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Labor Alliance for Public Transportation Reacts to RTA Report (Chicago, IL) — The Labor Alliance for Public Transportation is raising alarms over the latest report from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), warning that potential service cuts would have dire consequences for working families across Northeastern Illinois.
The RTA report outlines the impact of a possible 40% reduction in public transit services, a move the labor alliance says would disproportionately affect essential workers and low-income riders who depend on reliable transportation.
“A 40% cut on services disproportionately impacts people who rely on public transit at all hours to get to and from work to provide for their families and keep the robust economic engine of Northeastern Illinois running,” the alliance stated in response to the report.
The labor group is calling for immediate action, urging transit officials and lawmakers to implement reforms and establish a dedicated revenue stream to sustain and improve public transportation rather than resorting to service reductions.
“Riders and workers have made it clear that they want a safer, smarter transit system,” the alliance continued. “The riders who rely on transit and the hard-working individuals who serve the public deserve better. The time is now. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road; we need reform and a dedicated revenue stream that prioritizes riders and the workers who get us to and from our destinations, not service cuts that balance the budget on the backs of riders.”
With transit systems nationwide facing financial shortfalls, advocates stress that the consequences of inaction could be severe, potentially leading to job losses, longer commute times, and economic instability in communities that depend on public transportation the most.
The RTA has yet to announce its final decision on potential service reductions, but transit advocates, including the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, are continuing to push for solutions that protect both riders and workers.
Labor Alliance for Public Transportation Reacts to RTA Report
