093_SJ0003

 
                                     LRB093 04017 DRH 06508 r

 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
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04017 DRH 06508 r
 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.