Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson says he's pushing state lawmakers to fully fund the region's public transit, as those agencies face a fiscal cliff.
That cliff may not be as drastic as first thought, but RTA leaders say it's still substantial: $202 million dollars for 2026, and nearly $800 million for 2027.
Mayor Johnson told reporters after an appearance in Lakeview Friday afternoon that the Chicago area is the economic engine that drives the state, and it's important to make sure that workers have reliable transit to their jobs.
"I've had very explicit conversations with the General Assembly as well as the governor to ensure that we are fully funding our transportation system."
The mayor also said it's important to boost the CTA's efforts to improve service and ridership after a dropoff during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Just last year, we had an 11% increase in riders," said the mayor. "300 million people took advantage of our public transportation system."
And he says more support will keep that trend going in the right direction.
The Legislature's fall veto session is set to begin October 14.