Transit Future Update - July 27, 2007
Another Successful Transit Lobby Day
This past Wednesday, thirty transit advocates from Northeastern Illinois traveled to Springfield in support of SB 572. Representatives from CNT, Illinois PIRG, Metro Seniors in Action, the Transit Riders Alliance, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and other passionate transit supporters spent the day speaking with legislators about the importance of transit and the need for a solution to the transit crisis. Group members also had the opportunity to speak with the press about the crisis and the need to find a solution before session adjourns. You can read some of the coverage here.
Transit Crisis Update - You can help!
SB 572 is near completion and a hearing before the House Mass Transit Committee is expected early next week. However, as they approach the end of the current one month state budget, the possibility of reaching a deal and adjourning session increases. Now is the time to remind legislators that they must not adjourn this legislative session without addressing the transit crisis in Northeastern Illinois. Tell your legislators and the governor that they must not approve a new state budget until there is a solution to the problem.
To find your legislators, please refer to the “Take Action” section of the website.
In the Press
Today’s Chicago Tribune featured an editorial “A decent transit deal,” in support of SB572.
“There aren’t a lot of success stories coming out of Springfield this year, unless you think the longest overtime session in history is something to brag about. But lawmakers are close to an agreement on a long-term solution to the region’s mass transit mess. That would be something to celebrate.
“For once, they’re not talking about a stopgap funding fix to keep the trains and buses running for another year. The measure on the table would give transit officials the money and the mandate to solve their own problems, sparing lawmakers, transit agencies and commuters the annual fight over who is to blame for the perpetual crisis and who’s going to pay to fix it.”
You can read the full text of the article here