Chicago Transit approves $1.57B operating, $5.1B capital budgets

The Chicago Transit Authority’s board approved a $1.57 billion operating budget that preserves existing bus and rail service levels, while continuing the agency’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure and improve the CTA travel experience for customers.

Following a decade without a state capital plan, CTA received a significant funding commitment in 2019 with the passage of the State of Illinois’ Rebuild Illinois capital bill, allowing the board to approve a balanced and responsible spending plan that reflects CTA’s commitment to keeping its services affordable for communities across Chicago. The spending plan will also help ensure that CTA continues to make improvements aimed at providing customers with faster, smoother and safer public transit services.

The board also approved a $5.1 billion, five-year capital budget for 2020-2024, which will allow CTA to continue to build upon more than $8 billion of historic transit investments completed, begun, or announced since 2011. Those projects include rehabilitating rail stations and building new ones, modernizing rail and bus fleets, removing rail slow zones, and adding new technologies — work that improves reliability, reduces commuting times, strengthens safety and security, and improves the overall commuting experience.