SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers concluded their spring session early Sunday without reaching an agreement on crucial mass transit governance reform in the Chicago area.
Despite the urgency surrounding the need for more than $1 billion in funding for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace, no legislation was passed to avert a looming $770 million fiscal crisis next year.
A proposal led by state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, made it through the Senate with a 32-22 vote shortly before midnight.
However, the bill, which included a $1.50 tax on food and package deliveries, failed to advance to the House floor.
Under the state constitution, bills that are passed on or after June 1 require a three-fifths approval, whereas a simple majority would have sufficed if the vote had occurred before the midnight deadline.
As the clock ran out, several House members expressed doubts about securing sufficient votes for the bill, highlighting the political challenges faced by Democrats during a busy legislative session filled with budget discussions.
“We’ve got to go back to the drawing board to figure out what our strategy is,” state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, stated.
Villivalam, who leads the Senate Transportation Committee, emphasized the critical need for his transit funding package but acknowledged its uncertain future amidst dwindling federal COVID-19 relief dollars slated to run out next year.
Without intervention, advocates warn of severe consequences, including potential 40% service cuts system-wide and roughly 3,000 layoffs among transportation workers.
In light of this situation, lawmakers may reconvene in Springfield for a special session this summer to either consider Villivalam’s bill or develop an alternative measure.
Legislative leaders have already advised members to remain prepared for a possible return, particularly in the event of broader federal funding cuts under the administration of President Donald Trump.
“Continuing the conversation is essential,” Villivalam said, emphasizing a collaborative approach with the House regarding necessary reforms tied to funding.
He underscored the importance of ensuring that any funding supports a transit system that is safe, reliable, accessible, and effectively integrated.
The proposed $1.50-per-delivery tax aimed to address funding needs was marketed by supporters as an “environmental impact fee.”
However, opponents from the business community quickly dubbed it a regressive “pizza tax.”
This proposal turned out to be as contentious as other revenue ideas suggested in the final days of the spring legislative session, including hiking tolls and diverting suburban sales taxes, which drew criticism from organized labor and collar county leaders.
The package delivery tax, which would exclude standalone grocery or medication shipments, was intended to generate more than $1 billion to help transit agencies avert the impending fiscal crisis.
Coupled with a real estate transfer tax, the financial injection aimed to cover the estimated needs of transit agencies to prevent service disruptions and bolstering customer satisfaction in a system often criticized for its deficiencies.
Despite the funding challenges, there seemed to be general support among lawmakers for a revamped governance structure.
This new framework proposes the establishment of a Northern Illinois Transit Authority, granting the body authority to set uniform fares, streamline transfers, and oversee capital planning responsibilities.
In this proposed board of 20 members, appointments would include selections by the governor, Chicago mayor, and Cook County board president, each naming five members, alongside representatives from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.
Meanwhile, a separate bill introduced by state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, mirrored Villivalam’s initiative in establishing a unified governance body but did not address the associated funding challenges.
Without committed state funding, labor leaders and agency heads have warned that layoffs could be on the horizon later this year.
While state Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, noted that “the trains won’t stop rolling today,” he stressed the urgency surrounding the resolution of the funding gap.
A spokesperson for the Regional Transit Authority remarked that while they appreciate the General Assembly’s efforts, they can only create a budget based on the funding they can reliably expect in 2026.
“It’s clear that many in both the House and Senate support transit, and our intention is to build on that shared support to identify the funding needed to avoid devastating cuts and disruption for everyone in Northeast Illinois,” spokesperson Tina Fassett Smith stated.
“Balancing regional interests is challenging, but we are ready to continue our work to achieve consensus and deliver a solution.”
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/06/01/illinois-mass-transit-bill-cta-metra-pace
