HJ0024 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0024 LRB097 11374 RLJ 53642 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Public transit is essential for the overall economic health and prosperity of the Chicagoland area; and

WHEREAS, Mass transit is an integral, essential part of the strengths that make the Northeastern Illinois region world-class; and

WHEREAS, Many people rely on the services provided by the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Division, and Commuter Rail Division (Authority and Service Boards) to get them safely and efficiently to their desired destinations; and

WHEREAS, Mass transit should continue to play a central role in our communities by:

(1) strengthening neighborhoods, government and community services, and business districts and supporting civic events by making them more accessible;

(2) providing a viable alternative to the automobile for residents who cannot or choose not to drive an automobile;

(3) reducing traffic congestion, energy consumption, and automobile emissions;

(4) reducing the need to create additional parking facilities; and

(5) supporting the independence of the elderly and people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Mass transit is essential to creating and sustaining a strong job market; for every dollar invested in public transit, local economies receive $8 in economic activity; and

WHEREAS, The Authority is the third largest public transportation system in North America and provides more than 2 million rides a day; the services provided by the Authority cover 7,200 route miles in a 6-county region with a population of approximately 8,000,000 people; the combined assets of the Authority are valued at more than $36 billion and include 5,640 bus and rail cars and 650 vanpool vehicles; and

WHEREAS, The Authority and Service Boards must work cohesively to modernize and maintain the transit system in order to produce a more efficient, convenient, and consumer-friendly transit system; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the House of Representatives' Mass Transit Committee and the Senate's Transportation Committee hold at least one joint hearing no earlier than July 1, 2011 and no later than December 1, 2011 to take testimony from the Authority and the Service Boards concerning the following goals:

(1) ensure that the Authority and the Service Boards have a strategic capital plan that focuses on reducing overall operating expenditures;

(2) harness the Authority's and Service Boards' purchasing power to achieve cost savings and improved efficiency wherever possible;

(3) create a plan to maximize the use of the transit system;

(4) improve the experience of customers;

(5) increase the coordination among the Service Boards; and

(6) create a unified marketing, outreach, and government affairs approach for the Authority and the Service Boards; and be it further

RESOLVED, That prior to the first joint meeting of the committees, the Authority, in conjunction with the Service Boards, must submit a report to the committees setting forth its goals and accomplishments concerning the creation of a more modern and efficient mass transit system; the report must be submitted by no later than July 1, 2011; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Authority provide administrative and other support to the committees; and be it further

RESOLVED, That on or before December 31, 2011, the committees must jointly report to the General Assembly their findings concerning the creation of a more modern and efficient mass transit system; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the President, the Minority Leader, and the Secretary of the Senate, and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.