Another public hearing on a plan to combine Chicagoland transit agencies is today in Palo Hills as ridership fails to rebound to prepandemic levels, agency leaders face growing criticism, and a $730 million financial gap looms.
Combining the agencies is an intriguing idea, but can we dream even bigger? As someone who rides the CTA and Metra pretty often, here are my three genie wishes for Chicago’s public transit system 🧞
Change the Map — Build, Connect Lines
I would like to see the Red Line extended even further than the current Far South Side plan. Rather than stopping at 130th Street, it should continue southeast around Big Marsh Park and then back north along the Calumet River through Hegewisch and East Side. I’d also like to see the Green Line reopened at 63rd and Racine in Englewood and extended into West Englewood and Chicago Lawn.
We also need two east and west lines installed in the city: one that gets you from Uptown to Austin and another from South Chicago to Midway.
Make Transit Free
I understand that suggesting free transit during a pending financial cliff seems counterintuitive, but I believe that access to free and reliable public transit should be a priority in our city. Losing fares could boost ridership. Plus, not relying on fare hikes to fund transit would allow trains and buses to remain accessible to those who need them most.
Several other cities have begun free transit pilots or dropped fares entirely in the past couple of years.
Will Metra, CTA, and Pace become one? (vxla, mhellekjaer / Wikimedia Commons)
Metra 🤝 CTA 🤝 Pace
Transit leaders are pushing back on the proposed plan to consolidate the CTA, Metra, and Pace. They want more state funding to increase service but want to continue to operate separately to maintain local control.
But merger supporters say combining the agencies would allow for better coordinated schedules, a shared fare system, and it would mean the agencies are not competing for state funds and resources.
