Covering an area more than four times the size of the Chicagoland region, the VBB is one of the largest public transportation associations in the world.

Integrating a Divided Transit Network

After the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin began the challenging process of reunification. One of the government’s top priorities was to integrate, modernize and expand the municipal and regional transportation networks.  But joining Berlin’s divided passenger rail system, road network, and other transit services – which had evolved separately for nearly 30 years -- into one solid, fluid system was no easy task. It was clear the city needed an agency to coordinate regional transportation planning and develop comprehensive multimodal strategies to truly reintegrate Berlin. That agency is Verkenhrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB).

 The VBB is the regional public transportation authority for the Berlin-Brandenburg district.  A private limited company established in December of 1996, the VBB is comprised of representatives of the federal government, the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, 14 separate districts, and four cities.  The VBB ensures fluid and cohesive movement of people throughout the region, mediates between policy makers and operators, plans and executes a unified fare card system, supports operators, and promotes public transit in the region. This agency manages 41 private transit operators that serve approximately 3.4 million passengers every day. All of the represented states, cities and districts contribute to the financing of the regional public transit system managed by the VBB.

Once Berlin’s infrastructure was stabilized, and the city’s transit began to function in a cohesive manner, planners soon found a new dilemma – multiple fare systems. Whether traveling on the U-Bahn, switching to the S-Bahn, taking a short ride on a trolley bus, hopping on a tram, or riding on a ferry, passengers found themselves using multiple tickets, with complicated fare structures that differed from one service provider to the next. The VBB created a unified fare card system in 1999, which allowed people to travel on every mode of local public transit in the region using a single ticket.  Fares are collected by the regional agency and redistributed to the operating agencies depending on monthly ridership.

The Chicago region has three service providers: Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transit Authority.  While all three agencies use a separate fare collection system, only Pace and CTA have coordinated their fare collection mechanisms to accept each other’s cards. People who need to travel between CTA, Metra, or Pace service areas, find transfers can be difficult, inconvenient and confusing. A regional approach – similar to the VBB’s – would be an appropriate and effective tool for the Chicago region’s transit providers.  The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has recently discussed the modernization of the fare card system on Metra , as well as studying the possibilities of a universal fare card that would be accepted on all three systems.  If we are serious about encouraging more people to use public transit to get to and from their Chicagoland destinations, we have a responsibility to make it easier for them to do it.

Photo Courtesy of Emily Tapia

NEWS
Local News

RTA allocated $2.7 billion in state capital – Chicago Tribune “The state's new capital program would provide billions of dollars to keep Chicago-area mass transit running at the status quo, but it isn't likely to fund new services or make wish-list projects come true, officials said Thursday.”

$29 billion Public Works program: Illinois legislators back plan to start rebuilding program that would mean increased taxes and fees – Chicago Tribune “State lawmakers on Wednesday fast-tracked a $29 billion public works program that would start to rebuild crumbling roads and transit systems and pay for it with a slew of increased taxes and by legalizing video gambling across Illinois.”

New parking lot going condo at Metra station – Chicago Tribune “A developer plans to build a condominium-style parking lot next to Metra's Route 59 station, the commuter rail line's most heavily used. Each parking spot will cost $8,900 initially.”

RTA head says transit funds good, but not enough – Daily Herald “Stimulus money now being spent on big-city transportation networks, while helpful, isn't enough over the long haul to keep aging systems from falling into further disrepair, a top Chicago transit agency official said Tuesday.”

More federal dollars could be headed here, LaHood says – Daily Herald “Area transit agencies were quick to produce ideas they hope are worthy of earning a share of $1.5 billion in federal grants announced by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday.”

Freight train traffic: Suburban leaders seek help from Obama in rail traffic fight – Chicago Tribune “Several suburban state legislators and mayors called on President Barack Obama to fill a vacancy on a federal regulatory board with someone sympathetic to their opposition to more freight trains in their communities.”

CTA tightens belt, postpones station upgrades – Chicago Tribune “The CTA will postpone much-needed improvement projects and implement other painful cuts to ease a projected $155 million shortfall in public funding this year.”

Illinois road funds: Chicago politician says funding formula cheats metro area residents – Chicago Tribune “State Senator Martin Sandoval is seeking support among Chicago-area legislators to change the road fund allocations in the fiscal 2010 state transportation budget.”

Slow zone – Crain’s “Chicago is the ‘poster child’ for freight snags that U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, aims to fix in this year's huge transportation bill.”
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World News

Obama to Toughen Rules on Emissions and Mileage – New York Times “The rules, which will begin to take effect in 2012, will put in place a federal standard for fuel efficiency that is as tough as the California program.”

Horrible Commute? Tell Them About It – New York Times “The Washington-based nonprofit group Transportation for America has started this Web site as a home base for people who want (or need) to vent about their miserable trips to and from work.”

Montreal Inaugurates Continent’s Most Ambitious Bike-Sharing Program – New York Times “The service is starting out with 3,000 of the specially designed bicycles distributed among 300 closely-spaced solar-powered, WiFi-enabled base stations in its downtown core.”

Amtrak: True high-speed rail unrealistic, Amtrak boss says – Chicago Tribune “President and chief executive officer of Amtrak, Joseph Boardman, said plans in the Midwest for trains traveling up to 110 m.p.h. on corridors stretching over nine states make more sense.”

Let's try taxing drivers by the mile, Seattle official says – Seattle Post Intelligencer “William Hudnut, a consultant and former mayor of Indianapolis, called for some combination of a 'vehicle miles traveled' tax, tolls, congestion charges and higher gas taxes to help fill a nationwide funding gap.”

In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars – New York Times “Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the French and Swiss borders.”

Connecticut considers tolling, congestion pricing – Landline Magazine “Connecticut officials are considering the implementation of tolls and congestion pricing to pay for transportation projects and control congestion.”
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Resources

• Getting on Track Key Public Transportation Projects & Their Benefits for Illinois – Illinois PIRG

• <!--[if !supportLists]--> Rough Roads Ahead – AASHTO and TRIP
  

• <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->The Route to Reform: Blueprint for a 21^st Century Transportation Program – Transportation 4 America

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Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.