By: Debbie Taylor
“As the Chicagoland region faces what many call a “fiscal cliff” for public transit, the stakes for riders, workers and policymakers are rising.
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)—which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace—projects a budget shortfall that might be as high as $250 million starting in fiscal year 2026. Absent long-term reforms, observers expect the gap to reappear year after year.
University of Chicago Research Professor Justin Marlowe, director of the Center for Municipal Finance, spoke with us about how the region arrived at this point, what misconceptions cloud the debate and what solutions, both short-term and long-term, might emerge.”