Get moving on transit
I write about, “Emanuel is right. Better mass transit is crucial to Chicago’s future.” With the upcoming mayoral election and recent news of Amazon’s choice for HQ2 in New York and Virginia, it’s time to act on how we can sufficiently invest in our transit system.
One line in the editorial struck me: “And if nothing is done now, it will fall apart without a plan.” The RTA has a plan, a regional transit strategic plan called Invest in Transit. This five-year plan sets forth a bold, yet practical, vision in which public transit is the backbone of our region’s robust transportation mobility network.
This plan has three main goals: deliver value on our investment, build on the strengths of our network, and stay competitive. It also includes Invest in Transit Priority Projects, which describes $30 billion in specific, tangible capital priorities for CTA, Metra and Pace. More importantly, these are priorities for our riders that will modernize our fleet, eliminate slow zones and prioritize transit in our region. These projects show what we will do with sufficient and sustainable funding. We should be investing $2 billion to $3 billion in our system each year to meet our needs and assure our system’s assets are in a state of good repair. We’re not investing half of that each year.
Underinvestment in our regional transit system is not new. We have seen a continuous underfunding of our region’s transit infrastructure for years. Still, even facing these obstacles, CTA, Metra and Pace are delivering excellent service with limited resources, providing 2 million rides each workday. Even with other mobility options, no other mode can move that number of people safely and efficiently in our region as transit. A recent Metropolitan Planning Council report found that neighborhoods and suburbs near transit stations are attracting many more new jobs than other areas. Transit is key to our region’s economy. It’s clear that the economic and social benefits of our transit system are vast and impact every geographic corner of Northeastern Illinois.
We have a plan. Let’s move it forward!
Kirk Dillard, chairman, Regional Transportation Authority