Three Evanston-area state legislators say they are somewhat optimistic that draconian cuts in the region’s public transit systems can be headed off … but only if there are structural changes in how those systems are organized.

State House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, and State Sen. Laura Fine met with nearly 100 local residents in Evanston City Council chambers Monday evening to discuss the drastic service reductions looming over commuter train, ‘L’ and bus services without an additional source of revenue.

Metra, the CTA, and PACE face a $771 million shortfall next year when federal COVID funding relief runs out.

But unless the legislature comes up with a solution by May 31, the Regional Transportation Agency (funding arm for Metra ,CTA and PACE) says it will have to start planning for 30-40% service reductions that would take effect next year.

Sen. Fine told the audience she is “somewhat optimistic” for a solution in Springfield.

“But,” Fine added, “we keep getting these curveballs from the federal government. We are trying to forge ahead, but have to be flexible.”

A representative of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Elizabeth Scott, outlined several aspects of potential solutions.

CMAP, Scott said, is actually pushing for a $1.5 billion a year funding plan, which is basically double the amount needed to cover the fiscal cliff deficit.

Scott said the additional funding would help create a 21st century transit system, with more service in off-peak hours, more east-west bus runs instead of just north-south (suburbs to city), and ways to bolster public confidence in safety and cleanliness (particularly on the L).

Scott presented her agency’s Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART), which incorporates ongoing fare increases to match, but not exceed the rate of inflation, and a subsidy program for low-income riders and youth.

Of course, the $1.5 billion question, or even the $771 million question, is what can pass the Illinois legislature, where many lawmakers have no direct constituent interests in Chicagoland and its transportation issues.

Despite the May 31 deadline not being far away, Rep. Gong-Gershowitz indicated that in lawmaking, six weeks can be close to a lifetime.

Gong-Gershowitz told Evanston Now that “everyone is digging in their heels,” but it often takes the imminent deadline of “facing the worst” for the various parties to negotiate a soluction.

Gabel, the House majority leader, said “things really don’t happen until there’s a lot of pressure, when everyone feels that they have to give a little.”

Gabel also told Evanston Now that a tax increase for transit is not being looked at this year, so there will have to be other funding sources. (CMAP included a sales tax hike for transit in its proposals).

Gabel indicated that the “Lockbox,” which keeps highway money for highways only, might be “Unlocked,” depending on how the highway funding rules are interpreted.

But another potential source of dollars seems mandatory for any sort of resolution.

All three legislators said there needs to be structural reform, to increase efficiency and speed up decision making.

Currently, the Regional Transportation Authority is the overall funding agency, but Metra, CTA, and PACE each run independently with the money they receive.

A couple of possible changes were mentioned.

In one, all the transportation operating services would be combined into one super-agency.

In another, an umbrella agency like RTA would handle funding and planning, while Metra, CTA, and PACE would simply run the trains and the buses.

Whatever does (or does not) happen, it was hard during the meeting to avoid the critical importance of mass transit to Evanston.

Out of one window in Council Chambers was the Davis Street CTA L/Bus/PACE station.

Out the other window you could see Metra trains coming and going.