Tina Fassett Smith

This morning the RTA met with agency leaders at CTA, Metra, and Pace to discuss the approaching fiscal cliff, budget gap numbers for the next few years, and the ongoing need for transit funding and reform. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

Long thread below! 🧵👇

Regional Transportation Authority | History of transit reform in the Chicago region The current conversations on transit reform and funding are also not new, but a continuation of a larger regional conversation that has evolved over the…

It was an insane year for transit too - this just gives it a sentences - but yeah - pretty bad www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/04...

My husband was interviewed about his life as a working musician. I think his story - he now plays solo folkloric music mostly from South America but started as a rock/reggae guitarist - is pretty fascinating:

Somehow I had held off on bawling my eyes out today until this post.

Packed Metra platform in Evanston of folks of all ages w signs and strollers heading downtown.

Evanston Illinois

Please note this URL has changed: www.youtube.com/live/0gU4aCc...

RTA Board of Directors Meeting: June 2025 YouTube video by RTA Board Meetings

The June 2025 RTA Board of Directors is now 🔴 LIVE here: www.youtube.com/live/0gU4aCc...

First of the season.

Illinois legislators left Springfield without funding public transit (for now). Here’s what that means for CTA, Metra, Pace Lawmakers still have time to avert a $771 million fiscal cliff. But transit agencies like the CTA will start planning now for drastic cuts.

Over the weekend, Illinois lawmakers adjourned their spring legislative session without passing legislation that would avert the fiscal cliff for CTA, Metra and Pace.

About last night: Chicagoland transit funding hit a roadblock after House's non-vote. The RTA confirmed 2026 budgets must reflect $771M deficit. - Streetsblog Chicago Good morning Streetsblog Chicago readers. I hope that as you read this, you’ve got a cup of strong coffee, or whatever your favorite morning beverage is, while we face the sobering outcome of Saturday...

"Balancing regional interests is challenging, but we are ready to continue our work to achieve consensus and deliver a solution.” @rtachicago.bsky.social @tfas.bsky.social @chi.streetsblog.org chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/01/c...

We are grateful for the months of work of the General Assembly toward both funding and reform for the region’s transit system. It’s clear that many in both the House and Senate support transit, and our intention is to build on that shared support

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Following is analysis based on best available revenue estimates

Statement from RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard:

“We are grateful for the Senate focusing on the fiscal cliff, however, as proposed, the new revenue included in yesterday’s Senate bill fails to address the region’s $771M transit operating budget gap and would result in significant service cuts in 2026.

Opinion: No, the CTA can’t run on magic Chronic underfunding, not bad management, is driving CTA’s decline. Without real investment, Chicago transit will keep shrinking — no magic fix in sight.

“Americans suffer from magical transit thinking. They believe that transit agencies can operate high-quality, comprehensive service at minimum funding levels…and that fares from mostly poor riders can make up for the lack of steady public subsidies.”

www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/cta-...

Missouri abortion access in danger after state Supreme Court ruling The Missouri Supreme Court has ordered a Jackson County judge to vacate rulings that allowed abortions to resume in the state.

BREAKING: The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a Jackson County judge to vacate rulings that allowed abortions to resume in the state, a potentially seismic ruling that could imperil access to the procedure.

via @kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

🚨 Only one week left in the legislative session‼️ If IL legislators do not find a transit funding solution by THIS Saturday, May 31st, our region will have to begin planning for devastating service cuts.

Opinion: No, the CTA can’t run on magic Chronic underfunding, not bad management, is driving CTA’s decline. Without real investment, Chicago transit will keep shrinking — no magic fix in sight.

Public transit in Chicago, esp @chicagocta.bsky.social has been underfunded for decades. Bloom (press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...) explains in @crainschicago.bsky.social that transit needs investment, not magical thinking www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/cta-...

Today's Regional Transit Update is packed with all the latest RTA and Chicago transit news, including letters from transit riders, customer survey results, the Travel Information Action Plan, and more.

📩 See our newsletter and subscribe now to never miss a future update! mailchi.mp/rtachicago.o...

Cannot describe the joy of having this spot so close to me. Next to a playground and perfect beach. Been dreaming of the pineapple soft serve and frozen strawberry lemonade since last summer.

"I'm a mom to a preschooler and we love the wonderful CTA and Pace buses in Evanston and Chicago, as well as easy transit through the El and Metra. I also am guardian to a special needs brother who adores train rides, as well as being the child of two Evanston seniors who depend on transit." ❤️🚍❤️

Regional Transportation Authority | Transit Riders Speak: Hear what thousands of residents are telling lawmakers when asking them to Save Transit Now These are just a few of the powerful messages submitted by people across the Chicago region: Transit is essential to daily life “I'm a constituent and I'm…

Love this! Check out highlights of the 12k+ emails sent to Illinois legislators in support of transit funding and reform.

"Access to public transit is critical to my life and the lives of so many of my neighbors, and we deserve a world class system." 🚍🚆🌍❤️
www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/05...

I think the messaging around both advocates MMA & labors bill is legit confusing. The rhetoric is often around fiscal cliff but bills are restructuring/reforms without funding-just pledges to fight for money.

Leslie S. Richards: Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate. Philadelphia’s transit agency is now forced to plan for devastating service cuts. Chicago has time to act before damage is done.

"Philadelphia and Chicago have much in common. [...]

But here’s the key difference: Chicago still has time to act before damage is done." – Leslie S. Richards, @trb.org‬ in @chicagotribune.com on @septaphilly.bsky.social.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/22/o...

Leslie S. Richards: Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate. Philadelphia’s transit agency is now forced to plan for devastating service cuts. Chicago has time to act before damage is done.

Some leaders are saying state action on transit funding can wait until later this year, but a former transit exec from Philly says the cost of delay is enormous.

"Leaders have a clear choice. Act now to protect public transit — or wait until it’s too late."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/22/o...

Leslie S. Richards: Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate. Philadelphia’s transit agency is now forced to plan for devastating service cuts. Chicago has time to act before damage is done.

Words of warning from the City of [Sibling] Love. Op-ed from former GM of Philly's SEPTA: "Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/22/o... @chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @yonahfreemark.com @atalliance.bsky.social

Tell Springfield to fix and fund transit NOW! Public transit is broken in Chicago, and our State leaders need to step up to save it by passing the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act and securing $1.5b in funding before the end of May. Take a mom...

10 days remain for lawmakers to find a solution for the fiscal cliff!

MMA act support:

secure.everyaction.com/fwlkRENlyUyC...

Stronger RTA support:

rtachicago.org/take-action//

Find and email them yourself:

experience.arcgis.com/experience/b...

A 🧵, below.

#Chicago #urbanism #transit

Latino STEM Program At Logan Square School Ends Due To Trump Cuts The Somos Ingenieros/We are Engineers STEM program at McAuliffe Elementary was geared toward helping Latino children 5-8 years old learn about engineering.

A Logan Square elementary's science program was abruptly cut after losing its grant from the federal gov, blindsiding families+program leaders who worked for years to make it a reality. The engineering program was geared toward helping Latino children learn w/ their parents.
blockclubchi.co/3FoUSTJ

We love to see the Governor riding transit! 🤩

CTA, Metra, and Pace provide 1.2 million rides each day and the system is at risk if the state does not pass funding and governance reform in the next 11 days. See what riders are telling us: www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/05...