@CHIdocumenters For those unfamiliar, the RTA is a government agency that oversees funding and coordination between the main public transit operators—CTA, Metra, Pace—of six Northeastern Illinois’ counties, including Cook. It was first created in 1974.

@CHIdocumenters Among other things, today’s agenda shows the board’s 16 directors will certify whether the RTA’s first quarter was in line with its projected operating budget and vote on adding $25 million to its Pace ADA Paratransit program to mitigate future federal funding shortfalls.

@CHIdocumenters Meeting started at 9:05 on the 16th floor of 175 W. Jackson Boulevard. There's ~23 folks in the audience and 12 directors here in-person. Chair Kirk Dillard called a quorum to the "most efficient" yet "lowest funded" transit agency of its kind, to some laughs in the room.

@CHIdocumenters After the executive director gave her report, Dillard noted the RTA has a stable financial outlook despite an unstable economic environment and the board has balanced its budget every year despite $400 million-worth of recent funding reductions from Springfield.

@CHIdocumenters There’s a new chair of the RTA Transit Access Citizens’ Advisory Board (replacing Jackie Forbes), who updated the directors on a recent meeting in which this other board discussed how to support survivors of domestic abuse, such as by connecting them with Ventra cards.

@CHIdocumenters The Community Planning Update shared that the RTA received 14 applications for projects to address the safety and development of local transit areas in 2025. The RTA approved nine: four in Cook County, two in Dupage and one in Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will County, respectively.

@CHIdocumenters Some of these approved 2025 projects include transit-oriented development near the Belmont Blue line, improving the Aurora bus service and a study of the Oak Forest Metra station area. They’re set to begin in June and the public can review them online. rtachicago.org/cp

@CHIdocumenters The Capital Programming Update detailed that 25% of the agency's transporation assets (like stations, vehicles) currently “exceed useful life.” An analyst said the RTA needs to invest $4 billion annually over the next 20 years to reach a “State of Good Repair” in that time.

@CHIdocumenters A speaker shared the campaign—aimed at gaining funding from the state legislature to prevent looming cuts to regional transit services—has reached an estimated 3.3 million people, with 25k views to its website and 9k letters sent to 56 senate districts. SaveTransitNow.org

@CHIdocumenters The board is seeking many reforms from Springfield, like an increased match on the RTA sales tax from the state (which would generate $100 million) and regional fare standards. A speaker said leadership in the General Assembly was supportive but their session ends soon on May 31.

@CHIdocumenters If legislators do not allocate that funding, the RTA will begin planning for "unprecented" cuts in June and propose layoffs in the fall. Dillard said there is a concerning lack of public awareness of this fiscal cliff and it would result in "absolute gridlock" in Chicago.

@CHIdocumenters Dillard said recent testimony from a transit operator in Springfield indicated that New York City has 20x as many police officers assigned to their transit system per-rider than Chicago. Another director said only 49% of riders have reported feeling safe on the CTA.

@CHIdocumenters On the topic of safety, a director said the board should also keep transit operators in mind. Dillard echoed that a bus driver must in-effect be a mental health advocate when negotiating certain passengers. A person wearing a CTA uniform in the audience is nodding their head.

@CHIdocumenters Moving on to finances now: CTA employed 10,526 full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees in March 2025, less than the 10,911 budgeted. Likewise, Metra employed 4,246 FTEs in March when 4,541 were budgeted and Pace employed 1,684 below the budgeted 1,918.

@CHIdocumenters The RTA board certified that the operations of its general transit services in this year’s first quarter were in substantial accordance with its drafted budget. Yet, the board acknowledged that its new Pace ADA Paratransit program—which launced in Feb. 2024—went over budget.

@CHIdocumenters To be precise, RTA's Pace ADA Paratransit program went 16% over budget in 2024 with 662k more riders than forecasted. The board is now discussing approving a $25.5 million shortfall from its reserve for the program and developing a plan to correct future needs.

@CHIdocumenters The RTA board approved this Pace ordinance amendment, which will transfer the $25.5 million this month, keep $8.3 million in reserve for future ADA Paratransit needs and utilize Quarter Two data to come in August for a potential 2025 budget amendment.

@CHIdocumenters After that, the board approved three more-procedural action items all in one vote: an ord authorizing a contract for the RTA fare programs administration, an ord authorizing the purchase of liability insurance and approval of travel expense reimbursements.

@CHIdocumenters The RTA board then adjourned at 11:25 p.m., concluding this May 15 session. The next RTA director's meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2025. For more coverage of public meetings in Chicago and beyond, check out . Thanks for reading! documenters.org