The RTA board meeting can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQkMREMptSs
Not enough people are talking about this.
Contact your state representatives. Otherwise, northeast Illinois will lose half of L service, 60% of CTA bus service, 40% of Metra service, and all Pace weekend service. That is unacceptable.
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i’m a rail operator for CTA who only commutes by CTA bus and rail. wtf am i supposed to do if they cut service? how will i get to work? will i even have a job in a year??
If Illinois public transit is still dependent on COVID stimulus that hides the real issues.
This video, and others I’ve watched on the issue, all speak about funding from the state, but I’m curious who else provides funding to these agencies. Do local communities also contribute? Are there any local taxes that provide funding like a sales tax? I haven’t the patience to do the research; can someone provide me with a cheat sheet?
one thing you are wrong about about :
the RTA and CTA are 2 separate government agencies . Although there has been talk for several years to combine the resources of both the RTA and CTA and make them i 1 agency
I remember when I lived in Chicago, this was discussed in 2004 when the CTA advertised the "Endangered Species" campaign on their vehicles given back then, public transit in the region was insufficiently funded. To my knowledge, at that time, I don't think any service cuts came to be, but where I was living at, if there were any service cuts at that time, the area where I lived (Far South Side) was not affected.
I will say if service cuts become a thing, it will definitely hurt the average public transit commuter, especially in certain areas. Taking an Uber/Lyft can HEAVILY add up. Parking, especially in downtown Chicago, costs a grip. And of course, rush hour traffic is disastrous, especially on the Kennedy & the Ike near the Circle Interchange. On top, gas ain't cheap, and you'd have to venture into the suburbs or NW Indiana for cheaper gas prices, and on top, you want to avoid getting gas in the hood.
Also, if service cuts become a thing, the CTA may have to cancel that Red Line Extension project that's been in talks for over a decade. The agency would ALSO have to eliminate the Pink Line altogether.
So IMHO, I think the best theory I could implement is all three transit agencies should merge and become one complete entity to stay afloat. It's likely the only sensible option.
6:18 RTA spelled Aurora, Arora……….
Lmao. Illinois can't pay its vendors. It's tens of billions in debt to them.
Man I grew up in Chicago and I'm a Transit fan and I use Transit on a daily basis especially going to special events during the summer time and I would be heartbroken if the fiscal cliff goes into effect, I would hate for that to happen
Couldnt have come at a worst time now Donald & Elon are running the show
The same is true in San Francisco for the Muni rail and busses. Service is going to be cut. Which will make it difficult for those who live in hilly areas of the city, which of course, is most of San Francisco.
I hate to say this but they need to kill the red line expansion its cost ballooned to 6 billion dollars they only have less than half that money allocated from the federal government idk how much from the state/rta but that money could be used for keeping all the services alive and well. While the rest of the money can be expanding BRT in the areas needed that would of been the red line extension also add metra electric and South Shore stations at 130th. Its the CTAs version of the crosstown expressway boondoggle 5 to 7 billion dollars to build 5 miles of double track and only 4 stations thats 1 billion a mile and 1.25 billion per station??? I would rather see that money go for the whole 3 agencies help them stay a float and change for better rather than some boondoggle that won't see any benefit til they do something about the neighborhoods this line goes thru. Only way you can resolve this is for the time being BRT and moving jobs closer to these neighborhoods and also mixing demographics in these neighborhoods Chicago cannot sustain itself with just segregated neighborhoods anymore.
Transit is a blessing when it is avoiding bad traffic.
6:50 This is a great shot; where is it? I have heard about devastating transit budget cuts many times and funding ALWAYS comes through, sometimes at the last minute. I think that Chicago knows that the city will come to a grinding halt without the current levels of public transit and it will ultimately be funded. These scare tactics probably shouldn't be too alarming to Chicagoans, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this time the funding won't come through. What is the likelihood of this Thom?
Detroit Breakdown! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Motor City Shakedown! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Sorry, but when a state is faced with a dwindling population/tax base, things get cut. Trusting a bunch of politicians that took out a $2 Billion loan is not a good choice.
So sorry about all of you facing what the New York City MTA faced in 2010 with the Doomsday Service cuts during that global recession. Has there been talk of a toll aka congestion pricing around the Downtown Loop for cars?
Currently I live 90 minutes north of NYC in its distant Northern Suburbs of the Hudson River Valley. NYC as most of you are aware started in January 2025, tolling into the Downtown Manhattan CBD 24/7 following London. Barring an overturn US Supreme Court decision, it’s here to stay. The congestion pricing profits of predicted $500 Million plus in the views of the Current NY Governor and the MTA is expected to pay for keeping existing regional rail(LIRR and Metro North)subway and bus services in tact with little or no service cuts. Await your replies in Chicago and beyond. Thanks.
Ps been to Chicago a few times. Enjoyed the EL.
Being totally dependent on transit in Chicago, I hope the ramifications of this not being funded are totally realized and therefore rectified. It’s going to be disastrous to Chicago if it’s not.
Chicago Transit is carrying 62% of its 2019 ridership. Even that level of ridership was at the tail end of a long ridership decline. The executive directors should have reduced service to match its dwindling customer base a long time ago. They chose to band aid their finances with a temporary allowance from federal taxpayers. The executive directors created this so-called Cliff to extort taxpayers by appealing to their sympathies and sense of urgency. This was rank incompetence. A 40% service cut will serve nearly all their remaining customers. The 'mass' in mass transit has been missing for years and they're not coming back.
There is no point to moving empty chairs all over Chicagoland. Watch your footage again. Notice that The Loop is devoid of foot traffic. So are the trains and buses. These device reductions are long overdue. We have no right to raid the State and Federal treasuries just because we like trains. Sorry dude. Service reductions are the only way to save what's left.
Illinois and Chicago has had ten consecutive years of population loss. There simply isn't enough demand to support or even justify its existing transit system. Eventually, you run out of people to tax.
I would assume the Bi-State development agency is in the same boat?
If we have learned anything about the federal government funding recently it’s that $ allocated doesn’t mean $ got there or the RTA is still jumping through hoops to get it
Sounds like everyone is going to have to give abit: state, city, and labor. Illinois is a mess with large underfunded public pensions and high taxes. Taxpayers are tapped out. Curious what work rules and efficiencies can be gained.
Congratulations, @Thom-TRA, you've literally grabbed the Third Rail and running rail of Chicago area politics. As you've pointed out, the Illinois General Assembly does need to find the money somehow to preserve the RTA and keep it operating. The RTA can't afford a $771 budget "cut," no organization could afford a cut of that size. That being said, the RTA's operating units are deliberately suggesting the most destructive service cuts possible as a "scare/revenge" tactic. The "scare" part is obvious. The "revenge" part is also easy to see once you look at it. And I have no doubt at all that the cuts they've suggested are the ones they will make, even if less destructive alternatives are available.
The "Metropolitan Mobility Agency," by whatever name, is a steal and a scam on behalf of Chicago against the "collar counties" that are also served by the RTA. Currently, the suburbs have
somevoice in the management of regional mass-transit. This is only fare, since the tax money collected in the suburbs "vanishes" into the CTA Bus system and is never seen again. The "MMA" would simply set the steal into stone.The RTA actually operates
fiveservices. They are: Metra rail, Pace Bus, CTA L, CTA Bus, and Paratransit. Paratransit is a valuable service, and I am in favor of its continued operation. However, Paratransit is literally "Uber for the disabled using large vans and small buses." It was never intended to have any kind of farebox recovery, and a fair number of its riders have some difficulty even paying the token $3.25 per ride charged. The state of Illinois has mandated both Paratransit, and on a means-tested basisfreeParatransit. They have also imposed a "Seniors ride free" program where many senior citizens, upon application, can ride the entire RTA system for free. I actually think that this is a worthy program, and I have no problems with it. However the Illinois State Government needs to start paying their bills!A large portion of the problem
isthe relative "lag" in ridership number recovery "post-COVID." This has been exacerbated by both the real increase in crime on CTA Bus and CTA L, and theperceptionof higher crime. This problem needs to be solved quickly. With people convinced that the CTA is "safe" to ride again, then the system will see ridership return and increase. For that matter, the 2019 ridership levels were all-time-record numbers for CTA, and Pace. Moreover, Pace is actually eclipsing its pre-COVID ridership numbers.There are also cases where taxes are being avoided if not evaded outright. For example, the RTA Motor Fuels tax is also imposed on jet fuel dispensed at the area's airports. However, the major airlines "pay" for the fuel dispensed at O'Hare and Midway via janitor's closet offices in Rockford to avoid the taxes. This needs to be stopped, and penalties need to be assessed for this admittedly lawful yet odious conduct on behalf of the airlines. You shouldn't need a law to tell you not to do the wrong thing.
As for future improvements once this fiscal crisis has been (hopefully) solved, there are quite a few that could reduce costs per seat-mile, improve service generally, and perhaps even allow for an operational profit on more parts of the system. But, these improvements would also put more "seat-miles" on the market even while decreasing the costs per seat-mile, so the ridership numbers need to come back up. Beyond removing the "dangerous thugs" from CTA L and CTA Bus, I'm not sure what either the CTA or RTA can do to encourage more
full-fareridership. And the "post-COVID" work-pattern changes are affecting office-space values in downtown Chicago as well as RTA Ridership. So, the RTA as a whole needs to do a better job in capturing higher market share of non-work travel in the area.This is especially true for Metra, which was experience a slight decline in overall ridership since 2014. Once again, Metra needs to do a better job at capturing market share, particularly non-work market share
Most of the CTA Bus system replaced the Chicago Surface Lines streetcar system in the 1950s. They should be replaced with streetcars again. Without having to pay for the mountains of tires and oceans of diesel fuel, the CTA Surface Transit System might be less of a black hole where all the suburban tax money vanishes. BRT is bulls??t, so don't even say it. They're still buses, they still swill diesel and eat mountains of very expensive and difficult to recycle rubber tires, and Chicago will never install exclusive deconflicted BRT guideways. Build the tracks, string the wires, and call it good.
The Rock Island Line needs to be electrified all the way to Joliet. While I would prefer it to be electrified to the modern 25kV system, along with Metra Electric and NICTD South Shore, using their existing 1.5kV DC system would be
almosttolerable. I say it that way because the better electrified commuter/regional rail systems use 25kV AC already. Electrifying the Rock Island would be a first step in electrifying the two Milwaukee District lines as well.Sounds like a typical american story. "F**k the poor people!" Btw, another great video. I like your opinion based content!
I support reforms and increased and consistent revenue for Chicagoland transit.
I bike for most of my trips but I'd appreciate a better public transit experience during the times I use transit. There's lots of room for improvement. Before these agencies get more funds, we need reforms that lead to cost savings and improved service
yet another reason to leave chicago, the city will look like detroit if the state keeps that “conditional” mindset
I still want that transportation to exist even when I’m there to visit now that I no longer live in the Chicago area.
I do agree there needs to be some restructuring at the RTA, but no matter what we need the funding for our public transit
The SFMTA is facing less drastic but still impactful cuts for similar reasons – I feel so many of the people making these decisions don’t use these services or understand what a positive and critical impact they have on our communities. Thanks for the clear call to action, Thom – every voice counts!
Nobody wants to ride the bus it a joke ever sense they started putting bike lanes on all the major streets street that used to have 2 lanes going in each direction are down to one. So now you have way more traffic and cars are sitting in traffic Makes more pollution. And way slower busses just makes people want to drive their cars . And most bike lanes you never see anyone useing it dumbest thing I've ever seen all bike lanes do is slow down everything in the city for a few yuppies can ride their bikes. They should make all bikes get a city sticker to pay for all those bike lanes.
I’ve now been in Chicago for 2 and a half years. I’m going to call my representative to help prevent this, but is there any hope this won’t happen or that it’s not guaranteed?
I’m autistic and moved to Chicago to not drive. I don’t drive because it can be overwhelming for me and I’m in no rush to get my license despite being in my late 20s.
Chicago’s transit system is a big part of why I moved here. If they tank transit, they can expect plenty of people like myself to move away, further accelerating the already crisis-level population decline.
Chicago is prime example to not have one party rule.
Very nice Flxible bus at 0:40 and those 2600s look pretty sharp in Mint Green and Alpine White at 1:53. Originally from Chicago, fond memories of new 2000s. Thanks for posting.
Great video. Mayfield’s comments are Trumpesque and wildly inappropriate. The RTA is full of hardworking public servants who are doing their best with a shoestring budget and no authority to enforce anything, we saw the graphic of Illinois’ state contributions. And the MMA is a nightmare, doing a full restructure in the middle of a fiscal crisis would be a nightmare, for no real gain. SEPTA still has all these problems too. Not to mention the city would lose all control of a system where 85% of riders are Chicagoans. The RTA’s transforming transit plan is the best framework. Again, excellent video thank you for raising awareness.
Hello Thom
Can you make video about DB REGIO
With all regards from Egypt 🇪🇬
Congestion pricing for chicago!
Was the RTA looking at the same kind fiscal cliff before COVID? Federal money shouldn't have caused a fiscal cliff.
Public transport is something that major cities have to have, politicians are not doing a good job prioritizing the needs of people, every county in a urban area is suppose to be charging a 1 or 2 cents sales tax to pay for public services some politicians need to stop being too nice and do their jobs, Illinois is a Blue state so they should have a better chance of working this issue out
Why is public transport in the US still falling now? I live in Australia, and the defunding of public transport happened around the 1960s-1980s, and people soon realised the problem of solely relying on car transport, so governments started to take it seriously since the early 1980s, such as line extension, wheelchair accessibility upgrade, line electrification (if wasn't done yet). Also, rail rolling stocks are routinely purchased to keep the fleet young overall. Therefore, it's not a shame that people made mistakes about the vision of public transport, but the mistake itself should have ended decades ago.
What's it like in the US?
If I would be Metra i would just stop all orders of new trains if the budget cuts come the fleet that they have now is most likely cheaper to operate than the new fleet.
The only long term solution to keep service is some combination of fare increases and tax increases.
What happens to the rail branches after suspension?
As if Chicago's commuter rail wasn't bad enough already, I mean seriously? Tier 4 freight rebuild?
Break: I have no idea why so many cities are wondering why everything is totally crashed out, when they ordered the shutdown, which means no one could move, which means no money could flow! Lockdowns means no one can buy or sell anything in person! We are now all dealing with the consequences of stopping everything!
Thom, I agree, CTA should be 24/7 on all the lines!!
So, a part of it was the IC. When I go back home, I will try to ride the line, but last time, I could not put my life on the line by standing at the station of my childhood!
I had no idea any of this was at risk! I’m horrified! As someone who heavily relies on public transit and has been using it for over a decade, it would be devastating to lose out on public transit. I go an hour out of my way to get to work! I live at the edge of the city and I’m employed right in the loop.