So what would a mass transit system befitting Chicago, the "Great American City," look like? How do we create a system that people want to ride? Chicagoans marvel at their transit experiences in global peer cities like London, Paris, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Tokyo. At its core, transit must be reliable, frequent and safe. Let’s face it, everything else in our lives is meticulously designed for the optimum user experience. To compete, we must expect more than merely restoring our transit system to the status quo. The bus or train must not only be on time, but it must also be easy to use, clean and safe . . . and have Wi-Fi! 

So how can the Chicago region get there? First, we need improved transit governance. Right now, there are four transit bodies — the Regional Transportation Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace — that set fares, plan routes and oversee budgets. This structure was set up decades ago as a rickety compromise and never really worked to deliver what riders want: convenient and seamless transit trips around the region. We need to now do what should have been done a long time ago: consolidate the agencies into one agency that does coordinated regional planning and delivers integrated service. This is entirely achievable. 

Second, we need to invest more in the operation of the system — the funds that pay for the buses and trains to run frequently and predictably. The return on this investment will generate an exponential increase in regional economic growth and quality of life for residents. It will position Chicago as a leader for private-sector investment and job creation. It will reduce air pollution and improve climate resiliency. And it will connect people to jobs, restaurants, schools, medical facilities, parks and cultural sites that make Chicago special.

Reinvigorating our transit system is no small task, but it is not harder than reversing the Chicago River, building the tallest skyscraper in the country or making Chicago a global center for the quantum computing industry. Now is the time. There is a way forward. We can do this.