The RTA reviews, adopts, and monitors the annual operating budgets and five-year capital programs of all three Service Boards (CTA, Metra, and Pace). Read below for draft budgets, public hearing dates, and more related to the budget process for 2025.
The RTA has released the 2025 Regional Transit Operating Budget and Five-Year Capital Program for download and public comment.
The 2025 Regional Transit Operating Budget and Five-Year Capital Program (and Capital Program Appendix) comes as an operating fiscal cliff threatens our region’s transit system and puts momentum of a growing system at risk. The document details $4.147 billion in operating expenses for northeastern Illinois’ transit system, and a 2025-2029 Regional Capital Program of $9.469 billion, a significant increase from previous capital programs, in large part due to funds for the Red Line Extension being programmed.
“In 2025, the region faces a critical decision for the future. Inaction will doom the Chicago region’s transit system to fall off the fiscal cliff and face cuts that make the system worse, or we can work together to achieve investment at levels that will unlock the region’s potential and meet our shared goals on equity, climate change, and rider experience,” said Executive Director Leanne Redden.
The RTA held a virtual public hearing on December 3, 2024.
The RTA Board of Directors will vote on the budget on Thursday, December 19, 2024.
County Board Schedule
| County | Meeting Date | Location |
| Cook | Wednesday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m. | County Board Room 118 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL |
| McHenry | Thursday, November 14, at 9:00 a.m. | McHenry County Administration Building Conference Rooms A & B 667 Ware Rd. Woodstock, IL 60098 |
| DuPage | Tuesday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m. | DuPage Center Administration Building County Board Room, 3rd floor 421 N. County Farm Rd. Wheaton, IL |
| Lake | Tuesday, November 12 at 9:00 a.m. | Lake County Board Office 18 N. County Street, 10th Floor Waukegan, IL |
| Will | Tuesday, December 10, at 9:00 a.m. | Will County Board Office 302 N. Chicago Street Joliet, Illinois 60432 |
| Kane | Tuesday, December 10 at 9:45 a.m. | Kane County Government Ctr. 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building A Geneva, IL |
CTA, Metra, and Pace release their budgets and capital programs in the fall. View budget documents, press releases, dates for public hearings, and how to submit comment below.
CTA is proposing a $2.16 billion operating budget that keeps fares at current levels, delivers more bus and rail service hours than provided in 2019, and fuels new and ongoing investments to either expand or modernize existing infrastructure, while also evolving current systems to meet modern transit riding needs.
CTA Budget Public Hearing
A public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at CTA headquarters located at 567 W. Lake Street, second floor conference room, Chicago, Illinois 60661. The facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Members of the public who wish to speak at the public hearing are encouraged to register prior to the hearing, by completing and submitting a Request to Speak form online at transitchicago.com/finance by 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Written comments may be submitted for consideration in the following manner: by correspondence addressed to Chicago Transit Authority, Office of the Board Secretary, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661; by hand delivery to the above address turned in to the first floor mail room; by fax to 312-681-5035; or by email to Boardoffice@transitchicago.com. Written comments must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Metra is proposing 2025 operating budget of $1.135 billion that holds fares steady at current levels and relies on strong sales tax revenues and a dwindling allotment of federal COVID-relief aid to cover the expected growth in expenses. It also proposed a $366.4 million capital plan that continues major investment in bridges, stations, and new and rehabilitated rolling stock.
Metra Budget Public Hearing Schedule
Wednesday, November 6
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
| Will County Joliet City Hall Council Chambers 150 W. Jefferson Street Joliet | City of Chicago Metra Board Room 13th floor 547 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago The Chicago Public Hearing will be livestreamed and available for virtual participation. | |
| DuPage County Clarendon Hills Village Hall Village Board Room One North Prospect Avenue Clarendon Hills | Lake County Mundelein Village Hall Village Board Room 300 Plaza Circle Mundelein |
Thursday, November 7
| South Suburban Cook County Homewood Village Hall Village Board Room 2020 Chestnut Road Homewood | Kane County Kane County Government Center Building A – 1st Floor Auditorium 719 South Batavia Avenue Geneva |
| North Suburban Cook County Hanover Park Police Department Community Room 2011 Lake Street Hanover Park | McHenry County Crystal Lake City Hall City Council Chambers 100 West Woodstock Street Crystal Lake |
Nov. 6 Virtual Public Hearing
Any person may present views orally in person at a hearing or by participating in the virtual public hearing on Nov. 6. Preregistration is not required. Please follow the instructions below to join the virtual meeting from your laptop or desktop. If you do not wish to access the virtual meeting from a laptop or desktop, you must download the Microsoft Teams App to your mobile device or join by phone as outlined below.
Follow these steps on Wednesday, Nov. 6, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to present your comments. The virtual public hearing can also be attended by dialing toll free (773) 917-7796 and entering access code: 520 369 647# or by submitting written material at any time, but not later than 24 hours after the conclusion of the hearings on Nov. 7, 2024.
Written comments via U.S. mail can be sent to the attention of Kim Borges, Executive Administrative Assistant, External Affairs, Floor 13, 547 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60661. Comments will also be accepted via voicemail to (312) 322-1006, or email to: 2025budgetcomments@metrarr.com. The virtual public hearing will be recorded, and a copy will be retained by Metra in compliance with Illinois law.
Pace is holding virtual and in-person public hearings on its proposed 2025 Operating Budget, 2026-2027 Two-Year Financial Plan, and 2025-2029 Five-Year Capital Program. Pace presents a balanced and stable budget for 2025.
No general fare increases or service reductions are proposed for Suburban Service or Regional ADA Paratransit. Additionally, as part of a pilot project that began on June 2, 2024, Pace expanded Sunday service on Route 318 – West North Avenue. Since the expansion was implemented, ridership has increased and performance of the service has met expectations. As a result, Pace is proposing to make the service improvement permanent.
Pace Public Hearing Schedule
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
| Lake County | Thursday, October 17, 2024 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Waukegan Public Library Bradbury Room, Lower Level 128 N. County St. Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Will County | Friday, October 18, 2024 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Joliet Public Library McGuire Meeting Room 150 N. Ottawa St. Joliet, IL 60432 |
| McHenry County | Monday, October 21, 2024 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Crystal Lake City Hall Council Chambers 100 W. Woodstock St. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 |
| Virtual Hearing #1 | Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 11:00 AM | Virtual |
| Cook County | Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Elmer Wolf Community Center 2607 North Thatcher Ave. River Grove, IL 60171 |
| DuPage County | Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | DuPage County Admin. Building Room 3500-B 421 N. County Farm Rd. Wheaton, IL 6018 |
| Kane County | Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Kane County Government Center Auditorium 719 S. Batavia Avenue Geneva, IL 60134 |
| Virtual Hearing #2 | Friday, October 25, 2024 | 12:00 PM | Virtual |
| Cook County | Monday, October 28, 2024 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Woodson Regional Library Auditorium 9525 S. Halsted Street Chicago IL 60628 |
Individuals wanting to offer comments on the topic(s) to be addressed at any of the public hearings may do so:
Visit https://www.pacebus.com/budget-hearings-2025 for more information or to register for a virtual public hearing.
After CTA, Metra, and Pace will each submit their budgets, the RTA as the oversight agency, works to develop a Regional Transit Operating Budget and Capital Program to be released for public comment and voted on by the RTA board in December.
Development of the 2025 Operating Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan, and Five-Year Capital program takes place over several months.
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