The Chicago Region Needs Senate Bill 572
The November 4th deadline for when 39 bus routes will be completely eliminated while fares climb to $3 is a mere 2 weeks away, and with no plans to make a move before this first wave of devastating cuts, the Illinois General Assembly continues to wallow in dispute over funding schemes.
Unfortunately, it appears as if the Illinois Legislature will allow this first ‘doomsday’ to come to fruition, as there are no plans to convene before November 4th. It’s unacceptable that the legislators will allow the region to suffer from transit service cuts now and even more in January. We need to push them to support the most comprehensive plan that will prevent further devastation to the transit system and regional congestion and air pollutions increases.
What the transit system needs is a comprehensive funding and reform package, not a temporary band-aid promise of funds from unbuilt casinos. Senate Bill 572 provides long-term funding for both the operating and capital expenses of the region’s transit system. It also reforms the Regional Transit Authority to keep transit officials more accountable and reduce inefficiencies across the system.
The proposed capital bill that the Governor and Senate President are supporting does not address the specific and immediate needs of the RTA.
What can you do?
(Image: Roll Call of SB 572 from September 12 session, courtesy of juliehamos.org)
1. Download a map of your area and learn the average household transportation cost.
2. Find out who represents you.
3. Look at the list of service cuts and fare increases.
4. Contact your legislators by phone, email or mail and tell them to support Senate Bill 572.
For more information on the transit crisis in the Chicagoland region, read more about what has been going on in CNT’s latest update.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I’d like to know what CNT believes to be the main reasons for the current transit situation and what needs to be done. Many of your blast emails on the topic that I have been able to read talk about reform, however, I believe that if you want people to lock in/act on something, you have to be more specific upfront, every time you communicate. I’m going to go through all your links on the topic, to really understand this issue, but I shouldn’t have to. I take public transit every day and don’t own a car. I really care about this issue but I need your communications to quickly tell me WHY not just how. Reform is needed yes, but what are the underlying problems? I won’t call my legislator unless I understand these first. I need a soap box to stand on before I start.