Governor Quinn: $500-million investment in Illinois mass transit
Written by jrood
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced more than $500 million for critical mass transit infrastructure improvements throughout Illinois. The funding, provided through the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, will create and retain an estimated 18,000 jobs and improve traveler safety.
"Our mass transit systems
drive Illinois’ economy and we must invest in them to continue our economic
recovery and create jobs," said Governor Quinn. "This important capital
investment will improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the public
transportation systems that people throughout Illinois rely on every day."
The funding includes more
than $442 million for the Regional Transit Authority, which will provide $253
million to the Chicago Transit Authority, $157 million to Metra, and $32
million to PACE. Transit systems outside of the Chicago area will receive $58
million for new facilities and other improvements.
Funding for the CTA will help
eliminate slow zones, rehabilitate elevated train stations, improve the safety
of existing infrastructure, and increase accessibility. Metra will receive $119
million for new electric cars and $38 million for reconstruction and
improvements at eight stations. PACE will receive $32 million for bus
improvements, new paratransit vehicles and a system-wide radio upgrade.
Investment in mass transit
is critical to Illinois’ continued economic recovery. Mass transit directly and
indirectly provides more than $12 billion in economic benefits and 120,000 jobs
to Northeastern Illinois, while also reducing road congestion.
The funding will help meet
the most critical needs of Illinois’ mass transit systems, including: replacing
unreliable railroad cars, elevated and subway cars, engines, locomotives,
buses, vans, tracks, stations, platforms and other structures and facilities.
Without this investment, slow zones would become more widespread and residents
would be faced with more broken equipment and leaky facilities – jeopardizing
reliable service, public safety, and economic growth.
