Combating fare evasion could help lagging CTA ridership

By Ravi Mishra

07/17/2026

Fare evasion leads to lower revenue and higher crime. Two cities have found a way to fight it.

Toll and sales tax hikes: What Pritzker said vs. what Pritzker did

By Rich Witzel

07/16/2026

The governor said Illinoisans wouldn’t be interested in a toll increase to keep the Bears. Then he signaled support for what would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker doubled your gas tax and is sitting on the money

By Jess Plowman

07/10/2026

The law promised major infrastructure improvements, but the state’s roads aren’t in any better shape than when it took effect seven years ago.

‘Toll-Free in ’73’? Illinois tolls cost drivers $27 billion since then

By Patrick Andriesen

04/13/2026

Drivers paid nearly $27 billion in tolls from 2024 back to 1973, the year the roads were to become toll-free. Now the largest passenger toll hike in Illinois history is possible.

TAGS: Illinois Tollway

High sales taxes suck a little joy out of Illinois holidays

By Jerry Barmore

12/16/2025

Illinois sales taxes on holiday purchases rank No. 8 in the U.S., but Chicago charges shoppers as much as 10.25% with plans to go higher.

TAGS: sales tax

$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?

By Patrick Andriesen, Ravi Mishra

12/11/2025

Chicago-area drivers could end up paying $1 billion more in tolls each year as part of a deal state lawmakers admitted was made to get labor union support.

TAGS: Illinois Tollway

Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems

By Dylan Sharkey

12/09/2025

Chicago-area transit riders deserve safe, reliable service. But the Regional Transportation Authority board might soon ask the wrong people to pay for it.

TAGS: RTA: Regional Transportation Authority

Chicago’s high sales taxes about to increase to No. 1 in nation

By Ravi Mishra

11/11/2025

Chicago-area sales taxes were already No. 2 in the U.S., but new taxing authority handed to the Regional Transportation Authority will raise them to No. 1.

Lawmakers push DoorDash, Uber Eats delivery tax statewide for Chicago transit

By LyLena Estabine

10/17/2025

Lawmakers may approve a statewide delivery tax on Doordash and Uber Eats to fund Chicago transit, hitting all Illinoisans who shop online, even those who don’t use CTA, Metra or Pace.

5 years later, Metra, CTA, Pace nowhere near pre-COVID levels

By Ravi Mishra, Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

07/25/2025

Ridership on Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace is still down 30% from pre-pandemic levels. The agency overseeing all three needs to look at spending before demanding $1.5 billion from taxpayers.

Regional Transportation Authority

Combating fare evasion could help lagging CTA ridership

Toll and sales tax hikes: What Pritzker said vs. what Pritzker did

Pritzker doubled your gas tax and is sitting on the money

‘Toll-Free in ’73’? Illinois tolls cost drivers $27 billion since then

High sales taxes suck a little joy out of Illinois holidays

$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?

Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems

Chicago’s high sales taxes about to increase to No. 1 in nation

Lawmakers push DoorDash, Uber Eats delivery tax statewide for Chicago transit

5 years later, Metra, CTA, Pace nowhere near pre-COVID levels

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students