2023 will be an important year for the Chicago region’s transit system, here’s what the RTA is planning
January 5, 2023
January 5, 2023
2023 will be a critical year for the Chicago region’s transit system, which contributes to our region’s economic, social, and environmental health in ways and at a scale nothing else can.
In February, the RTA Board of Directors will consider adoption of Transit is the Answer, the five-year regional transit strategic plan, which was informed by an unprecedented level of rider and stakeholder engagement over 18 months. The plan details how investing in our transit system can help the region address some of its most urgent challenges.
Following adoption, the RTA, along with CTA, Metra, and Pace, will immediately work together to implement changes that will improve the transit experience and ensure funding for the future.
The region’s transit system is expected to experience a $730 million annual operating deficit starting in 2026. During the planning process, the RTA, with experts from CTA, Metra, Pace, and CMAP, analyzed 27 federal, state, and local options for new revenue and identified the 11 options with the most potential to fairly contribute to stable funding.
In 2023, we will take affirmative steps forward to secure increased funding for transit operations and make the system less reliant upon fare revenue through:
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In 2023, we will deliver a set of new regional transit initiatives that will make the system better for riders including:
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In 2023, we will collaboratively begin development of three regional action plans to program investments that support a thriving region including:
These tasks will be undertaken jointly by the agencies, in addition to and in collaboration with other activities outlined in key plans issued by all three agencies recently including:
Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on these activities as they proceed, and join our Transit is the Answer coalition to take action and advocate with us for our transit system’s future.
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