Wait: Chicago Transportation Bills Ignore Statewide Needs

Springfield, IL…State Representative Ron Wait voted against two bills Wednesday raise new taxes in the Chicago area and provide General Revenue funds to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Wait said the two pieces of legislation favor the Chicago area and ignore the infrastructure and transportation needs of Boone, Winnebago, and DeKalb Counties and the rest of the state.

The House passed House Bill 656 which raises $500 million in new taxes in the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Cook counties to go to the RTA and CTA. Wait said the plan increases the state’s contribution to the system by approximately $100 million.

“We cannot continue to throw taxpayer dollars needed to pay our Medicaid providers and other debts towards the Chicago area transportation systems,” said Wait. “Neither one of these bills calls for an increase in fare rates – there hasn’t been an increase in over 2 years. Riders should have a part in paying for their own method of transportation. And these bills only address the operational needs of the RTA. Capital funding is needed to ensure infrastructure and roads throughout the entire state do not continue to weaken.” 

Wait said if either one of the passed bills is implemented, hopes for a statewide capital plan will be muted. “A capital plan will provide our area with needed funds for roads and bridges, and improved mass transportation for commuters,” said Wait. “The current Chicago mass transportation situation is the perfect opportunity for our state to pass a capital plan. We should tie the two issues together and work to find a permanent solution to all of Illinois’ transportation concerns.”