Illinois transit agencies face 'trust cliff' along with fiscal cliff
[October 16, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – State lawmakers are questioning transit agency
leaders over their revised fiscal cliff numbers and spending of
operational dollars.
The Illinois House Executive Committee held a subject matter hearing
Wednesday on the Regional Transit Authority’s fiscal cliff.
RTA officials presented updated three-year fiscal cliff projections for
regional public transit, with the 2026 number down to $230 million from
$770 million just a few months ago. The projected cliffs rise to $834
million in 2027 and $937 million in 2028.
State Rep. Brad Stephens, R-Rosemont, asked RTA Executive Director
Leanne Redden if the numbers provided for any expansion of services.
“Unfortunately, this is the floor, certainly not the ceiling. This is
baseline to maintain existing services that we have,” Redden said.
State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said there is a deficit of trust.
“I would pose it to you that the trust cliff is just as steep and just
as abrupt as the fiscal one,” Buckner said.
Buckner questioned why the RTA spent $500,000 from its operating budget
on the “Save Transit Now” campaign for more funding.
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“The best PR campaign for RTA and any other service agencies is
reliable transit. It’s not spending a half-million dollars to remind
the General Assembly that you’re running out of money. Some people
use the words 'coerce' or 'cajole.' I felt it was a bullying effort,
and I don’t think it worked,” Buckner said.
State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, referred to “clunkiness” in
transit governance and said reform was critically important.
State Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, referred to Metra specifically
as “an absolute train wreck.”
Erin Aleman, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency
for Planning, pushed for a $1.50 retail delivery tax to fund public
transit. The tax was part of a larger funding package which failed
to clear the Illinois House last spring.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 president Keith Hill said four
key things are missing in transit today.
“It’s not reliable. It’s not safe. It’s not clean, and it’s no
connectivity,” Hill said.
Hill said the labor community would welcome reform and oversight.
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