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The CTA, RTA, Metra and Pace are facing an estimated $730
million deficit in 2026. According to Civic Federation President
Joe Ferguson, full consolidation into a single agency is more
complicated than other options and may cost taxpayers more up
front, but it is the only way to ensure the optimal use of
taxpayer dollars.
“It is the one that realizes the greatest amount of improvement
in efficacy, from accountability mechanisms, from transparency
standards, but also efficiencies from the reduction of layers of
paralleling bureaucracies,” Ferguson said.
The Civic Federation proposed linking governance reform with
funding, and consolidating the CTA, RTA, Metra and Pace into a
single agency.
Ferguson said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest budget
proposal does not address the major fiscal cliff that is coming
for regional transit.
“The budget took care of business right now and left the
business for a year out in the future to a year out in the
future, right, which means the fiscal cliff is all still there,”
Ferguson said.
State Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, said the proposed
integrated agency could have control over the entire revenue
stream and while the revenue model won’t really change for
suburbanites compared to people who live in Chicago, where that
money goes and how it’s appropriated could change.
"Frankly, that’s creating most of the heartburn that I am
hearing from my mayors and county chairman out in the suburbs
about what this reorganization is attempting to do,” said
DeWitte, who is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee.
With the impending $730 million deficit, Ferguson said this is a
generational opportunity, even if there is political resistance.
“This is why the reference to the fiscal cliff and why we refer
to it as a generational moment. This is a crisis,” Ferguson
said.
Ferguson added that the next step is for a diverse coalition of
interests to come together to help draft legislation.
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