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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Rocky Donahue on the
4occasion of his retirement as executive director of Pace
5Suburban Bus; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue was born in Calumet City; he
7graduated from Illinois State University and began his career
8in public transportation in 1983 at the Regional
9Transportation Authority; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue served as legislative analyst for
11Pace Suburban Bus starting at the agency's inception in 1984;
12he acquired additional responsibilities over a decades-long
13career and, in 2018, became the agency's executive director;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue continuously worked to improve
16access to transportation for Illinoisans with disabilities,
17working with lawmakers to make Pace the sole provider of ADA
18Paratransit service to all of Northeastern Illinois and
19working with the disability community to implement continuous
20improvements to the agency's ADA paratransit service,
21technology, and infrastructure; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue advocated tirelessly for Pace
2riders, working to ensure sufficient funding for the service
3on which so many depend; his efforts to create a full,
4dedicated funding source for ADA paratransit service proved
5fruitful, as did his contributions to the establishment of the
6Suburban Community Mobility Fund and the South Suburban Job
7Access Fund, which provide millions of dollars for suburban
8transit service; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue worked with lawmakers and the
10Illinois Department of Transportation to create Pace's Bus on
11Shoulders program along the Stevenson Expressway, the first
12such service in the State of Illinois and the fastest-growing
13transportation service in the region since the agency's
14inception; the success of this program led to its expansion
15and the implementation of similar service on the Edens
16Expressway and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue worked with lawmakers to finance
18the largest investment in suburban transit infrastructure in
19the State's history through the Rebuild Illinois program; when
20the projects are complete, new garages in Plainfield and
21Wheeling, expanded garages in Bridgeview and Elgin, improved
22passenger facilities in Joliet, Harvey, and along the
23Tri-State Tollway, and improved ADA paratransit technology
24will serve generations of Illinoisans thanks to his vision;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue led Pace through the outbreak of
3the COVID-19 pandemic, taking unprecedented steps to protect
4riders and employees while maintaining essential public
5transportation service to Northeastern Illinois; his fiscal
6responsibility and his commitment to safety, transparency, and
7service helped the people of this State weather a historic
8crisis; and
 
9    WHEREAS, As Executive Director, Rocky Donahue oversaw the
10creation of Driving Innovation, Pace's first strategic vision
11plan in 17 years, setting the agency's trajectory toward zero
12emissions and helping to envision a more equitable future for
13the State; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue was appointed to the Board of
15Illinois State University in 2011, where for over 10 years he
16has served his alma mater as trustee and as that body's chair;
17during his tenure as chair, he presided over increased
18enrollment, graduation, and student retention, as well as
19record fundraising; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue served on the Board of the Illinois
21Public Transportation Association, including two terms as its
22president, and has been active with groups serving Illinoisans

 

 

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1with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Good
2Shepherd and Arc of Illinois; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Rocky Donahue's 38 years of public service have
4benefited bus riders, people with disabilities, students,
5taxpayers, and all Illinoisans; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we congratulate Rocky Donahue on his retirement as executive
9director of Pace Suburban Bus and wish him a long, happy, and
10healthy retirement; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to Rocky Donahue as a symbol of our esteem and
13respect.