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The Senate Transportation Committee is holding hearings around
the state to focus on several aspects of mass transit.
“The goal of these committee hearings is really to discuss and
hone in on the importance of public transit to every fabric of
our life,” said state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago.
Several people testified on the importance of mass transit and
the effects on public health outcomes. Tracy McFadden, vice
president of the Fox Valley Electric Automobile Association,
said Illinois should invest in electric buses because studies
show that diesel buses are killing people.
“Shows that exhaust from diesel engines will lead to more than
5,000 asthma attacks, nearly 200 heart attacks, and 416
premature deaths across our state,” said McFadden.
The topic of regionalizing mass transit was addressed, but state
Sen. Seth Lewis, R-Bartlett, said it won’t work unless everyone
at the table has an equal say.
“I think when you have representing the suburbs, which has an
equal population combined compared to Cook County and Chicago, I
think it’s very important to, what you call tribalism, some may
call it consolidation of power and being taken advantage of in
the suburbs,” said Lewis.
At a previous meeting, the leaders of the Chicago Transit
Authority, Metra and Pace all pushed back on a proposal to merge
into one entity.
Two more hearings remain, including one next month in
Springfield that will focus on funding mass transit. The fact
that the Regional Transportation Authority is facing a $730
million fiscal cliff in two years when COVID relief funds run
out will likely come up for discussion.
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