Job’s not done in Springfield for transit; Blagojevich, leaders have yet to consider crisis
Chicago – Major reforms to the regional transit system have yet to be considered by Governor Blagojevich and the General Assembly, even though the state budget passed last week. In a March 2007 report following an audit of the system, Illinois Auditor General William Holland concluded that revenue from a regional sales tax had failed to keep up with the rising costs of running the system.
Legislation, based on the Auditor’s report, is pending before the General Assembly right now to address the crisis. Transit advocates gathered at Governor Blagojevich’s neighborhood CTA stop Wednesday to remind him that his neighborhood benefits from transit service, as do neighborhoods across the region.
Representatives from the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Transit Riders Alliance, Illinois Public Interest Research Group, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, Metro Seniors in Action, Metropolitan Planning Council and concerned riders joined together to highlight weeks of inactivity in Springfield at a time when “doomsday scenarios” loom and Pace, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and Metra have announced cuts beginning in September.
“The job’s not done in Springfield,” said David LeBreton with CNT. “Governor Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders need to get back to the work and solve our region’s transit crisis.”
“SB 572 is the long term solution we need. It provides the reforms called for in the Auditor General’s report as well as the necessary investment to keep this region’s trains and buses running for years to come,” added Brian Imus, State Director with Illinois PIRG. “Our leaders need to return to Springfield to pass this bill and put an end to yearly doomsday scenarios.”
SB 572 was crafted by members of both parties and includes a 0.25% increase in the region’s sales tax and allows the City of Chicago to increase its real estate transfer tax.
“A short-term bailout of the CTA is not a solution.” said Dia Cirillo, Policy Director with the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. “Springfield actually has a long term, regional solution on which they need to act.”
All three service boards have outlined a series of draconian service cuts and fare increases in the event lasting reforms are not legislated.
“Ravenswood Manor is an appealing place to live because of the Brown Line,” said Rick Harnish with the Transit Riders Alliance, explaining the location’s significance. “High-quality transit service provided by the CTA, Pace and Metra has made areas all over Chicagoland attractive places to live and do business.”