Illinois Lawmakers Race Against Clock to Prevent CTA Service Cuts as $770M Budget Gap Looms

June 2, 2025 — Springfield, IL — With a $770 million budget shortfall threatening to derail Chicago’s public transportation system, Illinois lawmakers are under mounting pressure to strike a funding deal before the General Assembly adjourns this week. If no resolution is reached, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) warns it may be forced to implement sweeping service cuts and layoffs starting this fall.

The CTA’s looming deficit, largely attributed to the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds and lower-than-expected ridership recovery, has placed the state’s largest transit agency at a crossroads. Officials say the budget gap could result in up to a 30% reduction in service, hitting bus and train lines used by hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.

“This is not a drill,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. in a press briefing Monday. “Without a sustainable funding solution, we are facing the most significant service reductions in decades — and the impact will be felt most acutely by working-class families, seniors, and essential workers who rely on transit every day.”

Transit advocates and city leaders are urging lawmakers to approve a proposed rescue package that would allocate state funds to plug the budget gap while exploring long-term revenue models. The current proposal includes a mix of increased state operating assistance, regional sales tax adjustments, and a transit-dedicated portion of motor fuel tax revenue.

However, some downstate legislators have expressed skepticism about subsidizing Chicago transit, arguing that state resources should be distributed more evenly. Others say the proposal lacks firm accountability measures and are pushing for clearer reform benchmarks.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has signaled support for bolstering transit funding but has not committed to a specific package. “A strong transit system is vital not only to Chicago’s economy but to the entire state,” Pritzker said over the weekend. “I urge the General Assembly to act swiftly and responsibly.”

The deadline for passing a budget and related funding measures is Friday, June 7. Without legislative action, CTA officials say they will begin drafting service reduction plans this summer in preparation for fall implementation.