Transit Future

The Illinois House of Representatives is holding a series of public hearings where they hope to receive citizen input on the state budget. Please attend a hearing in your area and advocate for greater transit funding! The schedule of the hearings is as follows:

Decatur
3/10/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Lincoln Square Theatre
141 North Main St., Decatur

Marion
3/10/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Williamson County Pavilion (behind Illinois Centre Mall)
1602 Sioux Drive, Marion

Northwest Suburbs
3/17/2008, 6:30 p.m.
Prairie Center for the Arts - Theatre
201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg

Tazewell County
3/17/2008, 6:00 p.m.
The Festival Building
2200 E. Washington, East Peoria

Champaign
3/18/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Parkland College
2400 West Bradley Avenue, Room D244, Champaign

Aurora
3/18/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Copley Theater
8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora

McHenry County
3/19/2008, 6:30 p.m.
McHenry College Conference Center
8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake

Cicero
3/19/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Morton College, Building A
Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
3801 South Central Ave., Cicero

Joliet
3/20/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Joliet Township High School, West Campus
401 North Larkin, Joliet

Rock Island
3/24/2008, 6:00 p.m.
County Building Board Room, 3rd Floor
1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island

North Suburbs
3/24/2008, 3:00 p.m.
Northbrook Village Hall, City Council Chambers
1225 Cedar Lane, Northbrook

Kankakee
3/24/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Kankakee Community College Auditorium
100 College Dr., Kankakee

South Suburbs
3/25/2008, 6:00 p.m.
S. Suburban College, Kindig Performing Arts Auditorium
15800 State St., South Holland

Chicago: South Side
3/25/2008, 5:30 p.m.
Kennedy-King College Theatre
6301 S. Halsted St., Chicago

Rockford
3/25/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Zeke Giorgi Building Auditorium
200 S. Wyman, Rockford

Chicago: West Side
3/26/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Bethel New Life Auditorium
1150 N. Lamon St., Chicago

Metro East
3/26/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Belleville West High School, Commons Area
4063 Frank Scott Parkway, Belleville

Chicago: North Side
3/27/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Olson Auditorium, 836 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago

Chicago: Southwest
3/27/2008, 6:00 p.m.
Oak View Community Center
4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn

Yesterday the Chicago City Council voted 41-6 to increase the Real Estate Transfer Tax in Chicago, which they were authorized to do by the passage of HB 656 in the Illinois legislature. The vote came after prolonged debate, and much ballyhoo about the “terrible, terrible choice” of either underfunding the CTA or increasing the transfer tax. With the vote, the funding package put together by HB 656 is now complete.

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So, now that we’ve all breathed the requisite sighs of relief, knowing that transit is safe for now, the average transit-rider might be wondering what exactly HB 656 entails.

First, a note on the nomenclature. HB 656 has exactly the same text as SB 572, the bill for so long under discussion. However, it is technically a unique piece of legislation, originating in the senate. It is HB 656 that is now technically law in the state of Illinois.

The law itself is somewhat voluminous, so for those interested in knowing more about what it entails, this helpful fact sheet is the best place to start: http://www.juliehamos.org/PDFs/HB656FACTSHEET_01-23-08.pdf

It is also important to recognize the many tireless advocates that never stopped lobbying, attending rallies, and general letting the legislature know how important transit is to the region.  Representative Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) deserves special recognition, of course, as the principal political champion of transit in Northeastern Illinois. Read her thoughts on the bill’s passage here: http://www.juliehamos.org/transit/news/newsitem.aspx?newsitemid=163

This afternoon the legislature voted to concur with the governor’s amendatory veto, effectively ending the almost year-long transit crisis the region has suffered through patiently. No more doomsdays!

We’ll have more details soon…

A bill substantially similar to the much lauded SB 572 passed the Senate yesterday. This bill provides a permanent funding solution for transit in NE Illinois, reforms the governing structure of the region’s transit agencies, and sorts out the CTA pension mess. The additional funds it provides come from a quarter-percent sales tax increase in the region.

So, what’s not to like?

Governor Blagojevich, who had previously stated his opposition to the bill because it raises taxes, has appeared to moderate his stance over the last week. This spurred hopes that perhaps he would be willing to sign the bill after all. However, shortly after the bill’s passage, he announced that he intends to slap an amendatory veto on the bill so that seniors will be allowed to ride for free.

Giving seniors a free ride isn’t a bad idea, necessarily, but many lawmakers are irked that the governor would choose to bring up this concern at the last minute, forcing the legislature to return to Springfield for a special session next week.

All in all, the situation still looks hopeful. We can hope that this latest hurdle the governor has placed before transit advocates will also be the last. If not, the Jan 20th doomsday is a short 9 days away…

Though Wednesday’s special session produced nothing for transit, legislators will meet one more time before the January 20th doomsday. Though we have asked before, please, consider contacting your legislator and/or the governor. Illinois needs a permanent, ongoing source of funding for transit.

Only a handful of legislators showed up for the governor’s special session on Wednesday. Some of the ones who did come were irked that they drove two hours down to Springfield and two hours back to Chicago for a 15-minute session. Rep. Julie Hamos did hold a hearing in the afternoon where she again asked for new ideas on how to fund transit. Apparently the plan that garnered the most discussion was a proposed cigarette-tax hike, but a similar plan had already been floated in the legislature and had failed to attract support.

Meanwhile, the next transit doomsday, Jan. 20th, looms closer. There are some indications that the gravity of the situation has finally sunk in at the governor’s office.  His spokeswoman commented: “A long-term funding solution for the CTA won’t happen without the legislature passing a bill that the Governor can sign.  We’re disappointed that most lawmakers failed to appear for the special session called by the Governor to fund the CTA and avert a planned January 20 doomsday.  …it’s important to remember there are only 18 days left until the CTA begins cutting service, raising fares and laying people off.  We hope members of the General Assembly will show up the next time the Governor calls them into special session to spare transit riders from service cuts and fare hikes.”

The RTA is seeking public input regarding the 2008 proposed operating and capital program budget for the region’s transit system. Attend one of these sessions to make your voice heard.

South: Thursday,December 6th, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, Corner of 113th and Halsted, Chicago

North: Monday,December 10th, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Loyola University – Lakeshore Campus (Auditorium), Kenmore & Sheridan, Chicago

Southwest: Wednesday,December 12th, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Toman Public Library, 2708 S.Pulaski Rd., Chicago

Central: Thursday, December 6th, 9:00 am – 10:30 am, RTA Headquarters (Board Room), 175 W. Jackson Blvd, Ste 1550, Chicago

West: Thursday, December 13th, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, South Loop School, 1212 S.Plymouth Ct.(at State & Roosevelt), Chicago

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.