093_HR0173
LRB093 11378 HSS 13737 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, There are almost 6,000 transit agencies in the
3 United States, including 70 transit providers in Illinois;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, In 2000, Illinois public transit provided almost
6 600 million rides; and
7 WHEREAS, The Department of Energy estimates that 13
8 percent of the 91.6 million United States households do not
9 own any means of personal transportation, and thus, millions
10 of Americans are dependent upon transit, including those
11 individuals with low incomes, the disabled, the elderly, and
12 children; and
13 WHEREAS, Automobiles consume 21 percent of this country's
14 energy, and transportation accounts for 27 percent of
15 greenhouse emissions; transit uses less than one percent of
16 all energy consumed in this country and is a cost-effective
17 way of reducing harmful emissions; and
18 WHEREAS, Transit provides mobility during crises, such as
19 earthquakes, snow and ice storms, and other national
20 emergencies; and
21 WHEREAS, Public transit is critical to workforce
22 development, health care, and education access; and
23 WHEREAS, Congestion now costs the Chicago Metropolitan
24 Area $4 billion per year, $1,472 per commuter, in low cost
25 productivity, fuel, and insurance costs; and
26 WHEREAS, Quality public transit in Illinois would support
27 working families and businesses by providing effective
28 options for connecting workers to jobs and by reducing
29 traffic congestion which would reduce air pollution that has
30 contributed to skyrocketing asthma rates; and
-2- LRB093 11378 HSS 13737 r
1 WHEREAS, Public transportation is equally important to
2 rural communities throughout the country where 40 percent of
3 residents have no access to public transit services and
4 another 28 percent have negligible access; and
5 WHEREAS, Effective and efficient public transit systems
6 are essential for improved regional mobility and sound local
7 and State economies; and
8 WHEREAS, Illinois' transit systems have significant
9 capital needs that have traditionally been supported by
10 crucial federal investment; and
11 WHEREAS, Illinois is the third largest transit provider
12 in the country but ranks 44th in the level of federal
13 matching support per capita for operations; therefore, be it
14 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16 we urge the United States Congress and the Administration to
17 strongly support any proposals to increase the level of
18 funding for public transportation in the reauthorization of
19 TEA-21 in 2003 and specifically distribute transit funding on
20 a basis which assures sufficient funding for both
21 rehabilitation and new capacity needs in states with
22 significant transit ridership and infrastructure; and be it
23 further
24 RESOLVED, That copies of this preamble and resolution be
25 provided to President George W. Bush and each of the members
26 of the Illinois Congressional delegation.