CHICAGO (WLS) — State lawmakers from the Chicago area are calling for a special legislative session to fix the mass transit budget woes facing the state.

The Regional Transit Authority faces a $771 million budget deficit that needs a fix by the end of the year. The fix was expected to be passed in the October veto session.

However, in a letter sent out Wednesday, the lawmakers said layoffs could happen as soon as early September if nothing is done before then.

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State legislative leaders have said they’ll address public transit funding in October, but some say that’s too late for thousands of transit workers who could soon be given layoff notices.

At a townhall in Uptown, there was a dire warning about public transit fare hikes, service cuts and layoffs due to the end of federal pandemic funding.

“It’s time to go back to Springfield, and it’s time to get this done,” State Senator Mike Simmons said.

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Simmons is one of at least three Springfield lawmakers calling for a special session before the end of August. They penned a letter warning that without a funding solution “40,000 [transit] workers” could “start receiving pink slips as soon as early September.”

“They have to anticipate now that they won’t get funding, and so that means they’re already starting to think about service cuts,” Simmons said. “They’re already thinking about what routes they’re going to cut, and I don’t even want it to get to that point.”

The call for a special session comes as the RTA board is set to vote Thursday morning on a plan to transfer $74 million from Metra and Pace to the Chicago Transit Authority to stave off CTA service cuts that could come before those at Metra and Pace.

Metra shared the following statement:
“Metra understands the need for the region’s transit agencies to work together and share resources to address this unprecedented financial situation. We are hopeful that Springfield will soon reach a solution in which all of us receive stable and adequate funding to continue and expand service for all of northeast Illinois.”

Pace shared the following statement:
“Pace is focused on working with our sister agencies to address the fiscal cliff collectively, recognizing CTA’s timeline in early 2026 and preparing accordingly. At the same time, we are mindful that shifting resources away from suburban service will have real impacts on our riders, and we encourage funding solutions that support the entire region.”

The CTA shared the following statement:
“The CTA is committed to remaining in close discussion with the RTA, Metra and Pace during this crucial time for public transit in our region. We are eager to achieve legislation that provides reliable transit funding that not only maintains current service levels, but also helps to deliver the levels of public transit service the region deserves.”

READ MORE | Illinois lawmakers confident they can find funding for $771M public transit shortfall

“This is not just a Chicago issue,” Simmons said.

If there’s no special session, legislators say they’ll tackle transit funding during the October veto session.

“There is a bill that’s being developed and resources that are associated with that bill that will come forward at the time of our veto session,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said.

The governor did not say what funding solutions are being discussed, only that talks continue among legislative leaders.

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