Chicago area public transit agencies approve 2025 operating budgets

Public transit agencies in the greater Chicago region have approved their operating budgets for 2025, with the Chicago Transit Board approving the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) $2.16 billion budget and the Metra Board of Directors approving the agency’s $1.14 billion budget.  

CTA operating budget aims to elevate the rider experience 

CTA says its operating budget is a strategic plan designed to maintain current fares, enhance bus and rail services beyond pre-pandemic levels and support continued investments in infrastructure and technology. The budget aims to further elevate the transit experience by prioritizing investments that address what’s most important to riders, including system security, accessibility, reliability and safety. 

“We are setting a course for a transit system that surpasses our service delivery, ridership levels and quality from 2019,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This budget reinforces our commitment to modernize the CTA, both in terms of service and infrastructure, while keeping our riders’ needs at the forefront. Our employees have been essential to CTA’s progress, and with this budget, we will continue to strengthen our workforce, improve accessibility and expand services.” 

The approved budget reflects an 8.1 percent increase over 2024’s budget. Key initiatives include ongoing workforce recruitment and training to maintain elevated service levels, especially during peak hours, and implementing enhanced customer communication tools. The CTA is also earmarking $3.3 million (or five percent of the security budget) to solicit community input for developing future pilots aimed at improving public safety. 

CTA says a major achievement this year included returning bus operator staffing to pre-pandemic levels, which improved service reliability, with 98.1 percent of scheduled bus service delivered as of August 2024. Rail services have also seen marked improvements, with service levels now restored to pre-pandemic levels and service reliability reaching 96 percent. CTA adds it is on track to meeting its goal of training 200 new rail operators by the end of the year. 

CTA’s separate $6.96 billion Capital Improvement Program for 2025-2029 emphasizes critical projects to strengthen infrastructure, promote accessibility and support new technology. Highlights include: 

• Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One: Expected completion of Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr station reconstruction projects. 
• Red Line Extension (RLE): New track and station construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and be completed in 2030 to extend the Red Line to the city’s southern limits, improving access for the Far South Side. 
• Accessibility: Six newly accessible stations planned for 2025, including Lawrence, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Argyle, Racine and Austin, with $37 million allocated for elevator replacement. 
• Fleet modernization: Continued production of the 7000-series railcars and overhauls of 5000-series trains, along with facility updates to accommodate electric buses. 
• Operations control and training facility: Planned construction of a new 24/7 operations and training center in West Garfield Park, set to support over 10,000 employees. 

More information on the 2025 budget is available at transitchicago.com/finance. 

Metra’s operating budget covers costs for safety upgrades 

Metra’s approved $1.14 billion operating budget holds fares steady at current levels and relies on strong sales tax revenues and a dwindling allotment of federal COVID-relief aid to cover the expected growth in expenses. Metra’s Board also approved a $366.4 million capital plan that continues major investment in bridges, stations and new and rehabilitated rolling stock.  

The 2025 operating budget includes about $65 million in costs associated with a capacity expansion on the Metra Electric Line for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), which NICTD is covering. Excluding those costs, the budget is about 4.1 percent higher than the 2024 budget, largely due to expected inflationary, contractual and market increases. It includes additional spending related to new regulations and related training, upgrades to Metra’s Positive Train Control safety system related to heightened cybersecurity risks and increased costs related to marketing. 

The budget is funded by system-generated revenue of $304.1 million, including $184.2 million in fares, based on a projection that ridership will grow about seven percent in 2025 to 39 million passenger trips. It also is funded by $592.5 million in regional sales tax receipts and $238.4 million out of Metra’s remaining $331.8 million in federal COVID-relief funding. 

The COVID-relief funding, approved by Congress to help transit agencies cope with the pandemic-related drop in ridership and fare revenue, is expected to run out in 2026 at Metra, CTA and Pace Suburban Bus. Metra says lawmakers in Springfield, Ill., are aware of the impending problem and have begun to work on potential solutions. 

The proposed $366.4 million capital program allocated $93.8 million to rolling stock; $101.8 million to bridges, track and structures; $39.2 million to signal, electrical and communication; $57 million to facilities and equipment; $34.9 million to stations and parking; and $39.8 million to support activities. 

The capital program is funded with $242.3 million in federal formula funding, $29 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds, $88.6 million in state PAYGO funds and $6.5 million in Regional Transportation Authority Innovation, Coordination and Enhancement  funds. 

The full budget can be viewed on Metra’s website.