Transit

Building back ridership through a more efficient and predictable system

Northeastern Illinois’ transit system drives transportation in our region, getting people to where they need to be. Transit helps provide access to jobs, education, social services, healthcare, and more. It also helps keep cars off the roads, reduces congestion, and improves air quality. And the mobility enabled by transit helps our economy and quality of life.

The transit system includes train service from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra, and bus service from the CTA and Pace, all overseen by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill that establishes the stable funding and governance reforms needed to sustain and strengthen public transit across the region. It averts the region’s looming transit fiscal cliff — a projected operating shortfall that threatened deep service cuts, fare increases, and economic impacts for millions of riders — and replaces it with a sustainable, long-term solution.

This transformative legislation delivers on the vision set forth in the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) — a bold framework developed by CMAP at the request of the General Assembly.

Plan of Action for Regional Transit

PART identifies options for the immediate funding crisis and outlines the vision of a reimagined and financially secure regional transit system for the region. It envisions a financially viable system that is regionally coordinated and comprehensive; safe, secure, clean, and efficient, and supportive of efficient land use. Its recommendations will help create the transit system the region wants:

Focus on transit service: Deliver frequent and reliable service, by restoring and investing in transit service, which will be key to meeting riders’ needs.

Provide integrated and affordable fares: Make it easier for riders to make payments, and offer more affordable options for low-income riders.

Enable faster and more reliable bus service: Take opportunities to improve bus speed and reliability, enhancing mobility for those who depend on the bus while attracting new riders.

Bolster public confidence: Improve safety, security, and cleanliness by making physical investments, increasing staff funding, and developing new policies.

Build back a ridership base: Foster more transit-supportive land use and development decisions, with incentives and policies (e.g., support Metra’s evolution to a regional rail service model, which typically includes fast, frequent, all-day transit service as part of a regionally integrated network).

Invest in a universally accessible system: Plan and fund accelerated physical system accessibility and bolster existing paratransit and demand-responsive transit services.

Plan of Action for Regional Transit

I-290/Blue Line Corridor Office

The Illinois Department of Transportation, the CTA, and CMAP have partnered to create a unified approach and advance progress on this critical multimodal corridor with a commitment to improving mobility, accessibility, and quality of life for motorists, transit riders, residents, and corridor communities. Together, the agencies are investing in a corridor development office, which will advance ongoing efforts to provide better, speedier, more reliable and accessible services to all Chicago transit users along the entire Forest Park Branch of the Blue Line — which is critical to Chicago’s West Side communities, connecting people to the Illinois Medical District, schools and numerous employment centers.

Improving fairness in transportation fees, fines, and fares

The comprehensive analysis assesses how transportation fees, fines, and fares impact residents with low income and recommends policy changes to improve fairness. Many residents with low income, particularly those without bank accounts, are unable to access I-PASS accounts and Ventra cards, which offer cost savings. Fines also disproportionately burden households with low income and can lead to late fees, high debt levels, and other negative impacts.

Mobility recovery

The comprehensive mobility recovery report covers key transportation trends that emerged from the pandemic, highlights regional best practices, and details solutions and actions our region can take to improve mobility post-pandemic:

Invest in a stronger and more financially secure transit system
Balance the benefits and impacts of ecommerce and other freight activity
Develop a transportation system that improves quality of life for all

Federal funding for transit and transit access

CMAP awards federal funding to advance projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle access to transit, improve bicycle infrastructure, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds projects that improve air quality and roadway congestion, and the Carbon Reduction Program focuses on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The Transportation Alternatives Program funds non-motorized transportation projects, including the Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways and Trails Plan. The Surface Transportation Program Shared Fund targets projects that address gaps in regional greenways and trails network due to physical barriers (such as a waterway, highway, or railroad) to bicycle and pedestrian movement.