Those seeking to join the exodus out of Illinois got a few more boxes to check last week if they’re contemplating a household move out of state: More taxes and fees added to the already-high tax burden we all share.
That’s because of the mass transit bailout bill the state legislature adopted in the early morning hours of Halloween. Lots of tricks and no treats for weary Illinoisans saddled with increasing debt.
Losers in the massive $1.5 billion package enacted to avoid the so-called “financial cliff” for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter rail and Pace bus service are motorists, mainly those in the suburbs surrounding Chicago. Higher tolls on the Illinois Tollway system, increased sales taxes and shoddy roads are in the future for drivers in the Land of Lincoln, as lawmakers siphoned off gas tax funds in return for mass transit.
The last-minute legislation pushed through the statehouse by the supermajority reign of Democrats is meant to help the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Agency, Metra commuter rail and Pace Suburban Bus avoid a $230 million funding shortfall in 2026 as federal pandemic relief money has run its course. The funding deficit is projected to grow to $834 million in 2027, and $937 million in 2028.
If those figures are accurate. Remember, mass transit officials originally proclaimed the “fiscal cliff” to be $771 million for 2026, which would mean service cuts of up to 40%. However, that figure was pared miraculously to $230 million.
Little matter now as Democrats in both the House and Senate are waxing poetic over what they’re calling the historic nature of the 1,036-page measure, which also creates yet another umbrella agency to oversee mass transit in the region: “This isn’t just another transportation bill,” state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, optimistically told the Chicago Tribune after the vote.
“It’s a transformation bill. For 50 years, Illinois has been trying to fix transit one piece at a time,” Buckner said proudly. “No other state has ever attempted a reform this large.”
Whoopee! Meanwhile, tolls will jump drastically by 45 cents, meaning tollway drivers, mainly suburbanites, will be paying about 90 cents a toll when passing under every toll plaza.
My meager math skills figure that’s a 60% increase, with future toll hikes tied to inflation. Higher tolls take effect on June 1, 2026. The hikes are estimated to bring in $1 billion a year.
In addition to skyrocketing tolls, the bill, which Gov. JB Pritzker says he’ll sign, shifts some $860 million in motor fuel taxes and $200 million in road fund revenues to the mass transit pot.
Wait, there’s more.
The plan calls for raising the current RTA sales tax by 0.25 percentage points to 1% in Lake County, where drivers already pay a four-cent gas tax approved by the Lake County Board a few years back. That considerable jump in the RTA sales tax is on top of the gas tax motorists pay at the pump when filling up.
Others in the six-county RTA region — DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Will — also face similar sales tax increases. Lawmakers believe this new revenue enhancement will generate another $478 million for mass transit.
Not surprisingly, most of the funding is for Chicagoland. One issue still to be worked out is fare increases of 25% for the CTA, Metra and Pace. Prior to the pandemic, half of mass transit funding was generated by passengers.
How all this intermingling of road funds into transit funds squares with the governor’s continuing Rebuild Illinois capital plan is anyone’s guess. Pritzker and officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation last month unveiled the state’s largest multi-year infrastructure program, which is also funded by the state’s motor fuel tax.
Totaling $50.6 billion over six years, the governor said his newest program would allocate $400 million to fund 223 local projects, based on priorities proposed by counties, cities, townships, transit districts and other agencies.
“Over the next six years, we’ll continue investing across the board in order to build the best infrastructure system in the nation — and create good jobs for Illinoisans in the process,” Pritzker said at an Oct. 16 news conference. “From Chicago and Rockford to Springfield and Decatur, to Carbondale and Metropolis, every corner of our great state will benefit.”
Projects are across state and local jurisdictions and in all 102 counties. The $50.6 billion pales in comparison to the previous record of $41.4 billion in projects last year, pegged toward road and bridge construction, along with other infrastructure work.
Pritzker has considered his Rebuild Illinois program one of the hallmarks of his administration and how he will consider trimming any portion of it as he seeks a third four-year term next year will become clearer in the coming weeks.
What’s clear, though, is that drivers, especially those of us in the six-county area, should begin squirreling away additional cash to pay for increased tolls and sales taxes. Or, bypass the tollway altogether and head to crammed local arteries.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
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