Transit Future Update, May 1
Transit Future Update, May 1
Transit Future is announcing three upcoming events, where your participation is critical to ensuring a successful outcome of the looming transit crisis. Read on to get details about each of our events, and also to hear about transit updates in Springfield and the news. Please plan on joining us for at least one of the three events. The more support you show by attending, the stronger our message to the General Assembly and Governor will be!
Contents
Get Involved! Important Upcoming Events
Recap of House Mass Transit Workgroup on RTA Reform Meeting 4/25
Recent Articles on Transit
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GET INVOLVED! Important Upcoming Events
Rally in Support of Transit
Monday, May 7, 10 a.m.
State of Illinois Building (Thompson Center), 100 W. Randolph (Randolph and Clark)
The Transit Future Campaign is co-sponsoring a rally in support of mass transit with Concerned Commuters of Northeast Illinois. Together we will send a message to Gov. Rod Blagojevich that transit funding and reform need to be priorities now! The more people in attendance, the stronger our message will be, so show your support of transit by attending this event. Come to the rally and have your voice heard!
RSVP to David LeBreton at dlebreton@cnt.org or (773) 269-4043.
Lobby Day in Springfield
Thursday, May 10
The Transit Future staff members are heading down to Springfield on Thursday, May 10 to talk to our state representatives face-to-face about the importance of funding for mass transit in Northeastern Illinois. If you want to let your legislator know why you believe mass transit is critical for our region, contact Emily Metz for more information at emily@cnt.org or (773) 269-4070. We want as many coalition-members as possible with us on the Amtrak going down, so come and impact the General Assembly’s decisions about the funding and reform of mass transit!
Meeting with State Representative Julie Hamos
Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology
2125 W. North Ave.
The Transit Future Campaign is coordinating an event for our members to hear about the political lay of the land down in Springfield from the Head of the Mass Transit Committee, Rep. Julie Hamos. Come hear about the transit funding crisis that is taking place right now, and what we can all do to get involved and help influence the General Assembly to address the issue. Do not miss this opportunity to talk directly with one of the most widely respected advocates for transit in the Illinois Legislature!
RSVP to David LeBreton at dlebreton@cnt.org or (773) 269-4043.
Recap of House Mass Transit Workgroup on RTA Reform Meeting 4/25
Members of the transit community met Wednesday morning in Springfield to discuss changes to the 1983 RTA Act. The session focused on the RTA’s role in securing federal funds for existing and future New Starts Project and setting performance measures for each of the service boards. State Representatives Bassi, Colvin, Mathias, Fortner, Ryg, Arroyo, and Hamos were joined by representative from RTA, CTA and Pace, along with transit advocates from the entire six-county region. Overall, those present were in agreement on increasing RTA’s role in evaluating and prioritizing New Start Projects among Metra, Pace and CTA. Increasing RTA’s role in the expansion and enhancement of transit in Northeastern Illinois would allow for improved regional planning and more effective allocation of state and federal funds.
The discussion of House Bills 520 and 1841 centered on the RTA’s ability to set performance measures for all three service boards. While there was general agreement on the need for performance measures, there was no consensus on whether they would be set by statute or by a stronger RTA. Regardless of the means by which performance measures are set, there must be a means by which all three service boards’ efficiency and effectiveness are evaluated and compared.
With recent progress among the service boards towards creating universal fare media, those present discussed RTA’s ability to set a universal fare structure across all three service boards to promote greater intersystem transfers. Once again, while there was consensus around the concept whether it would be accomplished by a stronger RTA or law was unclear. The experiences of other mass transit agencies have shown that ridership increases when reduced transfers between transit systems are implemented. In order for this to take place, RTA must have the authority to mediate between service boards.
The next meeting will cover RTA governance and funding.
Read some of the extensive press coverage about the regional transit crisis by going to the “Transit in the News” page of our website, or http://transitfuture.cnt.org/news/.
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For more information or comments, please contact David LeBreton at dlebreton@cnt.org or 773.269.4043.
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The Center for Neighborhood Technology has launched the Transit Future campaign in response to the Chicago region’s transit crisis.
CNT’s mission is to promote the development of more livable and sustainable communities. We strive to recognize, preserve and enhance the value of hidden assets and undervalued resources inherent in our urban environment to make households, neighborhoods and regions more efficient, more economically viable, and more equitable.
We recognize that Chicago’s mass transit system is an undervalued asset and the Transit Future campaign will work to promote a system that benefits all residents of Northeastern Illinois.
