Chicago, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A few moments ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Rebuild Illinois into law. This is a momentous day for infrastructure funding in our state, ending a decade without a statewide capital bill.
The media statement from the leaders of RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace is below.
The RTA worked with the transit agencies and regional stakeholders to create Invest in Transit, the regional transit strategic plan that makes the case for the sustainable, long term funding the regional transit system needs. Public transportation is essential to the RTA region; it is the backbone of its transportation system and a key driver of the economy.
This is the inspiration for the RTA’s summer’s campaign, #WeCanAllAgreeOnTransit, which includes social media posts with riders acknowledging their differences and emphasizing what they have in common: riding the regional transit system. Here’s an advance preview of one post that will be released later this summer and more can be found on the RTA’s YouTube channel, RTAchicagoland.
The RTA encourages riders to “like” and “share” these posts and email the agency their own “we can all agree on transit” posts to [email protected].
Statement from Leaders of RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace
This is a historic day, as Governor J.B. Pritzker signs Rebuild Illinois into law. Today’s actions end a decade without a capital bill in our state and usher in the largest infrastructure program in our state’s history. It will have transformative effects on the regional transit system for which the RTA, the CTA, Metra, and Pace are responsible.
As we had long advocated, Rebuild Illinois provides the first-ever sustainable “pay as you go” funding that will generate about $227 million per year for capital investments in the transit system of northeastern Illinois and $25 million for transit elsewhere in the state. Adding a further $2.7 billion in bonding revenue for our region over the next five years, the bill begins to address an over-reliance on federal funds for capital and provides the type of consistent funding that is essential for effective planning and programming of projects. While the total falls short of the region’s $30 billion in transit capital needs over the next decade, make no mistake: It is a significant step forward.
In our annual capital and budgetary planning that begins later this summer, the RTA and its three transit Service Boards will work closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation to determine how we can maximize this new funding’s benefits for residents and communities across the region.
On behalf of this region’s millions of transit riders, we thank Governor Pritzker, all four leaders in the Illinois Senate and House, and the other legislative champions who were critical in passing this landmark capital bill.
This is a release from the Regional Transportation Authority, RTA.
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