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Mass Transit Capital Funding: Why we need it now!

What the January 2008 mass transit legislation did:

The legislation that became law in January 2008 after a year of work provided additional operational funding to the transit system. The legislation allowed the system to keep operating without service cuts and massive fare increases when revenues were short of expectations. The legislation also enhanced coordination and efficiency.

What the January 2008 mass transit legislation did not:

The mass transit legislation did not provide for replacing outdated or worn railroad cars, elevated and subway cars, engines, locomotives, buses, vans, equipment, tracks, structures, stations platforms and facilities.

We need mass transit now, more than ever!

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THE RTA CONTINUES WORK TO SECURE CAPITAL FUNDING

In January 2008, the General Assembly passed legislation to authorize additional transit operating funding and to enhance coordination and efficiency at the RTA and the Service Boards. This investment in our system will provide more consistent service and end the almost constant financial crisis we have confronted over the last several years. While obtaining operating funding and reform was a critical step in remaking our transit system, we cannot fully achieve our goal of having a world-class transit system unless there is an adequate capital investment to maintain, enhance and expand the system.

It has been nine years since the state of Illinois last addressed capital funding. Illinois FIRST was approved in 1999 and provided urgently needed funds for roads, bridges, transit and other public infrastructure. The money allowed our state to address maintenance backlogs and build critical expansions to our road and transit system. But Illinois FIRST funds expired in 2004, and for more than three years, no state infrastructure funding has been dedicated to transit.

Our transit system is the second largest in the nation. Collectively, the CTA, Metra and Pace operate more than 3,800 buses and vans, 2,300 train cars, 1,490 miles of train track, 915 bridges and over 300 rail stations. Just in order to maintain current levels of service and infrastructure, the RTA and Service Boards should be investing over $1 billion each year – and that does include any funding for expansions of the system.

Because funding has not been available, maintenance and repairs have been delayed and replacement of aging vehicles has been put off. This results in less reliable service, slow zones, less fuel efficient vehicles, and increased operating costs.

Without sufficient investment, we will not be able to address the critical maintenance needs of the system. Without an adequate capital program, we will not be able to pursue new transit lines or expansions and will risk losing federal funds that are available for these expansions.
Addressing the repairs and upgrades needed to maintain the current system must be the priority.

Our roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and other public buildings need new funding. The longer we delay these investments, the costs to fix our aging infrastructure increases. If we do not fix our transit infrastructure, the new operating funding we have achieved is used less efficiently because older equipment uses more fuel, breaks down more often and is more expensive to operate.

Transit provides tremendous benefits to this region. It dramatically reduces congestion, cuts air pollution and provides access to jobs, health care and education to millions of people each day. But these benefits are at risk if we don’t make the needed investments to maintain, enhance and expand the system.

Sign up to receive regular updates on our efforts to improve capital funding and to learn how to contact your legislators to voice your support for a state capital plan.

To see an overview of the capital needs for the RTA system presented to the RTA Board of Directors, click here (opens as a .pdf).