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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, As gas prices continue to rise, long-term
3solutions are needed to address the increase in travel
4expenses many Chicagoans are facing; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Over 25 percent of households in Chicago do not
6have a car; therefore, creating a network of public
7transportation options for all Chicagoans is of the utmost
8importance to get them where they need to go; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Making transit more affordable, safe, and
10convenient is a smart way to reduce our demands on foreign oil,
11which fuels war and dictators; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Improving public transit will lead to cleaner air
13and reduced congestion; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In January 2021, Metra launched a pilot program
15that improves transit services while lowering costs and, up to
16now, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has refused to
17participate in this program; and
 
18    WHEREAS, If the CTA were a full partner with Metra, this
19pilot program could have an even greater impact by allowing
20transfers to and from Metra to CTA for free or at reduced rates

 

 

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1and by better syncing bus schedules with Metra; and
 
2    WHEREAS, This pilot program could enhance ridership by
3installing pop-up bus priority lanes and reconfiguring the
4timing on stop lights to make the bus service more attractive
5and welcoming to more riders; this would address both racial
6equity and improvement to Chicago's economy; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The CTA could further improve public
8transportation by reducing fares along key corridors during
9these peak inflationary and high gas prices; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In Boston, the top 10 highest ridership routes
11during the pandemic were identified, and the city increased
12the number of buses on these routes, with fares being either
13made free or cut in half; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Long term, Chicago also needs to accelerate the
15adoption and deployment of electric buses; together, CTA and
16Pace must plan now for the conversion of their fleets to
17electric, so money is not wasted buying two separate systems
18to charge and maintain these new buses; through these changes,
19Chicago could possess the cleanest transit system in the
20country; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The current high gas price crisis should be a

 

 

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1moment for us to reflect on how Chicago can prioritize
2alternatives to driving by reducing our reliance on oil and
3directly address flaws within the public transit system;
4therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we urge the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to join the Metra
8pilot program to aid in reducing transfer costs; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That we urge the CTA to adopt reduced fares
11along corridors with the most essential workers; and be it
12further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14delivered to the CTA.