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We're in the eleventh hour for the state legislature to address the looming $771 million Chicagoland transit fiscal cliff. The end of the regular legislative session is this Saturday, May 31, and transit budgets that need to be in place by the end of fall. Facing increasing labor costs, slow ridership recovery, and a state-imposed farebox recovery ratio of 50 percent, the options are either to reach a state agreement on additional funding, or balance the budget through a combination of service cuts and fare increases.

• Johnson urges "expediency" in addressing CTA fiscal cliff, wants funding increase and governance reform: "My position is we have to do both." (Tribune)

By Micheál Podgers

"Hurry up, it's time for supper"

• RTA: "Hear what 1000s of residents are telling lawmakers when asking them to Save Transit Now." Use their Save Transit Now form to write your legislator.

On Thursday, DuPage County and the City of Elmhurst staged a pop-up event where road space near the Illinois Prairie Path was covered with lawn furniture, flower pots, toys, and artificial grass to create "parklets."

• Better Government Association CEO: "With state lawmakers in the final stretch, transit and pension proposals involve high stakes" (Tribune)

The event also drew attention to the need for safer street design, and for Chicago to follow peer cities' examples by lowering our default speed limit to 25 mph.

• Op-ed from former GM of Philly's SEPTA: "Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate." (Tribune)