CTA plans transit strike on January 20, 2008 (Cicero, Rosemont: travel, lease, costs)

[via chicago]

Dont know if anyone watched Chicago Tonight today, but they dedicated their entire hour show to the impending crisis. Outstanding job on breaking down the issues at stake.

In the end, if we dont fund and expand our infrastructure, there is the very real possibility we can begin to lose our grip on the global stage. The last guy the interviewed said it best: "Illinois without Chicago is Iowa."

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Dont know if anyone watched Chicago Tonight today, but they dedicated their entire hour show to the impending crisis. Outstanding job on breaking down the issues at stake.

In the end, if we dont fund and expand our infrastructure, there is the very real possibility we can begin to lose our grip on the global stage. The last guy the interviewed said it best: "Illinois without Chicago is Iowa."

Hey, thats my line!

[neonwattagelimit]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Dont know if anyone watched Chicago Tonight today, but they dedicated their entire hour show to the impending crisis. Outstanding job on breaking down the issues at stake.

In the end, if we dont fund and expand our infrastructure, there is the very real possibility we can begin to lose our grip on the global stage. The last guy the interviewed said it best: "Illinois without Chicago is Iowa."

This is pretty much what I've been thinking. Hasn't it occurred to any of these people that without decent public transit Chicago will collapse? It's just a matter of time. If this thing winds up being temporary, and then they restore the funding it won't be a big deal. But if it just keeps getting worse and worse....eventually people and businesses will start to leave the city. And if Chicago begins to rot away, what exactly do people in Peoria think will happen to them?

It reminds me of good ole New York State - an economically depressed, largely rural region with small, old manufacturing cities is dragged up, kicking and screaming, by a large and vibrant global city, while said city somehow manages to be resented and blamed for all the state's problems. It's insane.

[via chicago]

What I dont get is why road improvements are always viewed as an investment, but funding public transportation is a "subsidy".

They mentioned on the program that London is pouring billions into expanding and upgrading their transit because they view is the same way: an investment. Just yesterday Vancouver is investing $14 billion into their system. Just a sampling of what they have on tap:

Investing for the Future – a $14 Billion Action Plan[/b][/SIZE]

The Government of British Columbia is investing in innovative transit options for the benefit of all British Columbians now and into the future. By 2020, the plan calls for the provincial government and its federal and local government partners to commit $14 billion to significantly expand transit in communities across the province and to double transit ridership.

Successful implementation of the Provincial Transit Plan requires the cooperation and commitment of our partners. Of the $11.1 billion in new funding, the Province is committing up to $4.75 billion and is calling on the federal government for $3.1 billion, TransLink for $2.75 billion and local governments for $500 million along with supportive land use decisions.

For Metro Vancouver, the transit market share is about 12 per cent during weekdays. The Provincial Transit Plan will result in increasing transit market share by five per cent to a total of 17 per cent by 2020. By 2030, transit market share is expected to increase by an additional five per cent as people get out of their cars and onto the expanded transit network. In the Victoria Regional Transit System, the present transit market share is about seven per cent. The Provincial Transit Plan is aimed at increasing transit market share
by 2.5 per cent by 2020, bringing the total market share to 9.5 per cent. By 2030, market share is expected to grow by an additional 2.5 per cent to 12 per cent in the region.




SECURITY:

- Installing electronic gates and closed-circuit cameras at rapid transit stations

- Launching a smart-card system for rapid transit and buses that users can reload at vending machines or on the Internet

- Taking action against people who do not pay fares with on-the-spot fines and other measures

- Increasing security personnel in and around rapid transit stations



SKYTRAIN EXPANSION:

- $2 billion to construct the new, 19 kilometre Canada Line from downtown Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond by end of 2009

- $1.4 billion to build the 11 kilometre Evergreen Line by 2014, connecting Coquitlam Centre to the Lougheed Town Centre Station

- $2.8 billion to build a new, 12 kilometre line from Broadway Station to University of British Columbia by 2020

- $3.1 billion to double capacity on the existing Expo Line, including major improvements to stations starting in 2009 and a 6 kilometre extension in Surrey by 2020. Improvements will include lengthening platforms to handle 6 car trains, additional storage track, upgrades to the control system, vehicle storage depots, maintenance facilities and adjacent transit exchanges.

- $1 billion for additional SkyTrain cars





RAPID BUS:

The Provincial Transit Plan calls for $1.2 billion to be invested in RapidBus BC by 2020. RapidBus BC will be available along nine lines in British Columbia:

- From Westbank to the University of British Columbia Okanagan in the central Okanagan

- From Douglas Street in downtown Victoria to Langford on the West Shore

- Highway 1, connecting Lougheed Station to exchanges in Surrey and Langley across the Port Mann Bridge

- Hastings Street from downtown Vancouver to Simon Fraser University

- 41st Avenue from the Canada Line to the University of British Columbia

- Highway 99 from White Rock to the Canada Line in Richmond

- King George Highway from Surrey Centre south to White Rock

- Fraser Highway, connecting Langley to the Expo Line in Surrey

- Highway 7 from the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam across the new Golden Ears Bridge







As the core of the transit system in communities like Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver, RapidBus BC offers:
- Frequent, reliable service at regularly spaced intervals
- Express service with few or no stops between main stations
- Priority movement in traffic through dedicated lanes, in some cases bypassing congested intersections
- Pre-paid fare collection to minimize boarding delays
- Integrated fare systems, allowing free or discounted transfers between routes and transit modes
- Easy-to-understand route and schedule information
- Modern, efficient, high capacity vehicles, which are easy to board, quiet, clean and comfortable to ride
- Contemporary, conveniently located bus stations with nearby amenities
- Seamless integration with other transit options and coordination with cycling and walking infrastructure
- Separate lanes on all or some parts of routes
- Use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes
- Signal priority and queue jumping provisions
- Effective security measures



EXPANDED BUS FLEET

The Provincial Transit Plan will significantly increase the provincial bus fleet to improve service in many communities around the province. By investing $1.6 billion in 1,500 new, clean energy buses and related maintenance infrastructure, and increasing the hours of service, transit riders will have
access to more buses, more often. The new buses will be selected to meet the specific needs of communities in cost-effective, energy efficient ways.

Clean technologies include:
■ Hydrogen
■ Hybrid
■ Electric
■ Natural Gas
■ Low emissions diesel

In addition to conventional buses, the new fleet will be made up of a variety of bus types customized to meet the needs of individual communities and users. Options include:

■ Community shuttles – smaller, quieter vehicles that minimize impacts on neighbourhoods
■ Custom transit – specialized vans and minibuses for dial-a-ride, door-to-door handyDART service, and taxi programs to serve mobility challenged transit users and others who cannot access conventional transit
■ Para-transit – mini-buses, taxis and vans offering flexible routes and schedules
■ Articulated and double-decker buses – high capacity buses to serve passengers on routes where demand is heavy
■ Conventional buses – the mainstay of the fleet

Toronto and Hamilton are getting $16 billion for rapid transit expansion. Montreal is getting a new subway line. Calgary's C-Train is being expanded. And here we are just fighting for what we have to stay operational.

[j33]

I know that if Chicago's transportation collapses, I'll probably be one of the people looking to move elsewhere, after a lifetime in the Chicago area.

[sukwoo]

A federal panel has recommended increasing the federal gas tax 40 cents over the next five years. Transit panel urges gas tax increase - Yahoo! News.

Don't know if this will fly politically, but if it does, will be a major boost for transit.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by via chicago

What I dont get is why road improvements are always viewed as an investment, but funding public transportation is a "subsidy".

That was one of the many reasons why I found Blago's quote about the legislature approving "my bailout" so infuriating.

Those two words described the exact opposite of the situation.

On edit, that Vancouver transit plan just depresses me. Even the Circle Line remains a pipe dream for us, let alone the badly needed redline extension.

[neonwattagelimit]

Re: viachicago's post -

I think it's because most Americans do not ride public transportation. They do not understand how vital it is to large cities like Chicago, NYC, DC, SF, etc....I think perhaps the idea is "why should we subsidize those no-good city folk when there's clearly nothing in it for us?" This country, sadly, has a long tradition of anti-urban bias. I think that comes out in the way these debates are framed.

[supernerdgirl]

... and now it's time for today's episode of "the most ignorant thing i've ever read ever."

RedEye | CTA blog

The National Taxpayers United of Illinois sent out a press release today urging a "no" vote on what it called the "$530 million CTA tax hike." The group calls the tax increase that would fund the CTA bailout "grossly unfair" to the residents of collar counties, who "use the CTA very little compared with the residents of Cook County." Uh, ok, you forget that Metra and Pace are a part of this?

President Jim Tobin told me his group is against any new funding for the CTA until they clean up the agency.

"The CTA is a financial black hole that will not be made viable even with limited concessions by its overpaid union employees,” Tobin said in the press release. “The CTA bureaucracy is incompetent and needs to be replaced. Many buses carry less than half-a-dozen riders, and the CTA Douglas line unnecessarily duplicates the service of the Congress line in the Eisenhower Expressway. The so-called ‘doomsday’ cuts are necessary, and are only the beginning of what is needed to restore viability. It will take more than cutting 81 bus routes and 2,400 employees before the CTA can survive.”

Ok, let's just shut down that branch of the Blue Line so every single person that rides it can EACH GET IN A CAR AND DRIVE (erm, just sit in traffic, rather) on the Eisenhower, because it's not bad enough as it is.


I've given up. i'll be riding the Belmont bus on monday. I quit. and i can't wait until spring so I can get my tax refund and buy a bike. the end.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by neonwattagelimit

Re: viachicago's post -

I think it's because most Americans do not ride public transportation. They do not understand how vital it is to large cities like Chicago, NYC, DC, SF, etc....I think perhaps the idea is "why should we subsidize those no-good city folk when there's clearly nothing in it for us?" This country, sadly, has a long tradition of anti-urban bias. I think that comes out in the way these debates are framed.

It's just ignorant. I used to live in a small town that didn't know what the hell a rapid transit train even looked like, but I at least could understand the value of public transit even then.