Candid conversation focuses on the realities of securing sufficient transit funding for Northeastern Illinois.
The summer quarterly member
meeting of Business Leaders for Transportation featured an intimate conversation
with new CTA President Ron Huberman about current CTA priorities including the
realities of securing sufficient transit funding.
Huberman candidly discussed the CTA 2007 Contingency Plan
for becoming a fiscally sound and healthy transit
agency. His presentation walked members through the various options and the
agency’s final recommendation of a combination of administrative cuts, service
reduction, fare increases, and capital transfer to fill temporarily the $100
million deficit.
RTA
Chairman Jim Reilly then reported on legislative developments in Springfield to fund
the region’s transit system, and advised Business Leaders for Transportation how
it could be a constructive force pushing for immediate legislative
action. The RTA bill (HB1841), currently being debated, lays out an equitable
and balanced funding plan for the entire regional transit system and includes
provisions on CTA pension reform and the power to create the Innovation,
Coordination and Enhancement (ICE) Fund, a new instrument to fund shorter-term,
lower-cost service enhancements and projects that promote innovation and
coordination.
After the presentations, Huberman, Reilly, and Business Leaders’ members discussed
the fiscal troubles of Metra and Pace, the status of the universal fare card,
and other financing options for the CTA, including the probability of switching to a
distance-based fare system.
In addition, Frank
Beal, executive director of Chicago Metropolis 2020,
and Peter
Skosey , vice president of external relations
of Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), presented updates on state
legislative developments their respective organizations are currently pursuing.
Metropolis 2020 has been collaborating with legislators on amending the
Regional Planning Act to complete the transition of the Northeastern
Illinois Planning Commission and Chicago Area Transportation Study into the Chicago
Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Skosey noted that the
legislation authorizing the use of Public-Private Partnerships as an option to
maximize transportation investments has been tabled until the fall veto session in
order to address concerns related to labor and union protection, revenue
distribution, and other issues.
Save the Date! The next Business
Leaders for Transportation member meeting is Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Read more about 2007 CTA Contingency Plan
.
Read more about RTA
Reform: SB572 – Amendment 1.
Read more about RTA Reform: SB572 – Amendment
2.
Read more about Regional
Planning Act changes
.
Learn more about Moving Beyond
Congestion.
Become a member of Business Leaders for Transportation.
Become a Partner for Transit and support critical
investments in our region's transit system.