$2.7 Billion in State Funds For Mass Transit in Northeastern Illinois Will Help Repair and Maintain the System
CHICAGO – The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) today applauded Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn for signing the state capital bill which will help address a significant backlog in maintenance in the transit system and help improve service across northeastern Illinois. The region’s system has confronted numerous challenges, including outdated vehicles and equipment, deteriorating rail ties and tracks and aging stations, resulting in slow zones and less reliable service. With the first major state capital plan approved since Illinois FIRST in 1999, critical capital investments can be made to improve service and create jobs.
“The Regional Transportation Authority is grateful to Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton and Governor Quinn for their leadership on the capital bill,” said Jim Reilly, Chairman of the RTA Board. Together with House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Republican Leader Christine Rodagno, the Legislature was able to put together a solid plan to meet the transit system’s most pressing maintenance needs.”
“I must also acknowledge the hard work of Senator Martin Sandoval, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and thank him for his leadership on the capital plan,” noted Reilly.
Last month, the Illinois General Assembly approved a capital bill of $1.8 billion for mass transit in northeastern Illinois. It had previously approved a “jump start” capital bill in April of $900 million in transit funds. Together, mass transit received $2.7 billion in total state capital funding.
“These funds come at a critical time which will support priority system maintenance needs,” said RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman. “The RTA has worked with the CTA, Metra and Pace for several years to advocate for additional investments, and we are eager to improve the system for riders.”
The RTA has been working with the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace to identify and prioritize each agency’s transit needs. RTA, along with the service boards, will continue to pursue additional funding needed to enhance and expand the system to meet growing demand. The RTA’s Moving Beyond Congestion strategic plan identified a $10 billion need in new state capital funds over the next five years to maintain, enhance and expand the regional system.
These new funds will help the Chicago Transit Authority to purchase more hybrid buses which will help lower maintenance, labor and fuel costs, as well as make progress on eliminating slow zones throughout the system.
“This capital bill will address long overdue needs, including the purchase of new cars for the Metra Electric line and a variety of bridge, rail and station projects,” said Phil Pagano, Executive Director, Metra. “We can continue to ensure reliable service to our Metra riders.”
“With new capital funds, we will be able to replace older buses with ones that are more fuel efficient and reliable and will make service more comfortable for passengers,” said TJ Ross, Pace Executive Director.
Earlier this year, the regional transit system received $414 million in federal stimulus funding which has already been committed to maintaining the system, bringing it closer to a state of good repair.
RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly is also Co-Chair of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, a statewide coalition of business, labor and public agencies that advocated for additional capital investments in the state’s roads, highway, transit and public transit systems. The RTA will continue to promote ongoing efforts both locally and nationally to identify new resources for long-term, consistent funding for transit.
CHICAGO The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) today applauded Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn for signing the state capital bill which will help address a significant backlog in maintenance in the transit system and help improve service across northeastern Illinois. The regionￕs system has confronted numerous challenges, including outdated vehicles and equipment, deteriorating rail ties and tracks and aging stations, resulting in slow zones and less reliable service. With the first major state capital plan approved since Illinois FIRST in 1999, critical capital investments can be made to improve service and create jobs.
ￒThe Regional Transportation Authority is grateful to Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton and Governor Quinn for their leadership on the capital bill,ￓ said Jim Reilly, Chairman of the RTA Board. Together with House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Republican Leader Christine Rodagno, the Legislature was able to put together a solid plan to meet the transit systemￕs most pressing maintenance needs.ￓ
ￒI must also acknowledge the hard work of Senator Martin Sandoval, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and thank him for his leadership on the capital plan,ￓ noted Reilly.
Last month, the Illinois General Assembly approved a capital bill of $1.8 billion for mass transit in northeastern Illinois. It had previously approved a ￒjump startￓ capital bill in April of $900 million in transit funds. Together, mass transit received $2.7 billion in total state capital funding.
ￒThese funds come at a critical time which will support priority system maintenance needs,ￓ said RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman. ￒThe RTA has worked with the CTA, Metra and Pace for several years to advocate for additional investments, and we are eager to improve the system for riders.ￓ
The RTA has been working with the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace to identify and prioritize each agencyￕs transit needs. RTA, along with the service boards, will continue to pursue additional funding needed to enhance and expand the system to meet growing demand. The RTAￕs Moving Beyond Congestion strategic plan identified a $10 billion need in new state capital funds over the next five years to maintain, enhance and expand the regional system.
These new funds will help the Chicago Transit Authority to purchase more hybrid buses which will help lower maintenance, labor and fuel costs, as well as make progress on eliminating slow zones throughout the system.
ￒThis capital bill will address long overdue needs, including the purchase of new cars for the Metra Electric line and a variety of bridge, rail and station projects,ￓ said Phil Pagano, Executive Director, Metra. ￒWe can continue to ensure reliable service to our Metra riders.ￓ
ￒWith new capital funds, we will be able to replace older buses with ones that are more fuel efficient and reliable and will make service more comfortable for passengers,ￓ said TJ Ross, Pace Executive Director.
Earlier this year, the regional transit system received $414 million in federal stimulus funding which has already been committed to maintaining the system, bringing it closer to a state of good repair.
RTA Board Chairman Jim Reilly is also Co-Chair of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, a statewide coalition of business, labor and public agencies that advocated for additional capital investments in the stateￕs roads, highway, transit and public transit systems. The RTA will continue to promote ongoing efforts both locally and nationally to identify new resources for long-term, consistent funding for transit.
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