Transit Fiscal Cliff
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Ellen Steinke’s full response to Capitol Fax: “Did I spread ‘misinformation’ about the transit bill? Here’s what the record shows.”
Read Ellen Steinke's previous SBC op-ed "Uber and the road construction lobby just killed Illinois’ transit funding bill, and your lawmakers let them" here.
July 3, 2025
Politicians and some 100 advocates showed up for Rally to Fix and Fund Public Transit at Union Station, kicking off “Hot Transit Summer”
Today at Union Station, a coalition of transit, labor and environmental advocates held a rally to "Fix and Fund Public Transit," demanding that Illinois lawmakers reconvene and provide full funding for public transportation. Speakers called for a special summer session to pass a bill that would rescue Chicagoland transit from some 40 percent service cuts and 3,000 layoffs.
June 26, 2025
CTA seeks feedback, activists urge action at pop-ups
Riders share feedback with CTA at a series of pop-up "chats." But what improvements can be made until the $770M fiscal cliff is diverted?
June 24, 2025
Today’s Headlines for Tuesday, June 24
•Delays hit Metra Union Pacific-North trains (Sun-Times)
June 24, 2025
Thoughts on the proposed $1.50 fee for deliveries by drivers to fund transit and fight climate change: Don’t fear the “Burrito Taxi Tax”
On May 31 as the spring Illinois legislative session was wrapping up, the Senate passed the transit funding and reform bill HB3438. It included the last-minute addition of a "climate impact fee of $1.50 [for] each retail delivery that meets specified conditions."
June 21, 2025
Key players in the fiscal cliff drama discuss “How Do We Get There? The Future of Illinois Transit” at City Club of Chicago panel
Streetsblog Chicago readers know all too well by now that our region's public transportation system, and therefore the fortunes of the entire state of Illinois, are at a crossroads right now. That's a result of what happened last May 31 in the state capitol, a day that will live in infamy as "The Night Transit Funding Didn't Go Down In Springfield."
June 17, 2025
Southwest Collective and Equiticity representatives discuss the transit budget crisis
As regular Streetsblog Chicago readers are well aware, right now the future of public transportation in our region is not looking bright.
June 16, 2025
Uber and the road construction lobby just killed Illinois’ transit funding bill, and your lawmakers let them
Update 6/17/25, 10:30 PM: Today the statehouse news website Capitol Fax ran a blog post supposedly debunking this guest op-ed . After publishing his piece, Capitol Fax Editor Rich Miller stated in his comments section that Streetsblog Chicago was "doing harm by spreading misinformation/disinformation." Ellen Steinke, the author of this SBC article, provided a response to Miller's criticisms, posted at the end of her piece. The Capitol Fax post seemed like a very odd turn of events, given recent interactions I've had with Rich, which I discuss at the bottom of this webpage. - John Greenfield, editor
June 13, 2025
The first cut is the deepest: RTA warns some transit impacts may be unavoidable, even if the state comes through with a bailout
"This is an outcome that was preventable, but we stand ready to do the work and respond to what's coming down the path," said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden.
June 12, 2025
The Tribune Editorial Board has a come-to-Jesus moment about what they previously called “the so-called fiscal cliff”
This post is sponsored by The Bike Lane.
June 4, 2025
