Gov. Blagojevich Invites Commuters to Make Their Voices Heard by Writing or Recording Their Concerns About the Impact of a Transit Doomsday

Urges Lawmakers to Pass Mass Transit Legislation by Week's End

[January 08, 2008]  CHICAGO -- On Monday, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich urged lawmakers to approve a long-term Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace funding plan this week when they return to Springfield for regular session, in order to avoid drastic layoffs, service cuts and fare increases planned for Jan. 20. The governor also called on transit riders to voice their concerns about a possible "doomsday" scenario to legislators in Springfield. Transit riders can stop outside the Clark and Lake "el" station on the ground floor of the James R. Thompson Center on Tuesday to fill out cards to lawmakers or record brief video messages expressing their concerns. Riders can also send their messages to lawmakers via www.illinois.gov.

"The clock is still ticking. We want to make sure that lawmakers hear transit riders loud and clear that something needs to get done quickly," Blagojevich said. "With only 13 days left until the CTA and RTA cut essential services and lay off hundreds of employees, there is absolutely no reason lawmakers cannot come together and pass a bill that will prevent transit riders from being left out in the cold come Jan. 20."

The governor was joined Monday by Marion Poltrock, who has lived in Chicago all her life and relies on CTA buses to get her to and from the doctor's office. "I'm 82 years old," she said, "and I simply can't afford to have routes canceled and fares increased."

Carrolle Mardis, who also spoke on Monday about the need for a CTA funding solution, is a legally blind social service professional who depends on mass transit since she is unable to drive. "If legislators can't reach an agreement before a doomsday scenario plays out, it will be just devastating to me."

Finding a long-term solution to mass transit funding is also near and dear to Michelle Cole's heart since she depends on the CTA to get to work and to take her children to school. "I have two kids -- one with special needs," she said. "I could literally lose my job and be unable to provide for my family if fares go up and routes get canceled."

Blagojevich continues to reiterate his support for state Rep. Skip Saviano's proposal to provide mass transit funding by redirecting the existing sales tax on gasoline in the Chicagoland region to the RTA. This legislation received a near-majority of 57 votes on Nov. 28. However, if lawmakers are not able to pass the Saviano plan, the governor urged them to pass a bill that they support and he could consider.

Mass transit timeline

June 27: The CTA signs a labor agreement with its 17 affiliated labor unions. The agreement contained health and pension concessions.

Aug. 12: Blagojevich called a special session to address mass transit funding; the House was in session for three minutes and took no legislative action.

Aug. 13: Blagojevich called a special session to address CTA funding; the House was in session for three minutes and took no legislative action.

Sept. 4: A vote to raise the sales tax to provide mass transit funding (SB572) failed in the House 61-48-2.

Sept. 12: Days before an impending mass transit doomsday, Blagojevich offered to bail out the CTA, Pace and Metra, providing $37 million in immediate funding. He also offered to speed up $54 million in paratransit funding.

Sept. 18: The Senate passed a bipartisan capital bill (111 days ago Monday).

Nov. 2: Days before the second mass transit doomsday, Blagojevich bailed out the CTA and Pace for the second time, providing a $27 million grant because the House failed to vote on a funding solution for mass transit.

Nov. 28: Blagojevich called a special session to address mass transit funding. A vote to use sales tax revenue from gasoline for mass transit (SB307) failed in the House 57-53-4.

Nov. 29: Blagojevich called a special session to address mass transit funding and a statewide infrastructure plan; the House was in session for 17 minutes and took no legislative action.

Dec. 20: Blagojevich sent a letter to members of the General Assembly notifying them that, at the request of the legislative leaders, he would not call a special session before the holidays, but that they should be prepared to return to Springfield to address the transit crisis on Jan. 2.

Jan. 2: With only 18 days until the transit doomsday, the governor called a special session to address mass transit funding. Rep. Julie Hamos conducted a committee hearing on possible long-term funding solutions, but fewer than half of lawmakers attended the special session and no substantial action was taken.

Jan 7: Only 13 days until transit doomsday.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]