Overview

• The meetings run 5:30–7 p.m. on Sept. 16 at Imani Village, Sept. 18 at Truman College, and Sept. 25 at Malcolm X College.
• CTA says it will release its 2026 budget in October and will use public input gathered at the sessions and online to inform the plan.
• Agencies have been directed to prepare alternative 2026 budgets that either reflect new state funding or significant cuts.
• CTA has modeled service reductions of up to about 40% if lawmakers do not approve a funding package during the October veto session.
• With federal COVID-19 aid winding down and ridership still below pre-pandemic levels, the region faces a deficit in the hundreds of millions, and any cuts or fare changes would require Title VI equity reviews and additional hearings.