With state legislators missing a key deadline at the end of the spring session, the future of Chicago-area transit agencies remains uncertain — leaving CTA riders worried about losing their primary means of transportation.
Uptown resident Gina McKinney depends on CTA buses to commute to her job downtown, and any route cuts could hurt her pocketbook.
“I rely on the bus, and it’s my preferred method of transportation because I think it’s the safer option,” said McKinney, 36. “If my route is cut then I would probably have to Uber, and that would be much more expensive. Instead of cutting the buses, they need to be more available and more consistent.”
Without the approval of the $770 million needed to cover transit agencies’ budget holes when federal pandemic aid runs out, CTA, Metra and Pace officials said Monday they would soon begin planning cuts in their 2026 budgets. The agencies did not say when those cuts would take effect.
Though it wasn’t clear which routes would be on the chopping block, the CTA previously said it may have to cut half its bus lines. Four of eight CTA rail lines would see service suspended on all or portions of the lines. And more than 50 stations would close or see service significantly scaled back.
“I think our legislators could do a much better job of funding public transit,” said Scott Lark, 60. “You’re never going to please everybody when it comes to public transit, but other cities, even large cities, seem to do a much better job.”
Lark, who lives in the South Loop, said he relies on the bus to commute to work in the West Loop on weekdays and to run errands on weekends.
“I have no idea how this will affect me, but I know it will. It’ll affect everyone,” he said.
River North resident Lisa Zimmer takes the bus regularly and said the CTA has lacked consistent service since the COVID-19 pandemic. She says further cuts would only leave service worse off.
“It just feels like sort of one more blow to an already downward slide,” said Zimmer, 47. “I used to think the CTA was the best public transit, but I feel like it’s suffered a lot since the pandemic and hasn’t really bounced back properly.”
Commuters wait for the 156 La Salle CTA bus at the Union Station Transit Center in the West Loop on Monday afternoon. CTA officials are planning cuts to routes and service in the event that state lawmakers are unable to close a funding gap as pandemic-era funding is ending.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Zimmer doesn’t own a car and said that if her bus routes are cut, she’ll have to rely on ride-hailing apps or taxis to get around the city.
Lawmakers may return to Springfield for a special session over the summer to consider the current bill, which already passed the state Senate, or to negotiate a new proposal. They also have the option of taking it up during the fall veto session.
But any vote now poses a higher hurdle for lawmakers’ approval. With the spring session over, bills now require 60% approval instead of a simple majority.
