With the clock ticking down to avert an impending public transit fiscal cliff, Illinois Democrats in the pre-dawn hours Friday muscled through a $1.5 billion plan that diverts state gas tax and road fund revenue for mass transit,

SPRINGFIELD – State lawmakers approved new funding for public transportation agencies without large statewide tax increases previously proposed. Instead, the measure would be fueled by revenue sources that currently feed the state’s Road Fund and an increased sales tax targeted to the Chicago area.

Illinois state lawmakers unveiled a massive $1.5 billion funding package for the Chicago area’s transit system.

House Democrats have dropped a sweeping transit overhaul to bailout Chicago area transit, which would have raised $1.5 billion in revenue through various new taxes, due to opposition from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

October 31, 2025 - Illinois lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion transit funding and reform bill creating a unified Northern Illinois Transit Authority, following Eno’s recommendations to secure Chicago’s transit future and avert a fiscal crisis.

Illinois lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion transit overhaul funded partly by a 45-cent toll hike. Supporters call it a lifeline for CTA, Pace, and Metra, while critics say it shortchanges downstate projects.