>> We are just days away from the end of the Illinois General Assembly Spring Session.

And among the many, 40 issues, lawmakers are tackling the future of Chicagoland.

Public transit CTA, Metra and Pace are facing a 770 million dollar hole in their budget.

But lawmakers have been clear that they aren't coming through with any more money unless they see reforms to how those agencies are run.

But what those reforms look like and where the money will come from.

Well, that has yet to be resolved.

Here's what one writer had to say at a rally yesterday.

>> the city.

people be able going.

I'm worried about all excellent.

If you are to get a system entirety.

>> Joining us to discuss the looming deadline and the impact of transit are pending.

A coach president of Amalgamated Transit Union local 308, a union that represents Chicago Transit authority workers, Orlando Rojas, the train conductor at Metro and legislative representative at sheet male heir sheet, metal air Rail Transportation, Union, local 6.53 and Audrey wedding senior director at the Metropolitan Planning Council.

Thank you all for joining us.

a coach that clip we heard from a hurricane from a rally backing a proposal from a number of labor groups.

That's an effort you've supported, what kinds of reforms might we see from that proposal?

>> Well, number, want that on that proposal.

One of them safety safety for the public as well as the employees.

Providers ship for the public.

wow.

what more being they're number one?

I like the and the roads I'm it.

Police for end to >> You know, we've heard it, you know, from a lot from legislators about safety concerns.

And I want to get to those Audrey winning.

Other proposals have gone farther than this bill backed by labor groups perhaps is far as calling for merging all bus and rail service into one new agency.

What would be the the advantage of going quite so far?

>> Yes, we really would like to see the region take Right or center proposal where I don't different functions that alone Griggs the involved.

If we had all fair policy and let the regional level so that riders could transfer between different systems and not have to pay to fares if we had all service planning handled at the regional level.

So that connections could be timed.

Well, so we really think there's a lot of opportunity to have everything integrated in a way that it makes it really easy and appealing for riders to travel around the region, using transit and the other car behind.

>> And, you know, Audrey, when you when you speak with with lawmakers about these different, you know, needs these these different passenger centric ideas, what sort of a reception do you get?

Do you think they're you know, aware of how disjointed the system can sometimes feel?

>> Yes, I'm I'm down in Springfield right now and have been talking to legislators over the past few days as have many others.

we're hearing that a lot of legislators really are seeing the potential of transformation for the transit system.

They are feel like this is a turning point.

It can be a turning point for the future and they hear from their constituents about difficulties with.

Ghost bosses and difficulties transferring and understand that we need to do better.

And really want to see those reforms before they come up with a large amount of money.

But know that they need to do that as well.

>> Yes, certainly if those things are going hand in hand, there is quite a bit of urgency here.

You know, Orlando Rojas, we heard payment coach and have heard many others bring up safety concerns both for passengers and for frontline workers.

What sorts of concerns have you heard from folks about what they experience on the job?

You know, there has been not.

>> You know, I'm a desire for more presence.

Other stations at the stations on the trains themselves throughout the system really.

And even I know Metro has had difficult time.

at getting the police force up to where it wants to be.

I mean, it makes a difference.

Certainly it's it's, you know.

Being having the option to be able to call and have designated police force for us is critical and we need we need to do that.

think that it can be expanded.

And I think the united we moved bill sets the stage for that.

Not just Metra, for the entire system.

critical.

People want safety.

First.

We want to be able to get from point A to point B safely on time and, you know, unclean trains comfortable.

So I think that it's a it's a key component.

I think the legislation before us, provides that.

>> In Orlando Rojas, if lawmakers don't come through with this money or if it's perhaps in limbo for a while, what kinds of impacts are you worried about from service cuts?

>> So my understanding is that in order to achieve a you know, financial reduction or budgetary >> was really realize the savings of 20% you have to cut service by up to 40%.

Certain fixed costs that the transit agencies have, whether it's, you know, fully funded or not lead to meet those costs.

So where they have the most room is in service cuts.

Unfortunately.

And that's the actual service that we provide.

Now you're talking 40% reduction.

Obviously the people that I work with are concerned about, you know, cuts to 2 workers.

And so what that means for their families being able to provide for their families and that it's a huge concern for all of us.

And, you know, it's not just the city of Chicago.

really is the region.

I know for Metro.

There's a lot of workers in the suburbs as well as in the city.

And it really would be a huge impact for the entire region.

You know, we take the money we earn and we spend it back in our communities and that that.

Multiplier effect goes both ways, you know, for every dollar spent in transit, there's a 13 X multiplier.

But it works the other way too.

You know, taking a dollar out of the economy really are taken 13 for every everyone.

So I know that on paper, it seems like a savings.

But in the end, it would affect only the lives of all the transit workers to people that provide or that depend on our and the service we provide.

But really the entire economy in the potentially quite a widespread impact, you know, putting a coach that United we move Bill, that Orlando reference.

This is the measure that labor groups have been pushing in and talking about with lawmakers.

>> Do the proposals in that bill?

It is in essentially sort of strengthening the RTA, strengthening coordination, but leaving this this structure largely in place.

Do you feel like you've been getting a good reception from lawmakers who have been really hungry for reform to the way the system's Ron.

>> I >> had very good their that.

>> law, they want one how what?

Everything that's going on with the chance them.

But went out.

funding at least Not That comes on >> You know, Audrey winning, you know, in terms of the funding in terms of the conversations happening down in Springfield, you know, sometimes lawmakers drag their feet a little bit on looking at specific revenue streams.

Do you feel like they've reached a point in the conversation where it's looking like we may have the money come through before the end of May.

>> We know legislators are talking seriously about a range of funding source is you know, they're getting into details.

I think that that's something that they do kind of amongst themselves a little more you know, talking on the open until they found the solution.

But I'm optimistic.

I think they realize that the consequences will be devastating.

I mean, I I think see counties that are car right now because of the traffic you can get to the studio rate the and we absolutely need transit in our region our region is going to be paralyzed.

If we shut down 40% of the transit system with a second highest level of congestion in the country not to mention transit impacts on air quality.

We you know, all kinds of health impacts from emissions from driving climate change economic impacts that early was was mentioning.

So I think people understand that the Chicago region is really an economic engine and also there's a lot of congestion.

And and so we need to make transit.

Not only fill gaps, but make it even stronger and make it attractive for people to ride.

And that's good for everybody.

Well, certainly they're going to be a lot of conversations over the next few days, but that's where we'll have to leave this conversation.

>> coach, Orlando Rojas,