CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Transit Authority is facing a $770 million budget shortfall, and the newly approved Illinois state budget provides no new funding to prevent possible massive service cuts by 2026. Despite urgent warnings from transit officials and advocates, the $55.2 billion spending plan passed by lawmakers late last week left the regional transportation crisis unresolved.
According to WGN-TV, the state’s 2025–2026 budget fails to address a looming “fiscal cliff” caused by the expiration of pandemic-era federal aid. Without replacement funding, the CTA, Metra, and Pace could be forced to reduce services by up to 40%, impacting millions of daily riders.
Lawmakers Passed Budget—But Skipped Transit Funding…