The Metra UP-N line through Ravenswood needs track and station repairs, but funds are needed

Capital Funding for Illinois Transit

We won an important battle for additional transit operating support in January, but the Illinois General Assembly only did half the job.  They have not replenished a capital fund that ran out of money years ago.

The General Assembly needs to act quickly on a capital bill in order replace aging buses, maintain high-quality track and to avoid losing federal matching dollars.  Click here to tell your legislator to make transit investment a priority.

Background

Typically, legislation regarding major transit investments are combined with similar programs for highways, schools and other infrastructure investments.  The term "capital bill" is used as shorthand to describe this package.

The last capital bill, called Illinois First, was passed in 1999.  It pledged 30 years of increased license fees to float a major bond issue.  The ratio of highway spending and transit funding was roughly 2 to 1.

The money from those bonds ran out years ago.  As a result,  the State's transit agencies have been unable to replace buses that are beyond their useful life.  Deferred track maintenance has caused slow zones on the CTA.  At Metra, important bridge and station improvements are years behind schedule. The State is at risk of losing hundreds of millions dollars in federal matching dollars.

Passing a capital bill will be difficult.  Highway construction costs have skyrocketed over the last several years, while revenues from the gas tax have begun to decline.  (The gas tax is per gallon fee, not a percentage.  People are driving less often in more efficient cars generating less revenue.)  Members of the General Assembly are loath to raise gas taxes to meet the increased costs.

Current proposals suggest bonding against expanded gambling revenues, breaking the already weak connection between user fees and highway funds.

Governor Blagojevich has proposed at program called "Illinois Works" which calls for $14.4 billion for roads and only $3.2 billion for transit, passenger rail and airports.  That is a 5:1 ratio.

This proposal is a giant leap backward.  The State should move quickly to expand transit by finding a reliable funding source.  The spending ratio for any new dollars should be 1:1.

 

Tell your legislators to give greater priority to transit

 

Further reading


©2008 Transit Riders' Alliance, a project of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
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