FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2009

$900 MILLION SLATED FOR MASS TRANSIT A WELCOME FIRST STEP TOWARD ADDRESSING FUNDING NEEDS

CHICAGO – The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) welcomed the Governor and General Assembly’s approval of $900 million in capital funding for the CTA, Metra and Pace and looks forward to working with Governor Quinn and the legislature to approve a comprehensive capital plan before the end of the spring session.

“Governor Quinn showed tremendous leadership by proposing this initial capital plan and working with the General Assembly to quickly approve it,” said Steve Schlickman, RTA Executive Director.  “We look forward to working with him and the legislature when they return from their spring recess to develop a comprehensive and long-term capital plan to improve the transit system while responding to record-setting ridership growth."

The General Assembly approved an initial capital plan designed to quickly distribute transportation infrastructure funds to address immediate needs in the state’s road, highway, bridge and transit
networks.  A total of $900 million in transit capital funding was included in the proposal for the RTA.

Also included in the bill is $100 million for downstate transit capital investment.

The RTA, in partnership with the CTA, Metra and Pace, has identified $10 billion in needed state-funded capital investments over the next five years in order to address maintenance needs, enhance service and expand the system.

“Before the Governor and General Assembly took action yesterday, the state had not invested any capital dollars in transit in nearly five years,” said Schlickman.  “This is a great jump start on our most pressing needs, but we have a lot of catching up to do.  We need an ongoing state capital plan to address the significant needs of the system. We look forward to helping develop that plan this spring – not only to help our transit system, but to help the state’s economy to recover.”