This is in response to the Sept. 16 editorial “Red ink and rapid transit.”
It’s true that the region must find funding to expand and improve public transit.
While the Chicago Transit Authority’s financial woes have taken center stage of late, expanded transit service is needed throughout the rapidly growing region.
Consider a recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute.
It cited Chicago as the third most-congested city in the nation.
According to the study, Chicago-area commuters lose 237 million hours a year in traffic jams and consume 365 million excess gallons of fuel.
Financial losses–from wasted productivity to stalled shipments–weigh in at $4.2 billion.
In light of the study’s findings, the Tribune’s editorial board and the Metropolitan Planning Council agree on one important note: To help people get to work on time, to reduce air pollution and fuel waste and to improve our local economy, it is vital that we find the resources to fund transit.
The council disagrees, however, with the Tribune editorial board’s final suggestion that reorganizing northeastern Illinois’ transportation and land-use planning agencies should “wait ’til next year.”
It is senseless to hand more funding to the Regional Transportation Authority without first streamlining transportation and land-use decision-making.
Yes the region needs improved public transit, but it all starts with sensible planning.
