This week we’ve been operating on two related tracks here at CTA.
On one we’re working feverishly with our transit supporters in the Illinois General Assembly to get a transit bill passed (the march continues). On Tuesday the Illinois House took up Senate Bill 572 (dealing with regional governance, transit funding and CTA pension and healthcare reform). Unfortunately, the bill didn’t receive the 71 supermajority votes it needed to move over to the Senate for that bodies’ consideration. Since then, President Huberman and I have been talking to elected officials all week about the prospects of SB 572 passing out of the House, and I feel confident it will get the votes. I’m also hearing that the Illinois Senate might introduce its own transit bill early next week.
Lost in the discussion about SB 572 is the fact that the bill does not address CTA’s glaring capital needs (which are growing worse as we’re forced to borrow what little we can from our depleted capital budget to pay for operating expenses). So, even if Springfield passes operating reform legislation, it will still need to address our unfunded capital need—currently at $5.8 Billion.
On the second track, CTA staff continues to do the necessary planning for the service cuts and fare increase, including posting the new (and hopefully temporary) signage detailing what CTA customers can expect when they first step on the system on September 16th. President Huberman and I regret that you, our customers, are in such a position.
Some of you have asked about what 2008 will look like if Springfield doesn’t act soon. We’re in the process of coming up with preliminary budget numbers now that we will share with you and other members of the public this fall as we develop the budget we’ll submit to the RTA. I can tell you this now, though: without funding relief there will be deeper and more extensive service cuts and higher fare increases.
Please know that I and my colleagues at CTA remain hard at work on getting Springfield to implement a sustainable funding package for regional transit. Our region still has time to act, but it’s getting very, very close. Our friends at www.savechicagolandtransit.com still make it simple for you to help.
As I hope I’ve made clear, no matter what CTA’s funding situation looks like, I will hold our staff to the highest service standards. To that end, I will post soon with some detailed explanation about how the Purple Line will work for southbound riders if no funding comes through, the status of our slow zone remediation project, and other service-related questions/concerns you have raised here. Please keep them coming as I check the blog daily.
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