In a recent letter to Illinois members of the Reauthorization Conference Committee, co-leaders stress the economic impact a new federal transportation bill will have on Illinois and reiterate the coalition’s policy recommendations, including passing this legislation at higher funding levels.
June 30, 2004
The Honorable William O. Lipinski, Judy Biggert, and
Jerry F. Costello
Illinois Conference Committee members, TEA-21
reauthorization
U.S. House of Representatives
Dear Representatives:
Business Leaders for
Transportation
was very pleased to hear of your appointment to the
conference committee to finalize the federal transportation bill.
There is no other federal bill being
discussed at this time that will have as considerable an impact on Illinois, and
our economy. We urge you to exert every effort to see this legislation passed as
soon as possible.
Many necessary
projects are on hold as state, regional and local agencies await passage of the
federal bill.
There are several key components
of the bill
Business Leaders
for Transportation
would like to
stress as important policies and projects for Illinois.
The first is the funding level.
Our coalition fully supports the higher
funding level of $318 billion passed by the Senate.
We also support the formula structure
returning to a needs-based one for highway and transit programs.
If the federal government sends back to
each state what it contributes in motor fuel tax, then there would be no need
for a federal program.
Illinois’
aging infrastructure serves as the nation’s transportation hub and should
receive funding to reflect this national role.
This bill should also build on
the intermodal principles of ISTEA and TEA-21.
Only by addressing the system as a
whole, will we be able to reduce congestion and provide choices for all
residents.
The long waiting list for New
Start transit funding is indicative of transit’s critical role in addressing
congestion.
Increasing funding for
transit is paramount for maintaining older systems in a state of good repair and
bringing new transit projects on line. The match for transit projects should
remain at the same funding spilt as highway projects: 80 percent federal and 20
percent local. It is important to keep transit and highways on an even playing
field.
Business Leaders for
Transportation
also urges you to support the funding of CREATE, the Chicago
Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Project.
This historic rail plan developed by the
City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Transportation, Metra and the rail
industry will not only improve freight mobility, it will also benefit passenger
rail (via Metra and Amtrak), contribute to cleaner air, and spark much needed
economic development along rail corridors.
Business Leaders
has advocated
for the targeted use of federal dollars to fund freight improvements because of
freight rail’s integral role in the region’s overall transportation network, the
public benefits that will be gained, as well as the growth projections for this
industry.
Finally, the Senate version
included an extended update process for the region’s long-range transportation
plan.
Currently, the region’s
Metropolitan Planning Organization is required to update the long-range plan
every three years.
Because
developing a region’s long-range plan requires extensive public outreach and
comprehensive work, as soon as the plan is developed, the update process needs
to begin.
In northeastern Illinois,
too much of our MPO’s efforts go to developing and updating the long-range plan,
leaving little time and few resources for other initiatives of regional
significance.
We recommend
extending the update process to five years from the current three-year
requirement.
We know you will work hard with
your colleagues to ensure Illinois receives its fair share of funding from the
federal transportation bill.
Thank
you for consideration of
Business Leaders for Transportation
’s
recommendations.
Sincerely,
MarySue Barrett, President, Metropolitan
Planning Council
George A. Ranney, Jr., President & CEO, Chicago Metropolis
2020
Gerald Roper, President & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of
Commerce
Cc:
Speaker Dennis J. Hastert
Senator Richard J. Durbin S
Senator Peter G.
Fitzgerald