Chicago’s leaders are asking suburban taxpayers to take a “leap of faith” — to trust them with the future of public transit. But after years of financial mismanagement, runaway debt and bailout demands, that trust has long been broken.
A financial crisis is looming — one that could reshape public transit and strip suburban communities of their voice. Northeast Illinois’ transit systems — Metra, Pace and the CTA — are facing a $770 million fiscal cliff next year, and major decisions that will affect riders across the region.
The proposed solution? A radical overhaul that would dissolve the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and merge Metra, Pace and the CTA into a single mega-agency with one governing board. The problem? Chicago and suburban Cook County leaders want to control a simple majority of board votes, giving them unchecked authority over transit policies — including fare rates, service decisions and potential tax hikes.
Under this model, board members from Chicago and suburban Cook could dictate rates for suburban Metra and Pace riders, while the few suburban representatives would be powerless to stop or influence those decisions. This power shift comes at the direct expense of the collar counties — DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will — leaving suburban residents with little say over policies that affect their daily commutes and wallets.
At a recent Senate Transportation Committee hearing in Chicago, a former CTA board member and longtime city activist urged committee members to take “a leap of faith” and trust Chicago to handle this power responsibly.
This is the city run by Mayor Brandon Johnson who has spent the past year running to Springfield with his hand out, demanding bailout after bailout, saying: “The General Assembly must do more!” His wish list? One billion dollars for Chicago Public Schools. Another $1 billion for a new Bears stadium. And now, with the CTA buried under $5 billion in debt, there’s little doubt he’d love for suburban taxpayers to foot the bill.
But it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when Chicago understood its responsibility to the entire region. Decades ago, city leaders recognized that a thriving metropolis depended on a strong partnership with the suburbs. Public transit was designed to serve everyone, ensuring that suburban commuters — the workers who power the companies filling the Loop — can get to their jobs, that customers traveling in from the suburbs can spend their dollars at local businesses and that the entire region — city and suburbs alike —can thrive with the help of affordable, reliable transportation.
That cooperative spirit made Illinois a transportation powerhouse, driving regional growth, attracting businesses and keeping the economy competitive. Chicago’s success is directly tied to the strength of its suburban communities. A balanced, cooperative relationship benefits both — and that is particularly true for their public transit system.
Illinois’ public transit system is a shared resource, and its governance must reflect that reality. Chicago and the suburbs are economic partners, and both deserve an equal say in shaping its future. A system that sidelines suburban communities isn’t cooperation. It’s a power grab that threatens regional stability.
With a $770 million fiscal cliff approaching, action must be taken — but the solution cannot be a blank check for a transit board controlled by Chicago at the expense of suburban taxpayers. Instead of consolidating power under a Chicago-dominated majority, lawmakers should focus on balanced governance, accountability and shared decision-making.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The future of public transit — and the fairness of its governance — will affect millions of riders across the region. Chicago and the suburbs must work as true partners, not as one side dictating terms to the other. Suburban taxpayers shouldn’t be expected to take a “leap of faith” when the track record is clear.
Trust isn’t given — it’s earned through responsible leadership, equitable representation and financial accountability.
State Sen. Seth Lewis represents the 24th District in DuPage County and suburban Cook County and is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. He lives in Bartlett.
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