Transportation

Position Statement on Reform of the Chicago Region’s Transit System

Oppose the Proposed Merger of CMAP and the RTA

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus was one of the first organizations to state that it opposed the merger of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) when legislation was proposed in 2013. The Caucus remains unequivocally opposed to this proposal. It is not the right approach to remedy the Chicago region’s mass transit issues.

Proponents of the proposal seem to think that merging the RTA with a more effective agency like CMAP will solve the RTA’s problems. However, in the Caucus’ view, they have yet to tangibly demonstrate how the merger will lead to a strengthened regional transit agency and an improved public transit system. The Caucus believes that the proposed merger will potentially overburden CMAP, undermine its goals and priorities, and make it a less effective regional planning organization.

The Chicago region is finally doing planning well. The Mayors Caucus is very concerned that transferring the financial oversight, bonding and service board coordination responsibilities which are currently vested with the RTA to CMAP will overshadow the important and effective work the planning agency is doing on behalf of the region’s local governments.

Increase Investment in the Region’s Transit System

The Mayors Caucus believes that the primary reason the Chicago region’s transit system has been on the decline in recent years is due to the fact that it has not been supported by adequate funding. In a report issued in December 2011, the RTA estimated that an additional $14 billion was needed to address its “state of good repair” backlog of projects. This was on top of $4.7 billion the agency had already included in a five-year capital plan. The same report also stated that an additional $12.4 billion would be required to meet the region’s service expansion needs.

Increased revenues are necessary if the Chicago region is to have a world class mass transit system to make it economically competitive with other major metropolitan areas. The Mayors Caucus believes that the region and the State of Illinois need to think beyond traditional sources in identifying funding options that are sustainable for maintaining the current system as well as for its future expansion. It also suggests that two good places to start would be to eliminate the practice of diverting sales tax revenues to communities outside the RTA service area and support taxation of e-commerce.

Governance and Fiscal Reform Must Be Done Concurrently and Equitably

Proponents of the merger of the RTA and CMAP have consistently suggested that reform of the region’s transit system should begin with its governance structure. They contend that a new governance model be established first so the resulting new board could develop a new financial plan for the retooled transit agency.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus disagrees with this notion. It believes that governance and finance are very much interrelated. The structure of a new governing body or bodies and agency operations as well as the agency’s funding framework are inextricably linked and ought to be considered concurrently.

The Caucus also avers that fairness and equity guide discussions regarding a revised governance structure and funding framework. The makeup of the new governing body or bodies should be representative of and accountable to the entire region. Decisions on the allocation of the region’s transit funds should be done fairly, equitably and consistently.

Revise the Boundaries of the RTA’s Service Area

Unlike CMAP, the boundaries of the RTA’s service territory have not kept up with the growth of the Chicago region. Communities in the growth areas are increasingly interested in receiving transit service, but have been reluctant to petition to be added to RTA service area because they would then be subject to the RTA sales tax.

The Mayors Caucus believes there is a simple solution to this. It recommends that consideration be given to making the RTA’s service area coterminous with the boundaries of CMAP’s planning area. In other words, if there is value for growing communities to be part of the region’s planning efforts, then there is also value in being part of its transit service territory as well.

Reforms Must Focus on the Needs of Transit Riders

When discussions of systemic reforms of something like a regional transit system occur, they tend to focus on issues like governance, finance, ethics and system performance. While these are all important, what sometimes get lost are the needs of the users of the system, especially those that are most reliant on it.

Many riders in the Chicago region depend on public transportation as their only means of getting around. They count on the region’s buses and trains to get them to and from their jobs, for shopping, to go to church or school, to visit family and friends, to travel to the doctor’s office and many other trips that people with their own vehicles take for granted. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus urges that any discussions of public transit system reforms be sensitive to the needs of the citizens who are most reliant on public transportation.

Restore Public Trust through Local Accountability

Public confidence in the region’s current transit system has been shaken by mismanagement and scandal in recent years. Local accountability is critical to restoring public trust in the transit governance structure. Local government leaders like Mayors are closest to the businesses and commuters served by the transit system. Its governance would greatly benefit from more direct input and leadership from local government leaders. The member Mayors of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus are very willing to do their parts to help strengthen the region’s transit system and restore the public’s confidence.