(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Officials from transit agencies across Illinois say the systems are facing a fiscal cliff in the near future.
Federal emergency relief funding that helped fuel their COVID-19 pandemic recovery are quickly running out.
“Although CTA has been a very prudent steward of those federal dollars, that funding is expected to be depleted in 2026,” said Nora Leerhsen, Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority. “In just two years, the CTA faces a potential operating budget shortfall of nearly $400 million a year.”
Meanwhile, Pace is expected to run out of its COVID relief funding after 2025.
That’s why leaders turned Tuesday to Illinois Senate committees on Public Safety and Infrastructure and Transportation for help.
“We ask that you help us upgrade our operational funding structure, both to fill the existing gap and help us to expand service in the future,” said Melinda Metzger, Executive Director of Pace.
Metzger says without state funding to fill the gap in 2026 and beyond, Pace will be forced to cut services and raise fares; something the Regional Transportation Authority warns is a recipe for disaster.
“All of our research and experience shows us that if you cut service or increase fares, it really becomes a downward spiral and will further reduce the ridership making the financial hole that we're all facing much larger,” said Leanne Redden, Executive Director of the RTA.
Despite the looming financial crisis, Illinois’ transit agencies are reporting one of the strongest ridership recoveries among large U.S. transit agencies.
The CTA says its weekday ridership is at about 60% of pre-pandemic levels, while the RTA, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace, says its average ridership is down about 45% of pre-pandemic levels.
Their biggest challenge is workers who haven’t returned to the office.
“We're at about 50% on average,” said Jim Derwinski, Executive Director of Metra. “Some days we spike to 70%, some days we drop down into the forties. Mondays and Fridays are the depression days. Weekends are almost at 100%, if not higher.”
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