093_HR0173

 
                                     LRB093 11378 HSS 13737 r

 1                          HOUSE 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 almost
 6    600 million rides; and

 7        WHEREAS, The  Department  of  Energy  estimates  that  13
 8    percent  of  the 91.6 million United States households do not
 9    own any means of personal transportation, and thus,  millions
10    of  Americans  are  dependent  upon  transit, including those
11    individuals with low incomes, the disabled, the elderly,  and
12    children; and

13        WHEREAS, Automobiles consume 21 percent of this country's
14    energy,   and  transportation  accounts  for  27  percent  of
15    greenhouse emissions; transit uses less than one  percent  of
16    all  energy  consumed in this country and is a cost-effective
17    way of reducing harmful emissions; and

18        WHEREAS, Transit provides mobility during crises, such as
19    earthquakes,  snow  and  ice  storms,  and   other   national
20    emergencies; and

21        WHEREAS,   Public   transit   is  critical  to  workforce
22    development, health care, and education access; and

23        WHEREAS, Congestion now costs  the  Chicago  Metropolitan
24    Area  $4  billion  per year, $1,472 per commuter, in low cost
25    productivity, fuel, and insurance costs; and

26        WHEREAS, Quality public transit in Illinois would support
27    working  families  and  businesses  by  providing   effective
28    options  for  connecting  workers  to  jobs  and  by reducing
29    traffic congestion which would reduce air pollution that  has
30    contributed to skyrocketing asthma rates; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11378 HSS 13737 r
 1        WHEREAS,  Public  transportation  is equally important to
 2    rural communities throughout the country where 40 percent  of
 3    residents  have  no  access  to  public  transit services and
 4    another 28 percent have negligible access; and

 5        WHEREAS, Effective and efficient public  transit  systems
 6    are  essential for improved regional mobility and sound local
 7    and State economies; and

 8        WHEREAS,  Illinois'  transit  systems  have   significant
 9    capital  needs  that  have  traditionally  been  supported by
10    crucial federal investment; and

11        WHEREAS, Illinois is the third largest  transit  provider
12    in  the  country  but  ranks  44th  in  the  level of federal
13    matching support per capita for operations; therefore, be it

14        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
15    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16    we urge the United States Congress and the Administration  to
17    strongly  support  any  proposals  to  increase  the level of
18    funding for public transportation in the  reauthorization  of
19    TEA-21 in 2003 and specifically distribute transit funding on
20    a   basis   which   assures   sufficient   funding  for  both
21    rehabilitation  and  new  capacity  needs  in   states   with
22    significant  transit  ridership and infrastructure; and be it
23    further

24        RESOLVED, That copies of this preamble and resolution  be
25    provided  to President George W. Bush and each of the members
26    of the Illinois Congressional delegation.