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    A budget cliff is looming for Chicago transit agencies, and fare hikes and service cuts might not be able to fill it

    In November 2019, people trying to get to work or take weekend outings in Chicagoland crammed themselves onto the “L,” public buses and commuter trains at least 39.6 million times. This November, riders took just over half that many trips, data from the Regional Transportation Authority shows. Though trains and buses are getting noticeably more crowded, the numbers serve as a reminder that ...
    by Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune Dec 12, 2022 6 minutes
    Metra train conductor Milton L. Driver III looks on as train passengers exit Metra electric train #210 during the early morning rush hour on Nov. 30, 2022.

    In November 2019, people trying to get to work or take weekend outings in Chicagoland crammed themselves onto the “L,” public buses and commuter trains at least 39.6 million times.

    This November, riders took just over half that many trips, data from the Regional Transportation Authority shows.

    Though trains and buses are getting noticeably more crowded, the numbers serve as a reminder that many riders aren’t returning to their pre-pandemic habits. And with the number of riders still down, transit agencies in Chicago and across the country have been leaning on federal COVID-19 relief money to get by.

    But the money is set to run out in 2025, and that has Chicago-area agencies staring down a $730 million budget hole, a gap the regional transit agency says is too big to fill with service cuts and fare hikes alone. Failing to address the situation could have economic and social consequences for a city that’s working to orchestrate a post-pandemic comeback, planners and experts said.

    Public transit must be

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