New legislation calls for no public transit fare increases, but tolls and sales tax are set to increase
State lawmakers passed a major transit reform bill last week to prop up the CTA, Metra and Pace with $1.5 billion in additional tax revenue — helping to stave off cuts that would have affected millions of transit users.
But the bill — now awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature — affects more than just users of public transit. The legislation raises the Chicago region’s sales tax and shifts the state’s gas tax revenue to transit. It also increases tollway fees, raising up to $1 billion annually.
Environmental group Illinois Environmental Council called the recent legislative session the “biggest 24 hours in state climate action in state history.”
The bill “addresses air and climate pollution in Illinois’ transportation sector, which is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions,” the council said.
Dany Robles, Illinois Environmental Council’s legislative relations director, said in a statement, “While the federal government repeals climate policies, Illinois is investing $1.5 billion dollars in public transit, which is key to mitigating air and climate pollution.”
Read the full story here.