Overview

• Expiring federal COVID-19 relief would leave CTA, Metra and Pace with a $770 million deficit in 2026, threatening cuts of up to 40% in service.
• Senate Bill 3438 seeks to replace the Regional Transportation Authority with the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority to unify fare-setting and budget authority.
• Proposed revenue measures include a daily tollway surcharge, an electric vehicle charging fee and extending real estate transfer taxes to suburbs.
• Suburban leaders warn the plan would divert $72 million in DuPage sales tax revenue while granting Chicago and Cook County majority control on the new board.
• Failure to pass a funding plan by 11:59 p.m. Saturday could trigger layoffs of 3,000 transit workers and suspension of service on half of CTA train lines.