Opposed to the Consolidation of the Transit Boards (RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace)
The CTA carries $6.9 billion in debt. Compared to Metra’s $312 million debt and Pace’s $138
million debt, CTA’s debt is significant. With the proposed legislation collar counties such as
McHenry County, could see their tax dollars diverted to cover CTA’s multi-billion-dollar debt,
operating costs and infrastructure cash flow needs.
There has been no data provided on the cost savings of combining the RTA, CTA, Metra and
Pace. The agencies have different federal regulatory agencies – Metra through the Federal
Railroad Administration and the CTA and Pace through the Federal Transit Administration. Each
has different rules and regulations. Furthermore, each agency has separate and multiple labor
contracts that would be difficult and costly to consolidate.
Giving more oversight to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) rather than consolidating
the transit boards will improve project coordination, streamline funding and ensure that collar
counties are fairly represented. Collar county representation will guarantee collar county tax
dollars will not be diverted to cover CTA’s $6.9 billion dollar debt, operating costs and
infrastructure cash flow needs.
Any suburban legislator (Democrat or Republican) that votes to consolidate the transit boards
and then votes to raise taxes to support transit will be voting against the interest of the
residents that they have been elected to represent.
Please join us in opposing the legislation that would consolidate the four transit boards into a
single board and support legislation that empowers the RTA while maintaining local
representation.
Michael Buehler
Chairman, McHenry County Board President,
Rick Mack
MCCG and the Village of Ringwood