Transit Board Proposes $5 Billion Budget for 2027
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority's proposed operating plan includes no fare increases and expanded reduced-fare programs.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Northern Illinois Transit Authority proposed a $5 billion operating budget for 2027. The board will take public comment until December 4 and is scheduled to approve a final budget on December 10.
Why it matters
The plan includes $1.3 billion in additional funding approved by state lawmakers last year and responds to rider concerns about public safety, connections, and service reliability. The proposal calls for sustained investment from Springfield to balance repairs with new system requirements.
The Cook County Sheriff's Police transit patrols that began in March have resulted in 276 arrests, including 160 felony arrests and nearly 11,000 blocked attempts to evade paying a fare. The proposed budget includes more than $56 million for the Ride Safe incident reporting app, which has not yet entered its pilot phase.
The players
Northern Illinois Transit Authority
The regional transit agency created by state lawmakers to replace the Regional Transportation Authority, overseeing the CTA, Metra and Pace systems.
Cook County Sheriff's Police
The county law enforcement agency whose transit patrols have produced arrests and fare-evasion enforcement on the regional transit system.
The details
The proposed budget directs funding to improve slow zones on the CTA rail system, add routes to its 24-hour bus network, and increase Pace service by more than 100,000 hours. Budget officials identified $60 million in efficiencies, exceeding the $47 million required by law, and the plan includes no fare increases.
Timeline
March: Cook County Sheriff's Police transit patrols began.
Last year: State lawmakers approved $1.3 billion and created the Northern Illinois Transit Authority.
Dec. 4: Public comment period on the proposed budget closes.
Dec. 10: NITA board is scheduled to approve the final budget.
Legal Context
The budget is the first full operating plan from the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, the agency state lawmakers created to replace the Regional Transportation Authority. Its $1.3 billion in new state funding and enforcement-linked spending reflect the framework that law set up for the region.
Riders in the Chicago region would see no fare increases under the proposal, along with expanded reduced-fare programs. Added CTA and Pace service and slow-zone repairs would affect daily commutes if the board approves the plan on December 10.
The takeaway
Illinois residents who ride regional transit should watch the December 10 vote, since it will determine fare policy and service changes for 2027. Public comment before December 4 is one direct way to weigh in on the plan.
What happens next
The board will take public comment until December 4 and is scheduled to vote on the final budget at its December 10 meeting.
Further reading
For more on how transit policing is handled across the state, see Illinois Law Enforcement.
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