Transit Future

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CALL ON LAWMAKERS TO SAVE TRANSIT

WHAT:

Press conference in Springfield by environmental and public interest advocates urging Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly to act on transit funding proposals. Improving the region’s transit system is the surest method to reduce air pollution, curb sprawling development and mitigate emissions of global warming gases.

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 20th 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

State Capitol, Blue Room

WHO:

Center for Neighborhood Technology
Openlands Project
Sierra Club
Illinois Public Interest Research Group
American Lung Association

CONTACT:

David LeBreton, Center for Neighborhood Technology 773-269-4043

Brian Imus, Illinois PIRG 312-399-3834

###

Building on the success of Thursday’s press conference and continuing in our efforts to make transit a priority in the current legislative session, this Wednesday June 20^th at 11 AM in the Illinois Capitol we will be holding another press conference with environmental leaders and transit advocates. The focus of the press conference will be similar (environmental impact of proposed service cuts and fare increases for all three service boards) but will also highlight the current deadlock on transit funding and reform. We are also planning on meeting with legislators before and after the press conference while in Springfield if they are in session.

We will be taking the 7 AM train from Union Station and returning that same day on the 4:57 train if anyone is interested in traveling with the group.

If you are unable to travel, please consider sending a representative from your organization or asking your staff in Springfield to attend. To RSVP or if you have any questions, please email me or call me at 773.269.4043.

This Wednesday, June 20, the Transit Future staff are heading down to Springfield once again to educate legislators about why transit funding and reform need to be top priorities now.

In addition to having the opportunity to voice your support of transit, lobbying is really a worthwhile experience for any registered voter.  Our past volunteers have expressed that it was enlightening both to understand the political process and to see how accessible state legislators really are.

If you would like to join us, we take the 301 Lincoln Service Amtrak train from Union Station down to Springfield departing at 7 a.m., and come back on the 304 Lincoln Service Amtrak that leaves at 4:57.

If you would like to come or have any further questions, please contact Emily at emily@cnt.org or (773) 269-4070.

Environmental Leaders Rally in Support of Public Transportation

CHICAGO — The region’s top environmental leaders gathered this morning at the Environmental Law & Policy Center to speak out on the importance of public transportation and called upon Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly to forge a long-term solution to the pending transit crisis. The group stressed that an investment in public transportation now would help to mitigate the impacts of global warming over the coming decade; and that a failure to invest would lead to dire environmental consequences in Northeastern Illinois. 

“A major metropolitan region such as Northeastern Illinois deserves a vibrant, efficient and convenient transit system,” said Shannon Fisk, Staff Attorney with the Midwest Office of the Natural Resources Defense Council.  “Instead, service cutbacks are threatening to bring more congested roads, longer work commutes, and dirtier air for everybody in the region.  The General Assembly and the Governor should approve Representative Hamos’ plan to provide additional investment in CTA, Metra, and Pace, and to implement common sense reforms at the Regional Transit Authority.”

The group, which included the Delta Institute, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), Congress for New Urbanism, Illinois PIRG, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Openlands Project, American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, and other environmental organizations signed a petition declaring their support for increased funding for public transportation. The petition was delivered to Governor Blagojevich as well as party leaders in the General Assembly, which has until July 1^st to take action on the $226 million deficit faced by the CTA, Metra, and Pace.

“The Governor has publicly stated that Illinois should cut the production of greenhouse gasses to 1990 levels by 2020,” Scott Bernstein, President of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, reminded the group. “Since motor vehicles alone account for more than one third of greenhouse gasses, there is simply no way to achieve that kind goal without strong regional transit. Transit will be the backbone of any successful climate change strategy in Illinois.”   

While public transportation’s benefits to the environment were stressed, it was also argued that such benefits go hand in hand with transit’s role in improving our economic and public health.  “A strong public transportation system is critical to reducing global warming pollution,” explained Joe Shacter, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.  “Plus, when transit use goes up people drive less, leading to improved air quality, fewer respiratory illnesses, and increased household savings.”

“No one wants the transit agencies to cut services or raise fares,” said Anna Frostic, Environmental Health Advocate with the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago. “The Governor and General Assembly must find a long-term solution to transit funding, otherwise the entire state will feel the impact in our pocketbooks, congested roads and the air we breathe for decades to come.”  

*          *          *

Transit Crisis in Northeastern Illinois

The CTA, Metra, and Pace are facing a $226 million budget deficit that will force them to cut service and raise fares as early as July 1^st unless action is taken by the Governor and Illinois General Assembly. Please join members of the environmental community for a press conference drawing attention to the potentially devastating environmental impact of these cuts on Thursday June 14 at 10 AM at the Environmental Law and Policy Center, 35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1300.

Participating organizations include:

• Openlands Project
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• Illinois PIRG
• American Lung Association
• Environmental Law and Policy Center
• US Green Building Council-Chicago Chapter
• League of Conservation Voters
• Center for Neighborhood Technology

To RSVP or for more information, please contact

• David LeBreton at 773/269-4043.

Join fellow transit advocates Monday June 11th at the UIC Student Center as we call on Gov. Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly to fund and reform transit in Northeastern Illinois. As the legislative session extends into overtime, help send us send the message that our leaders in Springfield cannot adjourn without addressing the transit crisis.

What: Transit advocates speaking on the need for Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly to address the transit crisis

Where: UIC Student Center, 750 S. Halsted

When: 6:00 (30 minutes before the beginning of the CTA Board hearing)

For questions or to RSVP, please call 773/269-4043.

In this Update

1. Illinois General Assembly Goes Into Overtime
2. Upcoming CTA Board Meetings
3. Become a Transit Partner
4. Latest Transit News

Illinois General Assembly Goes Into Overtime

Thursday night marked the end of the Illinois General Assembly’s regular session, and with it came progress but no relief for the RTA or any of the three service boards. SB 572 (incorporating HB 1841) was passed by the House Mass Transit Committee, but has not yet been called for a vote before the full House. For more information on the two amendments that were approved, please refer to Rep Julie Hamos website under “Latest Transit Updates.”

Unfortunately, overtime session means that legislation requires a larger majority to pass either house before heading to the Governor’s desk. Additionally, Governor Blagojevich has promised a veto of any sales tax increase, the funding mechanism called for in Amendment 2 of SB 572.

What does this mean for advocates of mass transit in Northeastern Illinois?

We must continue to communicate with our state legislators and the Governor to tell them that they can not adjourn this legislative session without reforming and funding the RTA. Please continue to contact your legislator to let them know that transit must be a priority this year! For talking points, a map of your area, and the average transportation cost in your legislative district, please refer to the Transit in Your Area section.

Upcoming CTA Board Meetings

The CTA has scheduled four meetings to discuss proposals to reduce service and/or raise fares to bus routes and rail lines. Transit Future is encouraging individuals to attend these meetings to express their frustrations with the service cuts and with the lack of activity on the issue from Springfield. For transit reform and funding to be a reality this session, elected officials and the general public must understand what is at stake. Please plan on attending.

Hearings will be held on:

Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.
Sherman Park Fieldhouse
1301 W. 52nd Street
Chicago, IL 60609

Wednesday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.
Michelle’s Ballroom
2800 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618

Monday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Student Center East
750 S. Halsted, Room 302
Chicago, IL 60607

Wednesday, June 13, 9:00 a.m.
CTA Headquarters
567 W. Lake, Chicago, IL 60661

Become a Transit Partner

Help us grow our list! We are asking organizations throughout Northeastern Illinois to become partners in Transit Future by:

1. Communicating with their membership about the issue and encouraging them to contact their state legislators.
2. Participating in Transit Future events (rallies, press conferences, meetings, lobby days).
3. Adding their name to the Transit Future website.

To find out more on becoming a Transit Partner, please contact David LeBreton at 773/269-4043 or dlebreton@cnt.org.

Latest Transit News

There has been considerable interest in the transit crisis by media outlets all over the six county area. For the most recent news, as well as past news, please visit Transit in the News.

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!

Transit Future is announcing three upcoming events where your participation is critical to ensuring a successful outcome of the looming transit crisis. Read on to get details about each of our events, and also to hear about transit updates in Springfield and in the news. Please plan on joining us for at least one of the three events–the more support you show by attending, the stronger our message will be to the General Assembly and Governor!

GET INVOLVED! Important Upcoming Events

Rally in Support of Transit
Monday, May 7, 10 a.m.
State of Illinois Building (Thompson Center) Room 2025 (2nd Floor), 100 W. Randolph (Randolph and Clark)

The Transit Future Campaign is co-sponsoring a rally in support of mass transit with Concerned Commuters of Northeast Illinois. Together we will send a message to Gov. Rod Blagojevich that transit funding and reform need to be priorities now! The more people in attendance, the stronger our message will be, so show your support of transit by attending this event. Come to the rally and make your voice heard!

RSVP to David LeBreton at dlebreton@cnt.org or (773) 269-4043.

Lobby Day in Springfield
Thursday, May 10

The Transit Future staff members are heading down to Springfield on Thursday, May 10 to talk to our state representatives face-to-face about the importance of funding for mass transit in Northeastern Illinois. If you want to let your legislator 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 want as many coalition-members as possible with us on the Amtrak going down, so come and impact 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 our members to hear about the political lay of the land down in Springfield from the Head of the Mass Transit Committee, Rep. Julie Hamos. Come hear about the transit funding crisis that is taking place right now, and what we can all do to get involved and help influence the General Assembly to address the issue. 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 at dlebreton@cnt.org or (773) 269-4043.

Recap of House Mass Transit Workgroup on RTA Reform Meeting 4/25

Members of the transit community met Wednesday morning in Springfield to discuss changes to the 1983 RTA Act. The session focused on the RTA’s role in securing federal funds for existing and future New Starts Project and setting performance measures for each of the service boards. State Representatives Bassi, Colvin, Mathias, Fortner, Ryg, Arroyo, and Hamos were joined by representative from RTA, CTA and Pace, along with transit advocates from the entire six-county region. Overall, those present were in agreement on increasing RTA’s role in evaluating and prioritizing New Start Projects among Metra, Pace and CTA. Increasing RTA’s role in the expansion and enhancement of transit in Northeastern Illinois would allow for improved regional planning and more effective allocation of state and federal funds.

The discussion of House Bills 520 and 1841 centered on the RTA’s ability to set performance measures for all three service boards. While there was general agreement on the need for performance measures, there was no consensus on whether they would be set by statute or by a stronger RTA. Regardless of the means by which performance measures are set, there must be a means by which all three service boards’ efficiency and effectiveness are evaluated and compared.

With recent progress among the service boards towards creating universal fare media, those present discussed RTA’s ability to set a universal fare structure across all three service boards to promote greater intersystem transfers. Once again, while there was consensus around the concept whether it would be accomplished by a stronger RTA or law was unclear. The experiences of other mass transit agencies have shown that ridership increases when reduced transfers between transit systems are implemented. In order for this to take place, RTA must have the authority to mediate between service boards.

The next meeting will cover RTA governance and funding.

Recent Articles on Transit

Read some of the extensive press coverage about the regional transit crisis by going to “Transit in the News.”