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This week, I teamed up with CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr., Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski, and Pace Executive Director Rocky Donahue, to issue a statement about the need for additional federal funding to support public transit as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The statement is as follows:
"Together, our transit agencies have created a culture of COVID prevention. All riders should know the trains and buses have never been cleaner. CTA, Metra, and Pace staff worked heroically in the pandemic’s earliest stages to carry essential workers to their jobs, and they continue providing safe, reliable trips to meet dramatically shifting customer needs.
"Business leaders recognize that transit will be essential for economic recovery, but significant financial challenges mean this can’t be taken for granted. The federal CARES Act last spring included $25 billion for U.S. transit systems, providing our region with a one-time infusion of nearly $1.4 billion that has sustained our operations during this pandemic. But make no mistake: Without additional federal relief, the Northeastern Illinois transit system and others across America will face a significant shortfall in 2021 due to declining revenues.
"Therefore, we call on Congress to provide $32 billion for transit nationwide in a new COVID relief package, as recommended by the American Public Transportation Association. Within our region, we will work together to make the difficult choices necessary to sustain our transit system despite these unprecedented challenges."
Please feel free to share this PDF of the statement. CTA, Metra, and Pace executives also spoke powerfully about these challenges at yesterday's RTA Board meeting. See this video, starting at 20:30.
The need for additional transit funding for Northeastern Illinois was also in the news recently with an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, a story in Crain's Chicago Business, and an interview with RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard on WBEZ 91.5 FM. The New York Times highlighted transit cuts' devastating effects on riders who depend on the system most, reinforcing the critical importance of providing transportation options for all.
RTA COVID-19 Transit Dashboard updated
The RTA continues to update its COVID-19 Transit Dashboard weekly. New data show systemwide ridership down 69 percent as of August 14 when compared to the same time last year. The dashboard also has new data on sales tax received during May, which was down 22 percent from the same month last year. June farebox revenue for each Service Board has also been added to the dashboard and shows decreases of more than 80 percent for each operator.
Explore the dashboard at www.RTAChicago.org/covid-dash.
Public comment reminder
Comments on RTA's Investment Framework for Capital Improvements will be accepted through Friday, August 28.
If you have questions or want to touch base during this time, don't hesitate to reach out.
Thank you,
Leanne Redden
RTA Executive Director
ReddenL@RTAChicago.org
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