The Chicago Transit Board is set to approve a doomsday budget this week that would slash service and hike fares across the system.
The belt-tightening is still just a contingency plan – it would only take affect if the Illinois legislature doesn't come through with 100 million dollars in new funds.
But nearly two weeks past Springfield's original deadline for a budget, there's still no new money for transit on the table.
Chicago Public Radio's Gabriel Spitzer has been following this story.