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Letters: To save mass transit in the Chicago region, we must think long term

Letters: To save mass transit in the Chicago region, we must think long term

Chicago Tribune07-05-2025
The Regional Transportation Authority's new ad campaign has people fuming. There's a lot to criticize about transit management. We think the RTA is missing the mark on the scale of reforms needed to improve transit, but the agency is right about one thing: Funding is urgent.
If lawmakers kick the can down the road, we'll see a lot more public money wasted, economic opportunity squandered, riders ghosted and city streets gridlocked. If we hit summer with no solution, the agencies would immediately roll back service improvements that are currently underway, including Metra's Regional Rail plan, Pace's Pulse bus rapid transit and the CTA's new 10-minute frequent bus network. Instead of making things better, staff members would have to devote their summer and fall to planning for funding cuts, mass layoffs and 40% service cuts by early 2026.
Transit is the backbone of our economy, so this would affect millions of people who never set foot on a bus or train. In just the first year, our region could lose $2.6 billion in gross domestic product, and 500,000 bus riders would be cut off from their local stops. Putting that figure in perspective: The Kennedy Expressway carries only 250,000 cars a day!
Travel needs have changed since COVID-19, but cities around the world have increased transit ridership by serving many trips outside work: school, doctor, family, recreation, etc. That's how transit used to work in Chicago too, before austerity dwindled capacity to a focus on commuters.
Resilient systems diversify! Fast, frequent, safe service throughout the day and week would connect communities across the region, while unified schedules, fares and service planning would save money and improve the rider experience. To make these shifts, we need governance reform, time and stable finances.
Public transportation serves the public good. It is in our collective interest to ensure it works well. Every day we delay in finding a fiscal solution is another day wasted planning cuts instead of planning improvements.
The RTA is not alone in calling for a funding fix. Environmental, business and labor leaders agree. At the Environmental Law & Policy Center, we can see the stakes for our air quality and climate impact if we pushed thousands of people into driving more. We must think long term about what's best for the region, and that means saving transit.
— Lena Guerrero Reynolds, communications and policy advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago
Transforming Chicago
The 'abundance' movement is taking U.S. politics by storm. Named after the recently released book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, its advocates argue that America has the capacity to provide housing, health care and transportation for all, but is held back by regulatory barriers, institutional inertia and a scarcity mindset. More controversially, Klein and Thompson argue that fixing these issues is the key to reviving healthy governance in blue states — and thereby winning back the trust of voters who have gone over to Donald Trump.
The diagnosis could not be more spot-on here in Chicago, where Trump surged in 2024 relative to 2020. So what do these ideas mean here?
First and foremost, abundance means building housing. A lot more housing. Chicago's restrictive zoning rules and high construction costs have led to a virtual collapse in housing development. The results: Rents are spiking, with some outlets reporting a 12% increase in average rents between 2024 and 2025. If the city had trouble retaining people before, a major increase in rents might tip it into serious population loss.
Simply building more homes would keep rents down and generate more tax revenue for the city, but our politicians refuse to make obvious changes. At a minimum, Chicago must eliminate its parking minimums — as cities like San Francisco; Austin, Texas; and Minneapolis have done — and permit four-flats in all residential areas. Beyond that, we should permit larger developments by right in neighborhoods with the transportation infrastructure to support them.
Beyond changes to zoning rules, an abundance approach to land use would move away from the grubby, small-scale thinking of City Hall culture. Arbitrary decision-making among aldermen makes business unpredictable and difficult. Rather than have officials negotiate every little point with individual businesses, the abundance approach would be to simplify the rules, allow more things by default and not make exceptions.
The biggest idea in the abundance movement is that for government to be trustworthy, it has to deliver. Chicago is clearly falling short of that goal — but it doesn't have to.
— Lionel Barrow, Chicago
Austin versus Chicago
In his op-ed ('Austin, Texas, figures out affordable housing while Chicago postures,' May 1), Micky Horstman writes, 'This year, rents in Austin (Texas) dropped again to $1,436 per month. How?' Could it possibly be because of the recent surplus in rental properties and the slowdown in population growth in Austin?
Austin sits on 325 square miles of land and has about 980,000 residents, and Chicago sits on 234 square miles of land and has 2.7 million residents. Could it possibly be because Austin has 40% more land to build on and 37% of Chicago's population? Could it possibly be because of supply and demand, i.e., simple economics?
Definitely has to be policy, right?
— Brian Collins, Orland Park
The tax wagon returns
With respect to the editorial 'Believe it or not, Springfield is mulling a jobs tax' (May 1), I can't believe state Sen. Ram Villivalam. This is the same person who recently pushed for exploring a miles-driven tax. I seem to recall him saying, in typical politician speak, something such as this won't affect anyone since it's a study. Sure, and if the tax passes into law, we are all getting hit with more taxes.
Well, here he is again suggesting more taxes. Sure, he, along with other politicians, will play it off as a 'small' 1% fee, insignificant. We are already one of the highest taxed states in the union. Government's job is not charity, and this sure smells like forced charity. He has only been in office since 2019, but I think he needs to go already. If all he can offer is more taxes, his vision is limited.
Anybody can roll out the tax wagon. Time for new leadership that offer ideas other than taxing the people who are already being taxed into oblivion in Illinois.
— Keith Mockenhaupt, Chicago
Thank a nurse this week
Regardless of their specialty or where they practice, nurses play critical roles in treating injuries and illness, as well as keeping people healthy and safe. They are often at the front line of health care, at the stretcherside delivering expert care while comforting and advocating for their patients and families.
Throughout my years in emergency nursing, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with nurses across many aspects of our profession. My career has taken me through the intensive care unit, the emergency department, flight nursing, hospital leadership, research, advocacy and as a leader at many levels of the Emergency Nurses Association.
Throughout this time, I have learned from and been inspired by nurses from all walks of life, who each traveled a unique path into nursing and have riveting stories to tell about their journeys. I also love presenting at student nursing events and sharing in the excitement of young people who are getting ready to dive into this rewarding, challenging, humbling and amazing profession.
During National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, I want to express appreciation on behalf of myself and the Emergency Nurses Association for all nurses and the work they do.
Nurses use their expertise to respond to the most traumatic injuries and care for patients in all fields — from oncology to obstetrics to orthopedics. They educate the public about illness and injury prevention, conduct research that leads to better patient outcomes, and teach today's students who are working to be tomorrow's nurses.
I encourage everyone, when they have an opportunity, to thank their nurses for all they do to make communities healthier and safer.
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Analysis: Trump could get burned by conspiracy theory fires he's helped spread
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State Sen. Donald DeWitte will not seek reelection in 2026, says current priority is transit fiscal cliff
State Sen. Donald DeWitte will not seek reelection in 2026, says current priority is transit fiscal cliff

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State Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, will not be seeking reelection in 2026, according to a recent announcement from the legislator. DeWitte, elected to the state Senate in 2018, is currently serving out his second term representing Illinois' 33rd District. He also previously served as mayor of St. Charles. He told The Beacon-News he's not planning to retire, but wants to 'redirect (his) energy' to some other opportunity in public service. He said he wouldn't definitively rule out running for another office, but said he wasn't seeking anything currently. But, for now, he said the mass transit fiscal cliff is 'number one on (his) plate right now' as he finishes out his term in the General Assembly in Springfield. Chicago area transit agencies are currently facing a $771 million budget shortfall, according to past reporting. Illinois lawmakers recently adjourned their spring legislative session without passing legislation that would avert the fiscal cliff. The Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, has said that riders could experience a 40% reduction in transit service if the budget shortfall isn't dealt with, according to past reporting. Nearly 3,000 workers could lose their jobs. DeWitte is currently the minority spokesperson for the state Senate's Transportation Committee, and previously represented Kane County on the RTA board. He said previous legislation seeking to avert the fiscal cliff is 'virtually dead in the water,' and that there's 'really no legislation for any of us to consider.' Lawmakers can still return to Springfield to try and pass legislation to fill the budget gap, but it would need a three-fifths majority in both chambers, rather than a simple majority, to pass. Transit service cuts are not set to start until January, or even later into next year, according to past reporting. But the RTA has said that transit agencies will have to make their budgets for next year assuming they're not going to be getting any more funding. DeWitte said he hopes to see the budget gap filled by reallocating funds cut elsewhere in the budget, rather than finding a new source of revenue via increasing taxes — like the $1.50 retail delivery fee that was previously proposed to generate additional revenue. As for the hopeful successors to his seat in the 2026 election, DeWitte said that he announced his plans to step down when he did to make a 'clear runway' for other candidates for the seat to begin circulating nominating petitions, which they can start gathering signatures for on Aug. 5 'I just think it's time for some fresh energy in the Senate,' he said. DeWitte said he won't be making any endorsements in a Republican primary, but thinks a moderate pick is necessary to win the seat, particularly as many suburban communities are experiencing a shift away from the Republican Party. 'I've always believed that taking a moderate approach is the way to get anything accomplished in Springfield,' he said. 'It has served me well for seven years. … Anybody coming in is going to have to realize that, because of the makeup of the district and the shift from red to blue, they're going to need to start moderating on a number of issues.'

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