See CNT’s own Jacky Grimshaw interviewed on the topic of mass transit funding: communitymediaworkshop.org/vlog/?p=20
Also, on Saturday, November 10, at 8 PM Jacky will join Thom Clark of CAN TV21 “to discuss practical and sustainable steps for dealing with mass transit woes and higher gas prices.”
Saved by a last minute infusion of federal funds, to the tune of $27 million, transit in the Chicago region will continue as usual through the end of 2007, though, as transit-riders at a CTA board public hearing Monday evening made clear, “as usual” is not as good as it should be.
Moreover, the extra funds will run out on January 20th. The CTA board met yesterday and voted to eliminate 81 of their 154 routes, lay off more than 2,000 workers, and raise fares if further funds do not appear before then.
Currently, legislators are working to find a funding source for transit that will raise capital for other infrastructure projects, along with the governor and the mayor. Legislators have so far been unwilling to support SB 572, a comprehensive funding and reform bill proposed by Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) that would secure the future of Northeastern Illionois’ transit network.
With three days left to go before the first round of service cuts and fare hikes hits Northeast Illinois’ transit network, the governor, Mayor Daley, legislative leaders, and transit officials have all been players in an unfolding drama, with the fate of the 39 bus routes and the thousands of commuters who rely on them yet to be determined. When the day began, Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan was planning to call for a vote on SB 572, a bill that would immediately provide a long-term funding source for transit. Even if the bill passed the House, it was unlikely that the Illinois Senate would have time to consider the bill before the Monday transit doomsday.
Governor Blagojevich, however, announced that he would authorize a grant of $21 million to CTA and Pace in order to keep the services running normally through the end of the year. The money would come from unallocated federal funds. However, the direct granting of the money to the service boards requires the approval of the Federal Transit Authority (FTA). Currently, officials at the FTA are deliberating about whether to approve the grant. Transit officials in the region have said they will accept the money if the FTA agrees to the bailout.