Illinois transit agencies want to see changes to a law requiring them to collect half of their revenue from transit fares, arguing that low ridership and staffing shortages will lead to a massive budget gap without intervention.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Illinois is calling on state lawmakers to change a law that requires half of the agency’s revenue to come from transit fares, citing continued low ridership after the pandemic, when emergency exemptions kept the agency afloat. Writing in Crain’s Chicago Business, Andrew Adams explains that “Last month, RTA's board approved a strategic plan that includes seeking increased funding overall to the system and developing a new model that is less reliant on fares.”
Members of the state Senate Transportation Committee said they would likely support assisting the RTS and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which it oversees, but expressed interest in addressing “certain reforms and issues, like safety and accessibility, that need to be addressed.”
“Beyond the long-term inequities in access, the CTA has also faced criticism from lawmakers and advocates about increased wait times for services and ‘ghost busses,’ a term to describe when a bus is scheduled to come but never does,” problems the CTA attributes to a worker shortage.
The challenges aren’t unique to the Chicago area. “Transit systems in Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Kankakee and DeKalb have all faced decreased ridership since the pandemic began.” According to Adams, “As of December, the combined number of trips being taken on these systems is down to 69 percent of what it was at the same time in 2019, according to data from the Federal Transit Administration.”
FULL STORY: Chicago transit looks to the state to help make up $730 million budget gap

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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