Active Transportation Alliance applauds $1 billion investment in CTA's Red and Purple Lines

(From the Active Transportation Alliance) 

 

Bringing these train lines into a state of good repair is essential, but enormous challenges remain

 

The Active Transportation Alliance applauds Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for investing in our region’s transit system.

Yesterday’s announcement to allocate $1 billion to improve the Red and Purple Lines is an important step in the right direction, but our region still has a long way to go toward creating the 21st Century transit system our region deserves.

Transit in Chicagoland is significantly underfunded. Demand for transit in our region is increasing, yet we are faced again with possible fare increases and service cuts from CTA and Metra.

Transit riders also contend with slow zones, overcrowded trains and buses, and long waits at stations that are dirty and in need of repairs.

Bringing the Red and Purple Lines into a state of good repair is an essential investment, but enormous challenges still remain. CTA, Metra and Pace together are in need of $24 billion in capital funding to keep our region’s transit system in a state of good repair.

To create a 21st Century transit system, we need to move beyond simply maintaining what we have. We need to expand and enhance service, including extending the Red Line to 130th Street.

Our transit agencies also continue to face operational deficits because of a lack of funding, which has led to annual doomsdays of fare increases and service cuts.

Our elected officials hold the purse strings. Active Trans encourages Governor Quinn and Mayor Emanuel to continue making transit a priority. We must increase investment in transit.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. The Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by nearly 7,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 40 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.