All Star Panel On Transit Issues Tuesday Morning

An all star panel will be speaking at the Union League Club of Chicago Tuesday morning on public transit issues. There is food at 7:30 a.m. and the program runs from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

There is a $20 admission fee. Here's the link to registration and more information:

http://www.65west.org/upcoming.asp

Here's the blub:

"Keeping Mass Transit on Track--Can it be Done?"

Tuesday, March 6

The Public Affairs Committee invites you to attend the fourth program in the 2006-2007 "Breakfast @ 65 West" series, which will offer an in-depth examination of mass transit in the Chicago region.

The program focuses on the formidable challenges facing mass transit systems in the Chicago region, including aging infrastructure and obtaining adequate funding to sustain their operations. Examples include the CTA, which faces an estimated $5.8 billion in repair costs and has $200 million in unfunded pension obligations. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is also seeking increased mass-transit funding and a multiyear state capital-improvement program. How will lawmakers in Springfield respond to these needs? How can we best balance the mass transit interests of city vs. suburban residents?

Please join us to hear our expert panelists address these questions. They include:

• State Representative Julie Hamos, Chair of the Illinois House Mass Transit Committee
• Greg Hinz, Senior Columnist for Crain's Chicago Business
• Steve Schlickman, Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
• Bob Schillerstrom, Chairman, DuPage County Board

Bring your Metra, CTA or Pace pass (or all three--thanks, RTA) and fight through the crowd for autographs.