Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Quigley Lead 10 Other Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in Calling for a Solution to the Impending Chicago Transit Cliff

WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joined with Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) and 10 other members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in calling for a resolution to avoid the impending fiscal cliffs that face transit agencies across the nation, including in Chicago, where the city will face a $730 million annual budget gap as early as next year without proper action. In the letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Transit Administrator Nuria Fernandez, the 12 lawmakers outlined what going over a transit fiscal cliff would look like for mass public transit systems. The consequences of inaction could include dire cuts to service, fewer safety inspections, and less communal mobility within cities and suburbs. Millions rely on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace, and Metra for work, school, business, and travel every day, and any cuts to critical public transit service would greatly impact Chicago’s regional economy and disproportionately effect communities of color and low-income people. Federal funds designated during the COVID-19 pandemic to help transit agencies across the nation, including the greater Chicago area, are set to be exhausted in late 2025 and early 2026. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also co-authored an op-ed in the Chicago Sun Times on the upcoming fiscal cliff in December 2023.

“Public transportation systems are the backbone of America, connecting us to our jobs, families, and communities,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “I’m proud to work with our partners at the local, state, and federal levels of government to identify solutions to this impending fiscal cliff to prevent any reduction in services or safety. We must continue this effort until the crisis is averted.”

“Failing to address the looming fiscal cliff threatens both our economy and the day-to day-needs of Illinois residents who rely on public transportation,” Congressman Quigley said. “As the representative for so many of those individuals who use public transportation for essential travel, I have a duty to my constituents to stand up for their needs and sound the alarm about this nightmare scenario. We must do everything we can to ensure our transit systems continue to run effectively for the communities they serve.”

"Transit is critical to our region and the fiscal cliff is very real and coming very soon," Jim Derwinski, CEO/Executive Director of Metra, said.  "COVID changed the landscape of transit as we know it, and there's no going back. Thanks to the leadership of U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley and Raja Krishnamoorthi and our congressional delegation, this is the first step of getting this policy discussion started. We need to find a collaborative solution to deal with this at both the federal and state levels. We simply cannot do it alone."

“A strong and secure transit system is vital to the Chicago region, and adequate, reliable funding is crucial to ensure the CTA can provide the service on which the region relies,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said.

“We appreciate the attention being paid by our state and federal legislators to this forthcoming fiscal cliff that Chicagoland transit agencies face in 2026,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said. “We continually hear from our stakeholders that more funding for suburban transit is needed, not less, so Pace will continue to advocate for increased funding for suburban transit to meet the needs of commuters and the regional economy.”

"Transit plays an essential role in our economy, the lives of millions of riders across the Chicago region, and has the potential to reach even more people with stable funding,” Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Chairman Kirk Dillard said. “Historic underfunding of transit and pandemic-induced changes in ridership and fare revenues have created significant challenges for our regional system. Federal pandemic relief funding will begin to expire at the end of 2025 and in 2026, the RTA system will face a $730 million annual operating budget gap, which must be closed through local, state, and federal solutions and resources.  We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration on federal solutions to the transit system fiscal cliff in the post-pandemic economy."

"SMART-TD is deeply concerned about the looming fiscal cliff that threatens the financial stability of our transit systems,” Robert W. Guy, SMART-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) Illinois State Director, said. “Our essential members, along with all transit workers, are the backbone of our public transportation system, working diligently to provide a lifeline for those who depend on those services. The impending funding crisis poses a severe threat to the continuation of this essential work, jeopardizing the seamless mobility and connectivity that our communities rely on daily.  We look forward to working with our elected officials to find reliable solutions that allows transit to continue to play an essential role in our transportation network."

Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Quigley were joined on the letter by fellow Illinois Reps. Jonathan Jackson, Robin Kelly, Delia Ramirez, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Janice Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, Bill Foster, and Lauren Underwood.

Click here to read the letter addressed to Secretary Buttigieg and Administrator Fernandez.