accountable public agency

To realize the vision of transforming the regional transit system, a strengthened RTA with the additional $1.5 billion in annual funding would set minimum performance standards for efficient, reliable and safe transit services in different parts of the region. These standards would include required levels of coverage, hours and frequency by mode and geography, and funding would be allocated in part by operators' ability to deliver service that meets standards. For example, this could look like:

• RTA engaging third-party operators to fill service gaps including providing vouchers to riders for first and last mile gaps or cancelled service

Capital project prioritization

To fully leverage a transformational investment in transit service, a strengthened RTA would evaluate all major capital projects on key metrics including impact on accessibility, job access, equity and climate as part of project selection and inclusion in the five-year capital program. For example, this could mean:

• RTA leading planning for projects that cross operators and geographic boundaries, achieving a level of coordination and advocacy that would win scarce federal grant dollars

Transforming transit

The vision set forth in "Transforming Transit" is only possible with $1.5 billion annually from state and local sources. If provided the funding to do so, the RTA is prepared to lead, delivering the system riders deserve.

"A Chicago where public transit isn't just an option, but the obvious choice for travel, is within our reach," said RTA Board Chair Kirk Dillard. "Frequency unlocks freedom; the freedom to step outside and trust that a bus or train will be there. It's the kind of freedom that transforms a city, connects a region, and opens doors to opportunity for everyone."

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