The Illinois Legislature passed its budget without fully funding the Chicago Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which now faces a significant deficit as federal aid expires. Efforts to secure new sources of funding were largely unsuccessful, resulting in a potential service cut of up to 40 percent and the loss of approximately 3,000 transit jobs. This situation serves as a warning for California, where similar funding challenges loom. Governor J.B. Pritzker's lack of engagement in the crisis has drawn criticism amid increasing political accountability over transit funding decisions.
In Illinois, the legislators that were fighting for transit were desperately trying to find new money to fill RTA's budget chasm. A tax on deliveries, tolls, reallocating other sales takes...all of these fixes were proposed and shot-down.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's lack of effort in negotiations and blame-shifting reflects an astonishing absence of leadership during a critical transit funding crisis that affects millions.
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