The clock is ticking for the Illinois General Assembly to transform our broken transportation system and ensure all Illinoisans have access to clean, affordable, and equitable transportation options. In Northeast Illinois, transit agencies face a $730 million budget shortfall, which could further cut bus routes and train lines that are already struggling post-pandemic. Transit services in Central and Southern Illinois are also struggling, and across the state, communities lack access to mobility options like bike lanes and safe walking and rolling paths. Without reliable transit service, many people have no choice but to drive, which means more traffic congestion, and thus more air and climate pollution. Illinois’ transportation sector is already the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, and we can’t afford to clog our streets with more dirty diesel trucks and cars.
The Clean and Equitable Transportation Act (CETA) will invest in public transit, safe and accessible walking and biking infrastructure, and clean vehicles. The bills in CETA will unify Northeast Illinois’ transit agencies to eliminate waste and save as much as $250 million a year while improving service and safety and ensuring adequate funding, increase affordable transportation options for consumers, and slash air pollution to make our air healthier to breathe. By improving access to public transit and alternative mobility choices while also electrifying our transportation sector, all Illinois communities can thrive.
