tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post3453180624189339792..comments2024-03-29T04:22:07.879-06:00Comments on Illinois Transportation Issues: Pork, Priorities And ProspectsTom Bamontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257129333713108323noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-8320493090367735782007-08-15T18:02:00.000-06:002007-08-15T18:02:00.000-06:00In any case, my point was that transit doesn't ben...In any case, my point was that transit doesn't benefit as much from these kinds of "mini" capital project as parks or bike/walk does. (The ongoing operations budget for bike/walk projects is almost nil, and bike/walk advocates have trouble funding things like education that DO entail ongoing costs.) A new bike path or playground is one of the cheapest way for a politician to get a ribbon-cutting photo op, and then the thing largely takes care of itself.<BR/><BR/>Not only does transit not get much in the way of these small earmarks, it doesn't get much in CMAQ or Enhancements funds, among the most flexible of TEA funds. CTA does go after those funds, though.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09283122571671344629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-65729724677742863222007-08-15T08:03:00.000-06:002007-08-15T08:03:00.000-06:00Despite all the rumination about where the pork sh...Despite all the rumination about where the pork should be directed, maybe the Gov did the right thing by line item vetoing it, and Jones by upholding the veto. The question is, considering the difference between <A HREF="http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm" REL="nofollow">Illinois Constitution Art IV</A> section 9(d) (line item veto) and 9(e) (amendatory veto), the line item cuts surely stick, but if the amendatory veto was used to divert the money to health care, wouldn't the legislature have to ratify that? Maybe the taxpayers have just saved $500 million. Any authorities on state constitutional law here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-13746923160647235512007-08-15T01:51:00.000-06:002007-08-15T01:51:00.000-06:00Even $100,000 doesn't buy much bus service; Lake-C...Even $100,000 doesn't buy much bus service; Lake-Cook TMA's Shuttle Bugs cost about $500,000 a year, and the tourist trolleys and University of Chicago supplemental services have ~$2M budgets.<BR/><BR/>I'm on an SSA commission that has investigated a few solutions in the five-figure range, and it's good to know we've thought of most of the quick ideas (snow clearance, bus times, station cleaning and artwork). It would be nice to begin coordinating with our state reps to put these sorts of things on their radar, though.<BR/><BR/>However, NextBus requires that Bus Tracker be fully operational first. I'd say that this should be JCDecaux's responsibility, but apparently it isn't in their contract (even though Adshel, a competing bus shelter contract bidder, offered it). CTA is apparently prohibited from giving most "free rides" (or even "Eco Passes") under its enabling legislation. Maybe if it were an RTA thing -- although that would require a universal farecard first, wouldn't it?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09283122571671344629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-52136884163469768432007-08-11T12:10:00.000-06:002007-08-11T12:10:00.000-06:00Has RTA issued a statement?Has RTA issued a statement?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-85316965202741248972007-08-11T09:09:00.000-06:002007-08-11T09:09:00.000-06:00One might find relevant the following from Steve C...One might find relevant the following from Steve Chapman in the <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0812chapmanaug12,0,6173250.column" REL="nofollow">Tribune</A>. While he was talking about highway spending, and how it is not prioritized for maintenance, but earmarked, it also applies to transit:<BR/>"When people mess up royally in the private sector, they are punished by the loss of money and even the disappearance of the entities that employ them. When people mess up royally in the public sector, they often get more money and responsibilities."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-48621498745724941232007-08-11T06:01:00.000-06:002007-08-11T06:01:00.000-06:00The political case as always...has been made. The...The political case as always...has been made. The business case has not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-36186815317363596382007-08-11T04:59:00.000-06:002007-08-11T04:59:00.000-06:00PC--How about station beautification. More bike r...PC--<BR/><BR/>How about station beautification. More bike racks. Dedicated space for car share service (e.g., I-Go) near station. Another bus stop shelter. Next bus arrival time scrolling message board. An extra $10,000 worth of bus service. Free ride incentives as part of customer outreach effort. Free rides for seniors/low income people in neighborhood. Sidewalk improvements near bus stop or train station. Bus stop snow removal (think ahead to January and jumping over snow ridges to get to bus). Extra station security (e.g., camera). Extra janitorial service. Wi-FI/Wi-Max antenna plugged into CTA fiber system that will give commuters and nearby homes/business a free internet connection.<BR/><BR/>Note that your $10,000 figure is way below the average earmark amount. Most of the member incentives are in the $20,000 - $100,000 range, with some going as high as $500,000. That may seem like peanuts to transit agencies, but it was good enough for the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Board of Education.<BR/><BR/>Finally, talking to legislators about little needs is a great opportunity to talk to them about the big stuff. From a legislator's perspective it must seem odd that the transit agencies ask for big money but are never around (I'm presuming) when the easy money gets doled out. The legislators must be wondering how needy the transit agencies are if they aren't scrambling for the little stuff like everyone else.Tom Bamontehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08257129333713108323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-57529516596714315902007-08-11T03:04:00.000-06:002007-08-11T03:04:00.000-06:00These earmarks are typically non-recurring, and th...These earmarks are typically non-recurring, and thus tend to go to small capital projects. Transit doesn't have many small capital projects to consider, since transit only creates true value when it's part of a larger network.<BR/><BR/>Try thinking of how to spend $10,000 to improve CTA service in your neighborhood. Kind of hard, isn't it?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09283122571671344629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-68865595333606936822007-08-10T20:30:00.000-06:002007-08-10T20:30:00.000-06:00-- the quality (and quantity) of the effort made b...-- the quality (and quantity) of the effort made by the RTA and the service boards to get earmarks from the legislators; and<BR/><BR/><BR/>If you are comparing the number of earmarks for public transit; the key question is the above statement by the moderator. <BR/><BR/>But if you are asking for an additional $400M; but wind up getting $435M in 2008 and $500+ in 2009; why would you push for meager pork projects?<BR/><BR/>The juice is in the new starts projects; my assumption is that these new starts projects in the past decade are swayed toward Metra outward western expansion of the region(deep in GOP territory); followed by the CTA expansions (think Pink Line and Brown Line renovation).<BR/><BR/>There will never be pork projects for projects such as additional dial a ride by PACE in certain legisative districts; unless someone can prove me wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-74205495709880424402007-08-10T20:04:00.000-06:002007-08-10T20:04:00.000-06:00Capitol Fax is reporting that Pace will cut 23 poo...Capitol Fax is reporting that Pace will cut 23 poorly performing bus routes and raise fares on local feeders 25 cents from $1.25 to $1.50. if new state funding is not forthcoming. <BR/><BR/>By all means bring it on. Why haven't these things already been done? CTA too has scaled back its doomsday plan. It just goes to show there is still a lot of slack in the transit system. <BR/><BR/>There seems to be very little credibility left in the RTA's story of how much money is needed to keep the system operating. And yet the legislature appears ready to plunge ahead with foolish tax increases. <BR/><BR/>SB 572 is very disappointing in all aspects, and not worthy of legislative approval.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-51991119213179737612007-08-10T19:40:00.000-06:002007-08-10T19:40:00.000-06:00Maybe congestion is not that bad eh?Maybe congestion is not that bad eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com