Transit agencies in northeastern Illinois are heading toward a fiscal cliff coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic — with an expected budget shortfall of $730 million in 2026 — as emergency federal assistance is expiring and ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels.

Big, bold solutions are needed to secure the financial viability of our region's transit system. Through all the changes the system has experienced, one central fact remains true: A successful transit system is critical to the success of the region, its economy, health, and environment.

To address these changes, a diverse group of leaders from across northeastern Illinois drafted a Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) with recommendations that can help the region invest in a stronger and more financially secure transit system.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) brought together representatives from the business, community, environmental, labor, and civic sectors to develop and submit this plan to the governor and General Assembly on or before January 1, 2024.

The General Assembly approved Public Act 102-1028, which tasked CMAP with developing legislative recommendations on the region's transit system. The action plan leveraged findings and input from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its 2023 Transit is the Answer strategic plan, as well as CMAP's Mobility Recovery project.

The development of the report included meaningful public engagement led by CMAP with the support of a steering committee. CMAP also facilitated public discussions that helped  shape the final set of recommendations to address the complex challenges facing northeastern Illinois' transit systems.

Timeline

Curious about how we can improve transit? See our recommendations for:

• Restoring and investing in transit service (updated 10/6/2023)
• Fare integration (updated 10/4/2023)
• Fare levels (updated 10/2/2023)
• Fare affordability (updated 10/5/2023)
• Better buses (updated 10/4/2023)
• Safety and security (updated 9/29/2023)
• Cleanliness (updated 9/29/2023)
• Regional rail (updated 10/3/2023)
• Transit-supportive land use and development (updated 9/29/2023)
• System accessibility (updated 9/22/2023)
• Demand-responsive transit services (updated 9/29/2023)

PART also identified recommendations on potential revenue sources to support these system improvements and address transit's fiscal cliff. Additional details on potential revenue packages and individual funding recommendations include:

• Federal (updated 9/26/2023)
• State (updated 9/26/2023)
• Paratransit (updated 9/26/2023)
• Road system revenues (updated 9/26/2023)
• Flexing federal funds (updated 9/18/2023)
• Sales tax (updated 9/26/2023)

• Formal comments on PART (updated 10/11/2023)
• Public engagement summary

Transit systems face an unprecedented fiscal cliff. How did we get here? Why does it matter? Understand the background of PART through:

• PART draft for deliberation (9/1/2023)
• PART fact sheet
• PART project scope
• PART briefing book
• PART related resources

To support PART's focus on the governance topics related to "How to implement it," CMAP partnered with the Eno Center for Transportation, a nationally recognized transportation policy institution. Related materials include:

• Interviews with regional transit stakeholders
• Case studies on the approaches to transit governance in six peer regions in the U.S. and abroad.
• Analysis of potential governance reforms

• October 11, 2023: At their meeting, the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee authorized the submission of the PART report.
• October 4, 2023: The final draft for approval PART report is available for review.
• September 13, 2023: The CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee met to discuss the draft PART plan.
• September 1, 2023: The draft PART report is available for review, and will be discussed at the September joint CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee meeting.
• June 21, 2023: Watch an update to learn more about our ongoing policy and recommendations work.
• January 18, 2023: PART will identify recommendations that can help the region invest in a stronger and more financially secure transit system. Read the news release announcing PART.

The steering committee represented stakeholders from private and civic sectors to help support the development of the report and ultimately champion the report's recommendations. The committee met on the following dates in 2023:

• January 18 (agenda, minutes)
• March 15 (agenda, minutes, presentation, project scope, governance problem statement)
• May 24 (agenda, minutes, presentation)
• July 19 (agenda, minutes, presentation)
• September 6 (agenda, minutes, presentation)

View a consolidated set of PART steering committee materials, including members, responsibilities, agendas, and meeting minutes.

Steering committee members

Laura Wilkison, CMAP senior director and policy advisor, at lwilkison@cmap.illinois.gov.