One of the main legislators trying to keep Illinois mass transit from going over a fiscal cliff told an Evanston audience on Wednesday night that lawmakers have a “complete commitment” to resolving the transportation funding crisis.

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) said that there is a sense of urgency in Springfield that “we must get this done,” but a special legislative session, at least for now, is not on the horizon.

Buckner spoke at a town hall meeting at Robert Crown Center, sponsored by local lawmakers, House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, State. Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, and State, Sen. Laura Fine.

Chicagoland transit agencies (CTA, Metra, and PACE) face a $770 million deficit in 2026, which would lead to massive service reductions, layoffs, and fare increases next year.

The legislature failed to come up with a deal before the regular session ended on May 31, and there has been talk of a special session during the summer to deal with transit.

“We simply ran out of time,” the assistant majority leader, one of the main House negotiators on transit issues, explained.

However, Buckner said there’s no need for a special session as long as there is still no package ready for a vote.

Still, Bucker said he does expect an agreement to prevent mass transit from “careening” over the fiscal cliff.

Buckner said the fall legislative veto session, which usually takes place in November, has been moved to October, to allow more time for transit negotiations.

He said any agreement would have to include structural changes in transit operations as a condition of more money … items such as “fare integration,” so you don’t have to pay separately if you ride Metra and then CTA, for example, during your commute.

“No revenue without reform,” as he put it.

Buckner also said the $770 million needed to avoid a fiscal cliff is not really enough long-term.

He said $1.5 billion is more like it, to not only preserve the status quo, but also help expand and improve transportation, not only for the Chicago area, but for the entire state.

“This is not a Chicago CTA bailout,” he stated, pointing out there are 54 transit agencies in Illinois, with many downstate and not just in Chicago and the northern suburbs.

Buckner did not say what type of revenue enhancements might end up in a transit bill. A food delivery fee which was part of a Senate plan during the last session was criticized by some as a “pizza tax.”

He said other communities around the nation will ultimately be able to look to Illinois as a state which was able to figure out transit improvements — structurally and financially.

“We are doing this in public,” Buckner said.

“Not in the old-style, back-room Springfield politics.”

“We don’t have any other choice but to get this done.”