The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) ,the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace, Amtrak, and regional transportation partners are joining together April 9 to “Stand Up for Transportation” and urge federal legislators to support consistent, long-term funding for the nation’s public transit and transportation systems.
The Chicago region, made up of six counties whose residents take two million passenger trips on the region’s public transportation system each work day, is participating in the national campaign sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in several ways.
The RTA, CTA, Metra, Pace and Amtrak are hosting a press conference on April 9, at Chicago’s Union Station, focusing on Move Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21), which expires on May 31, and the Highway Trust Fund, which will start teetering on insolvency this summer. The region’s transit system, like others around the country, relies on important federal funds to keep its transportation system in working order. Besides public transportation and Amtrak leadership, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Congressman Bob Dold (R-IL-10) are scheduled to attend.
In addition, the initiative also includes a “25 Ways, 25 Days” campaign that highlights the benefits the region’s robust system brings to its nine million residents. The campaign focuses on benefits related to five primary categories: quality of life; preserving the environment; saving money; saving time and generating economic development. Examples of benefits in these five categories can be found by clicking on the ‘Contact Your Legislator’ button on the RTA Website and will be shared via social media, with the hashtag #SU4T.
The Stand Up for Transportation partners include: Access Living; Amtrak; Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP); Chicago Transit Authority (CTA); Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Chicago Chapter; Kane / Kendall Council of Mayors; Metra; The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus; Metro West Council of Government; Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC); Motor Coach Industries; Northwest Municipal Conference; Pace Suburban Bus; Office of President Toni Preckwinkle, Board of Commissioners of Cook County; South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association; Southwest Conference of Mayors; University of Illinois at Chicago, Urban Transportation Center; Will County Governmental League; West Central Municipal Conference; and Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), Greater Chicago Chapter.
