Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects,
2026 Operating Budget and Program, Proposed and the Financial Plan for 2027 and 2028
Notice is hereby given that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board desires public comment before it considers an ordinance to adopt the Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan for 2027 and 2028. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at CTA headquarters located at 567 W. Lake Street, second floor conference room, Chicago, Illinois 60661. The facility is accessible to people with disabilities.
At the public hearing, an American Sign Language interpreter and a Spanish interpreter will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who require other accommodations to review the budget or provide feedback should contact the Office of the Board Secretary at [email protected] or by calling 312-681-5022 or contact Relay.
CTA will afford an opportunity for interested persons or agencies to be heard at the public hearing with respect to social, economic, environmental and other related aspects of the Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan for 2027 and 2028. Written and oral comments will be taken into consideration prior to adoption of the Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan for 2027 and 2028.
WRITTEN STATEMENTS. Written comments may be submitted for consideration in the following manner: by correspondence addressed to Chicago Transit Authority, Office of the Board Secretary, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661; by hand delivery to the above address turned in to the first floor mail room; by fax to 312-681-5035; or by email to [email protected]. Written comments must be submitted by 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
ORAL STATEMENTS. Members of the public who wish to speak at the public hearing are encouraged to register prior to the hearing, by completing and submitting a Request to Speak form online at transitchicago.com/finance by 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Persons wishing to provide an in-person oral statement at the public hearing will be announced to deliver their remarks during the public hearing. Persons wishing to deliver their remarks via dial-in must indicate the dial-in option on the Request to Speak form. Registered speakers who have opted to dial-in will be called by CTA, at the telephone number provided on their Request to Speak form, during the Wednesday, November 5, 2025 hearing to be connected to the public hearing proceedings.
REGISTRATION AT THE TIME OF THE HEARING. Members of the public may also make in-person requests while the hearing is in process. Such requests will be accepted between 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Individuals who pre-register to speak will be heard first. Individuals who request to speak while the hearing is in progress will then speak in the order their request was received.
Be advised that as to the Capital Program of Projects, CTA is seeking financial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the United States Department of Transportation under the Federal Transit Act of 1964, as amended, and related statutes; the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (Part 8.5) and related statutes; and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) under the Regional Transportation Authority Act. If the following program does not change, then it will be considered the FY 2026-2030 final Capital Program of Projects. This notice is to meet the requirements of the FTA, IDOT, and the RTA.
FY 2026 Estimate
| Urbanized Areas: |
Total: $775,917,048 |
|
Recipients:
|
|
| Chicago Transit Authority |
$444,442,868 |
| Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Metra) |
$244,183,016 |
| Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Pace) |
$55,834,531 |
| |
$744,460,415 |
| Regional Transportation Authority |
$744,460,415 |
| Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) |
$31,343,980 |
| Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) |
$112,653 |
| |
Total: $775,917,048 |
Chicago Transit Authority Section 5307 Program of Capital Projects – FY 2026
Bond Repayment (Principal and Interest) (91,446,361), Equipment and Non-Revenue Vehicles Program (2,000,000), Office Building Lease (6,187,888), Public Address Communication Modernization and Upgrade (6,000,000), Purchase Rail Cars - 7000 Series (44,539,472), Security Camera Modernization and Upgrade (2,379,629), Rail Station Communications Infrastructure Modernization (5,000,000), Bus Overhaul (16,318,253), Rail Car Overhaul (8,485,959), Fiber Optics Communication/Network Upgrades (1,500,000), Rail Car Propulsion System - 2600 and 3200 Series (8,880,753), Purchase Electric Buses and Charging Equipment (10,137,172), Bus Turnaround ADA and Site Improvements- Halsted and 79th Street (4,555,078), Future Order - New 9000 Series Railcars (5,636,433), Elevator Replacements - Accessibility Improvements (4,633,224), and Capital Administration (1,093,971)
Net 2026 FTA 5307 Formula Projects…...$218,794,193
FTA 5307 Formula Total…...$218,794,193
Phase 1 Supplemental Capital Projects – FY 2026
Bond Repayment (Principal and Interest) (99,424,982), Elevated Track and Structure Systemwide (9,595,891), Facilities - Critical Needs (10,000,000), Facilities - Maintenance (3,030,281), Implement Security Projects - HLS Program (6,000,000), Train Tracker Sign Project (1,033,000), Program Management (6,606,375), Purchase Rail Cars - 7000 Series (20,752,081), Refresh and Renew Program Expansion (3,000,000), Security Camera Modernization and Upgrade (1,908,710), Subway Life Safety (12,750,000), Rail-Borne Vehicle Equipment Replacement (3,000,000), Bus Overhaul (17,343,747), Rail Car Overhaul (42,257,920), Rail Car Propulsion System - 2600 and 3200 Series (4,822,841), Purchase Electric Buses and Charging Equipment (44,255,332), Elevator Replacement - Accessibility Improvements (8,916,776), Escalator Replacement - Accessibility Improvements (7,500,000), Forest Park Branch Modernization - Track Design (25,400,000), Red Line Extension (943,463,828), Capital Administration (2,178,243), and Midway Shop - Wheel Truing Machine Building Extension and Access Track (13,800,000)
Net 2026 Supplemental Total……$1,287,040,007
| Sources of Funds-5307 |
|
| 5307 Urbanized Formula |
$218,794,193 |
| Total 5307 Funding |
$218,794,193 |
| Sources of Funds-Phase I Supplemental |
|
| 5337 State of Good Repair |
$212,796,445 |
| 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities Formula |
$12,852,230 |
| 5309 Capital Investment Grant |
$350,000,000 |
| Congestions Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) |
$74,255,332 |
| Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) |
$30,000,000 |
| Congestion Relief Program |
$15,806,000 |
| 5303 United Work Program (UWP) Planning |
$840,000 |
| Transit Security Grant Program (DHS) |
$6,000,000 |
| Transit Motor Fuel (Pay As You Go) |
$161,190,000 |
| Transit Tax Increment Financing |
$173,090,000 |
| CTA Bond – Red Line Extension |
$250,000,000 |
| CTA Share for Competitive Grants |
$210,000 |
| Total Phase I Supplemental Funding |
$1,287,040,007 |
| Grand Total |
$1,505,834,200 |
The 2026 proposed fare changes are scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2026 and are outlined below.
| |
Current
Effective 2/20/23 |
Proposed
Effective 2/1/2026 |
| CTA Regular Fare Type |
|
|
| Full Bus Fare [1] |
$2.25 |
$2.50 |
| Full Rail Fare [1] |
$2.50 |
$2.75 |
| Full Fare Cash (Bus only; no transfers) |
$2.50 |
$2.75 |
| PAYGO [2] |
$2.25 bus/$2.50 rail |
$3 bus/$3 rail |
| Single Ride Ticket [3] |
$3.00 |
$3.50 |
| CTA/Pace 1-Day/24-Hour Pass |
$5 |
$6 |
| CTA/Pace 3-Day/72-Hour Pass |
$15 |
|
| CTA/Pace 7-Day Pass |
$20 |
$25 |
| CTA/Pace 30-Day Pass |
$75 |
$85 |
| Regional Day Pass (4) |
$2.50 |
$3.00 |
| Regional Connect Pass (4) |
$30 |
$45 |
| O'Hare Station Fare [5] |
$5 |
$6 |
| Reduced Fare Types (6] |
|
|
| Reduced Fare Bus |
$1.10 |
$1.25 |
| Reduced Fare Rail |
$1.25 |
$1.25 |
| Reduced Fare Cash (Bus Only, no transfers) |
$1.25 |
$1.25 |
| CTA/Pace 30-Day Reduced Pass |
$35 |
$40 |
| Reduced O'Hare Station Fare |
$1.25 |
$2.00 |
| Student Fare (7) |
|
|
| Bus & Rail Student Permit Fare |
$0.75 |
$1.00 |
| Student Fare Cash (Bus Only) |
$0.75 |
$1.00 |
| Student 7-day Pass (New) |
|
$7.50 |
| Student 30-day Pass (New) |
|
$30 |
| #128 Soldier Field Express |
|
|
| All Roundtrips |
$5 |
$6 |
| |
$2.50 reduced fare |
$3.00 reduced fare |
Notes to the Fare Table:
[1] Fares paid with Ventra Transit Account Value.
[2] PAYGO - Pay-as-you-go fare for bus and rail except at O'Hare Blue Line Station using personal bank card or phone.
[3] Single Ride Ticket fare includes transfer for bus and rail.
[4] Regional day pass requires initial purchase of Metra day pass and Regional Connect Pass requires initial purchase of Metra 30-day pass.
[5] O'Hare Employees pay the regular rail base fare at O'Hare Blue Line Station.
[6] CTA offers reduced fares via RTA Reduced Fare Permits to Seniors as required by 49 CFR Part 609 and free rides to eligible Seniors as required by 70 ILCS 3605/51(b). Similarly, CTA offers reduced fare to Persons with Disabilities as required by 49 CFR Part 609 and free rides to eligible Persons with Disabilities as required by 70 ILCS 3605/52. In addition, CTA also offers reduced fares to children aged 7-11.
[7] The Student Reduced Fare is for children 7-20 with a valid CTA Student Riding Permit. The current fare is available on school days between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. The proposed fare will be valid on all days and at all times.
The Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan will be available for public inspection, in standard size print and large print, on Monday, October 13, 2025 and will continue to be available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the CTA security desk, first floor, Chicago Transit Authority, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. These same financial documents will also be available during this period on CTA’s website, www.transitchicago.com in both pdf and plain text formats. The Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan are also available on the RTA website at https://www.rtachicago.org/transit-funding/2026-regional-transit-budget.
Copies of the Proposed 2026-2030 Capital Program of Projects, 2026 Operating Budget and Program and the Financial Plan are also available for review in standard size print and large print at the Archer Heights Branch Library, 5055 South Archer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60632; Austin Branch Library, 5615 West Race Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60644; Harold Washington Public Library, 400 South State Street, 5th floor, Chicago, Illinois 60605; Avalon Branch Library, 8148 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60617; West Town Branch Library, 1625 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60622; Woodson Regional Public Library, 9525 South Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60628; Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, 60201; Evergreen Park Public Library, 9400 South Troy, Evergreen Park, Illinois 60805; Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Steet, Oak Park, Illinois 60301; and the Skokie Public Library, 5215 West Oakton, Skokie, Illinois 60077.