Illinois legislators are preparing to advance public transit legislation during the fall veto session, even as new projections suggest the looming $770 million transit funding cliff may not arrive until 2027. Lawmakers from both parties agree that systemic issues still demand urgent attention.
During a virtual panel hosted Thursday by the Lincoln Forum and the Union League Club Transportation Subcommittee, State Sen. Seth Lewis (R‑Bartlett) said revenue boosts and Regional Transit Authority (RTA) transfers have delayed the crisis, particularly for suburban bus provider Pace.
“We have time,” Lewis said, emphasizing that a financial collapse is not imminent. He argued the state should focus this fall on governance reforms rather than tax increases.
State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D‑Chicago), who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, acknowledged that the fiscal cliff has been pushed back by up to a year. However, he warned that without action, the shortfall could worsen by 2028. “It’s not working,” Villivalam said, pointing to fragmented governance: four transit agencies, 21 appointing authorities, seven different mobile apps, and separate capital and service plans.
Villivalam previously introduced legislation that included a retail delivery tax, a real estate transfer tax, and environmental impact fees. Though the bill stalled in the spring session, he expressed optimism it could pass this fall. “We cannot kick the can down the road,” he said.
State Rep. Kam Buckner (D‑Chicago) echoed the call for investment, framing transit as essential for economic growth. He cited Abraham Lincoln’s early support for railroads as an example of how infrastructure drives prosperity.
State Rep. Brad Stephens (R‑Rosemont) urged fiscal caution. He said transit agencies must first demonstrate cost-efficiency before lawmakers consider injecting large sums of new funding. “We also need to find out what the efficiencies can be and how we can manage this better,” Stephens said.
