Working Group Products

The RTA Stakeholder Working Groups concluded in June 2022. Technical Working Groups are set to end by September 2022. Products of these groups will be used as inputs for the next Regional Transit Strategic Plan and are cataloged on this page. Materials from individual working groups such a meeting agendas, presentations, and summaries can be found on each group page on this hub.

2023 Agenda for Advocacy and Action

August Update: After months of working together to develop recommended goals, strategies, and performance measures, the Strategic Plan Stakeholder Working Groups have concluded and the RTA is sharing the 2023 Agenda for Advocacy and Action that outlines key priorities for the future of transit in northeastern Illinois.

The 14 items on the agenda came from the Stakeholder Working Groups, which met from April through June and developed a total of 28 goals and 131 strategies. The RTA created the agenda to highlight items where we see the most urgency and collective energy from multiple organizations, and where it is practical to do the most immediate work following plan adoption in 2023.

  • Advocacy items include longer-term, substantive changes to how our regional transit system works, and largely include changes that the RTA and Service Boards (CTA, Metra, and Pace) need support from other organizations, communities, and political leaders to accomplish, such as seeking new sustainable funding for transit or working with roadway agencies to prioritize transit-friendly streets.

  • Action items have the potential to be more immediate. They may not be easy, but will help address changing and unmet needs of riders and the communities we serve. These are things the RTA and Service Boards can take the lead to implement with the support of our stakeholders such as improvements to safety, accessibility, and affordability of transit.

Advocacy items and action items go hand in hand and are essential to accomplish together in order to both secure the transit system’s financial future and ensure the system works better for everyone. The RTA will be sharing the agenda with a wide variety of people and groups over the next month. If your organization would like a presentation about how the list was created or to discuss a role in acting on the items on the list, contact us at Communications@RTAChicago.org. Items on the list may continue to evolve as the RTA develops a draft plan, due to be published in late 2022.

Working Group Memos

Each working group -- Transit Service, Infrastructure Investment, and Financial Responsibility -- developed a memo to capture the group's recommendations and consensus. Working Group members were given the opportunity to comment on the memos. Memos have been finalized and all comments have been addressed in the comment logs linked below. The goals and strategies recommended in the memos will continue to be refined as the RTA gathers additional public and stakeholder input and prepares the draft plan that will be released in December 2022. Follow evolution of the plan here.