In northeast Illinois, the regional transit system now has $30 billion of unmet high-priority projects, and more than a decade has passed since the State of Illinois last funded a capital bill.
Cragin Spring
2 min to read
In northeast Illinois, the regional transit system now has $30 billion of unmet high-priority projects, and more than a decade has passed since the State of Illinois last funded a capital bill.
Cragin Spring
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace, and Amtrak are joining with other mass transit districts across Illinois for a Get on Board Day event on April 25 at Chicago’s Union Station. Part of a month-long awareness campaign starting today, the event will bring transportation agencies and advocates from across the state together to emphasize the need for adequate, consistent, long-term funding of Illinois public transit systems.
The campaign will encourage riders to contact state representatives and senators to urge their support for a capital bill that should specifically address years of chronic underinvestment in public transportation. The effort includes advertisements on billboards, at transit locations and on vehicles, and online. The ads direct riders and residents to GetonBoardIL.org, where they can easily send emails and tweets to the appropriate elected officials.
“Years of inadequate funding have resulted in transit service that is slower, more crowded, and prone to breakdowns, all of which negatively impact riders and our economy,” said Leanne Redden, RTA executive director.
In northeast Illinois, the regional transit system now has $30 billion of unmet high-priority projects, and more than a decade has passed since the State of Illinois last funded a capital bill. The RTA’s Regional Transit Strategic Plan, Invest in Transit, sets clear priorities for public transportation across Chicago and the region, calling for annual investment of $2 to $3 billion over the next decade.
The Illinois campaign is part of National Get on Board Day, sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, which encourages people to support public transportation by showcasing its benefits to communities and the economy. Each weekday in the U.S., 34 million people board public transportation.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
