Lawmakers must act to protect communities from transit crisis

As one of the longest serving mayors in the state of Illinois, I’ve seen my fair share of crises confronting our state and the Northeastern Illinois region.

Early in my career, I learned that having a seat at the table for regional discussions — through organizations like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus — is one of the most effective ways to advocate for our local communities.

Over the past two years, regional leaders have made it clear: our transit system is facing a crisis.

A $770 million budget gap is projected for 2026, and without legislative action, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace will be forced to implement deep service cuts.

We strongly encourage state legislators to act before the end of the legislative session in May to enable new, sustainable transit funding and implement critical reforms — without which communities like Batavia and our neighbors will face harmful service cuts.

Batavia has a rich economic fabric and is home to major job centers for the region, including world-class research facility Fermilab and Aldi’s corporate headquarters. We know that part of the reason companies choose to locate here, and people choose to live and work here, is because we have a well-functioning transportation system that moves people and goods where they need to go.

Without transit service, congestion would increase, and gridlock would eliminate the region’s competitive advantage.

Batavia also has one of the fastest growing senior populations in the region, with new senior housing being developed here to support them. When I work with these developers, one of the most frequently mentioned reasons for locating here are the robust mobility services available to seniors and people with disabilities. Pace’s ADA and On-Demand services allow people to maintain independence as they age so they can still make trips to the doctor, grocery stores and to see family and friends.

Without additional funding, paratransit service on the weekends could be cut entirely in the suburbs, leaving many residents in communities like mine stranded.

I have been mayor of Batavia since RTA’s first major reforms in 1983, as well as the 2008 funding and reform package, and I have witnessed how underfunding and a lack of clear authority has had an impact on the transit agencies’ abilities to deliver high-quality service over the years.

An empowered RTA can achieve rider-focused priorities around frequent, safe and reliable service without compromising the consensus-driven decision making that have been a hallmark of the system for so many years.

As the General Assembly considers these issues, we encourage timely action to advance both sustainable funding and meaningful reform that will support communities like Batavia and others throughout the region.

• Jeffery Schielke is mayor of Batavia, chairman of the Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors and a Pace Suburban Bus board member.