November 4th

With good news comes some sobering news.

First, the good news: on Friday, at my urging, the RTA Board voted to accept Governor’s Blagojevich’s offer to advance to the RTA funds otherwise available in 2008 to avoid CTA’s scheduled fare increases and service reductions until at least November 4^th. So, the service cuts and fare increases have been postponed. I am glad that my fellow RTA Board members gave Springfield these next few weeks to come up with a sustainable, long-term funding package for regional transit. CTA customers are paramount in my mind, so while receiving this funding in advance isn’t fiscally prudent, it was clearly the right thing to do so our customers don’t suffer as pawns in complicated Springfield politics.

Now the sobering news: the Governor’s proposal is a short term arrangement that will only carry CTA through November 4^th—that’s only 48 days away. While we have averted Sunday’s cuts and fare increases, Metra, Pace and CTA have exposed themselves to potentially an even greater problem in the coming weeks as we try to (1) help Springfield craft a long-term, sustainable funding package before November 4^th and (2) fill in our looming 2008 operating deficit which just grew by more than $24 million.

The RTA Board members, President Huberman and I have now placed our confidence in legislative leaders and the Governor to find a legislative solution that will finally place our regional transit system on a sustainable path. Rest assured that we continue to work our elected leaders in Springfield. We have been in constant dialogue with Senate leaders and remain optimistic that the Senate will consider a bill as early as this week. The Fall Veto Session is scheduled for October 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th. I again encourage you to call or write your State Senator and Representative to let them know how important transit is to you. You can find their addresses and phone numbers at CTA's website.

Thank you for your continued concern and patience, and please continue to keep up the drumbeat in support.