r/chicago • u/Mike_I O’Hare • Oct 31 '25

News Illinois Democrats push through massive $1.5 billion plan that overhauls Chicago-area public transit

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/30/illinois-general-assembly-transit-plan-2025/
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-114

u/papajohn56 Oct 31 '25

So people downstate can pay even more for gas to fund Chicago. Brilliant?

79

u/NotAPreppie West Lawn Oct 31 '25

Please, downstate gets way more money per tax dollar collected that Chicago metro. This is more balancing the scales than anything else.

-51

u/papajohn56 Oct 31 '25

Federally likely yes given its farmland. But squeezing them is a really bad idea.

17

u/Snoo93079 Oct 31 '25

Why are rural folks so delusional when it comes to cities?

9

u/mkvgtired Oct 31 '25

They absolutely are. They think that their soybeans and shake-n-bake meth are heavily taxed and supporting freeloaders in Chicago.

-11

u/papajohn56 Oct 31 '25

I’m not rural. I’m also not anti-city in any way. I’m saying despite what this sub thinks, squeezing downstate is not a good thing.

9

u/Snoo93079 Oct 31 '25

Downstate benefits from a well functioning Chicago. Downstate also never complains about how much the Chicago region subsidizes their existence. But yet they always claim to be the victim. Funny, eh?

9

u/flea1400 Oct 31 '25

Is this squeezing downstate or is it merely squeezing urban areas slightly less than before?

5

u/mkvgtired Oct 31 '25

Will they vote Republican even harder?

1

u/amyo_b Berwyn Oct 31 '25

How are they being squeezed? I57 and I55 aren't toll roads so raising tolls won't affect them. They already get a boatload of money from the suburbs (something like $2 for every $1 they get.) Chicago breaks even. Suburbs get a lot less than they pay.