Barrington residents could soon see a new fee on their DoorDash and Uber Eats orders as Illinois lawmakers weigh a statewide delivery tax to shore up Chicago-area transit. The idea, still on the table in Springfield, would reach households well beyond the city, including those who rarely or never ride CTA, Metra or Pace.
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch has indicated the charge remains a possibility to help fund the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees CTA, Metra and Pace. Welch has also said any fee would be lower than an initial $1.50-per-order concept, according to Illinois Policy Institute reporting included in the supplied materials.
Why this is on the agenda now
At the center of the debate is a widening fiscal gap. RTA financial projections show a $230 million operating shortfall in 2025, rising to about $790 million in 2027 and nearly $890 million by 2028. Those figures reflect the tapering of federal COVID-19 aid and ridership that remains below pre-pandemic levels, the provided materials state.
Illinois Policy Institute has noted the statewide scope of the delivery-tax idea, emphasizing it could affect Illinoisans who shop online even if they don’t use CTA, Metra or Pace. That framing underscores how a Chicago-area funding problem could touch communities across the state.
What the numbers show
- RTA projected shortfall: $230 million in 2025
- Projected gap climbs to $790 million in 2027
- Nearly $890 million by 2028 as federal relief wanes and ridership lags
These figures, cited in RTA projections in the provided materials, help explain why lawmakers are revisiting new revenue sources.
How the delivery tax would work — and what’s changed
The delivery fee under discussion targets transactions on platforms such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. Early talk referenced a $1.50 per-order charge, but Welch has said any measure under consideration now would be lower than that, according to the Illinois Policy Institute report included in the materials. The precise rate, exemptions and collection method have not been finalized in the information provided.
Analysts cited in the supplied materials recommended careful design choices if lawmakers proceed — such as keeping the fee modest, earmarking revenue for RTA, exempting very small orders, and having platforms collect and remit the charge to simplify compliance.
How Barrington could feel it
For Barrington households that rely on food delivery, even a smaller per-order fee would show up on checkout screens. Illinois Policy Institute emphasized that a statewide approach would reach residents who shop online regardless of whether they use regional transit, a point that resonates in suburbs where many commuters drive or split modes.
For residents who do ride regional services, the goal is to stabilize the system that includes Metra and Pace under RTA’s umbrella. But the benefits and burdens would not fall uniformly: people who never tap CTA, Metra or Pace could still pay the fee when they order delivery, while frequent transit users might see indirect value if the funding helps avert cuts or sustain operations.
Local restaurants that depend on delivery orders could also notice changes in customer behavior if checkout totals tick upward. Analysts in the supplied materials cautioned that new fees can affect ordering frequency, which is why they urged a cautious rate and periodic review of impacts.
The political debate
The delivery-tax proposal has drawn criticism from some Republican lawmakers, according to the provided materials, reflecting broader unease about adding costs to everyday purchases. Supporters point to the urgent RTA budget timeline and the need for a recurring revenue stream as federal aid fades and ridership remains below pre-2020 norms.
Industry context matters, too. The Statista Food Delivery Report 2023, cited in the supplied materials, noted that demand for delivery expanded during the pandemic, making the sector a tempting target for transaction-based fees. But growth alone does not settle who pays the cost — consumers, restaurants or platforms — or how much revenue the state can reliably collect.
What experts say about the limits
Analysts summarized in the supplied materials, including commentary referenced from Urban Economics Review, noted that a delivery tax can generate meaningful recurring revenue but is unlikely to close the entire RTA gap on its own. The scale of the shortfall — from $230 million in 2025 to nearly $890 million by 2028 — suggests the state would need multiple tools to stabilize transit finances.
Policy suggestions in the materials point to a portfolio approach alongside any delivery fee, such as recurring state appropriations, targeted fare policy adjustments, operational efficiencies, and other revenue options. Analysts also emphasized transparency and legally dedicating any delivery-tax proceeds to RTA to build public trust.
What comes next
For now, Welch has kept a delivery fee in play and signaled it would be set below the earlier $1.50 figure. The coming negotiations in Springfield will determine whether a statewide surcharge moves forward and, if so, how it is structured.
For Barrington, the stakes are straightforward: a new per-order fee would hit at-home shoppers whether or not they ride CTA, Metra or Pace, as Illinois Policy Institute reported in the provided materials. The broader Chicago-area transit system faces a steep fiscal cliff beginning in 2025, RTA projections show, and lawmakers will need to decide quickly whether a delivery tax — likely paired with other measures — is the lever they will pull to keep trains and buses running. As the debate unfolds, Barrington residents who regularly tap delivery apps may want to watch the fine print; the final rate, any exemptions, and how the money is earmarked will determine both the bite at checkout and the impact on the region’s transit future.
