093_SJ0003
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1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, There are almost 6,000 transit agencies in the
3 United States, including 70 transit providers in Illinois;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, In 2000, Illinois public transit provided over
6 600,000,000 rides; and
7 WHEREAS, The Department of Energy estimates that 13% of
8 the 91,600,000 United States households do not own any means
9 of personal transportation, and thus millions of Americans
10 are dependent upon transit, including those individuals with
11 low incomes, the disabled, the elderly, and children; and
12 WHEREAS, Automobiles consume 21% of this country's
13 energy, and transportation accounts for 27% of greenhouse
14 emissions; transit uses less than 1% of all energy consumed
15 in this country and is a cost-effective way of reducing
16 harmful emissions; and
17 WHEREAS, Transit provides mobility during crisis, such as
18 earthquakes, snow and ice storms, and other national
19 emergencies; and
20 WHEREAS, Public transit is critical to workforce
21 development, health care, and education access; and
22 WHEREAS, Congestion now costs the Chicago Metropolitan
23 Area $4,000,000,000 per year -- $1,472 per commuter -- in
24 lost productivity, fuel, and insurance costs; and
25 WHEREAS, Quality public transit in Illinois would support
26 working families and businesses by providing effective
27 options for connecting workers to jobs and by reducing
28 traffic congestion, which would reduce the air pollution that
29 has contributed to skyrocketing asthma rates; and
30 WHEREAS, Public transportation is equally important to
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1 rural communities throughout the country, where 40% of
2 residents have no access to public transit services and
3 another 28% have negligible access; and
4 WHEREAS, Effective and efficient public transit systems
5 are essential for improved regional mobility and sound local
6 and state economies; and
7 WHEREAS, Illinois' transit systems have significant
8 capital needs that have traditionally been supported by
9 crucial federal investment; and
10 WHEREAS, Illinois ranks 50th of the 50 states and the
11 District of Columbia in federal contribution for operating
12 support for transit; therefore, be it
13 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
14 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
15 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the United
16 States Congress and the Administration to strongly support
17 any proposals to increase the level of funding for public
18 transportation in the reauthorization of TEA-21 in 2003 and
19 specifically to distribute funding on a basis which assures
20 sufficient funding for both rehabilitation and new capacity
21 needs in states with significant transit ridership and
22 infrastructure; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
24 delivered to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the
25 President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the
26 U.S. House of Representatives, and each member of the
27 Illinois congressional delegation.