Transit Future

In this update:

I. Recent Events
II. Upcoming Transit Future Events - GET INVOLVED
III. District Maps and Tables Now Available

Recent Events

• Transit Future successfully hosted its first Lobby Day in Springfield last Thursday. The group headed downstate to talk to legislators and hand deliver 111 letters and maps showing transit infrastructure and average annual transportation costs per household in each district. Members of the Illinois General Assembly were interested in learning about how transit affects their communities and were very receptive to the group. You can view and download the maps here.

• This past Saturday morning, over 40 Transit Future members attended the Meeting with Representative Julie Hamos at the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Rep. Hamos discussed the challenges that Mass Transit Committee members are facing down in Springfield to ensure transit funding and reform. She strongly encouraged Transit Future members to contact their legislators to let them know that they support transit funding and reform.

Upcoming Transit Future Events

Transit DAY OF ACTION!
Tuesday May 22nd

Transit Future is organizing a Transit DAY OF ACTION to bring attention to the transit crisis in Northeastern Illinois. We are asking volunteers to take at least one (or all) of the following actions:

1. FLYER: Hand out flyers at your transit station or stop during the morning or evening commute. Download a flyer here to hand out with information on the problem and what every transit rider can do to help! If you are able to help, please email us where you will be and what time(s) you will be there.
2. MEET WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES: Schedule a meeting with your representatives or their staff on May 22nd. While most members will be down in Springfield, call the staff in their district offices and schedule a meeting with them to talk about transit. If you are not sure of your schedule, make a plan to stop by at some point in the day.
3. WRITE A LETTER: Write a letter to your state representative, state senator and the Governor. Make sure to include information about why you support transit and ask for their help in securing its future.
4. PHONE BANK: Volunteer to phone bank! Transit Future needs help spreading the word about the transit crisis and will be phone banking the evening of May 22nd from 5:30 - 8 pm at our office, 2125 W. North in Chicago. If you are able to attend, please send an email to emily@cnt.org.

Lobby Day in Springfield – Round 2!
Thursday, May 24th

Due to the overwhelming success of our first trip to Springfield, the Transit Future staff is heading down to Springfield again on Thursday, May 24th to continue our dialogue on the importance of transit reform and funding. We will be on the 7 AM train from Union Station and returning on the 4:57 PM train from Springfield. If you want to let your legislators 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. Please make plans to get on the train!

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT TRANSIT FUTURE AND THESE EVENTS!

District Maps and Tables Now Available

Legislators respond to issues that affect the voting constituents in their own districts. Transit Future has created a series of maps and tables for all of the legislative districts within the RTA region. The maps show transit infrastructure as well as the average annual transportation costs per household in each district. You can view and download the maps here.

The tables include the average annual cost of transportation, average income, and transportation expenses as a percentage of total income. Tables with this information by state senate district, state house district and by place are available for viewing and download here.

Transit Future’s rally for mass transit Monday May 7th garnered attention from Chicagoland’s media, sending our message loud and clear to Gov. Blagojevich that transit needs to be a priority now!

However, our work is far from over.

We have two more events this week whose success is dependent on your attendance. Both our lobby day in Springfield and our meeting with Rep. Julie Hamos are great opportunities for you to voice your vote for transit. Here are the details for both events. If you have any questions or would like to attend, please contact David LeBreton at (773) 269-4043.

Lobby Day in Springfield
Thursday, May 10

The Transit Future staff is heading down to Springfield on Thursday, May 10 to talk to our representatives face-to-face about the importance of funding for mass transit. If you want to let your legislators 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 need as many coalition-members as possible with us on the Amtrak going down, so please come and help guide 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 the public to hear about the political lay of the land down in Springfield from the Chair of the Mass Transit Committee, Rep. Julie Hamos. Come hear about the transit funding crisis that is unfolding now and how you can help with the solution. 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.

Transit Future in the News!