State Republicans: Fare Increases Must Be Part Of Transit Solution

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Illinois lawmakers have returned to Springfield in another attempt to head off the first of the transit "doomsdays" threatened by the CTA and Pace.

And there are indications that no matter what solution is reached, or when it is reached, fare increases could be a part of the package.

Senate Republican leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) wrote RTA Chairman Jim Reilly this week that "a modest and reasonable fare increase for riders who benefit must be part of the solution."

In his reply, Reilly wrote Watson, "Certainly if the Governor and four leaders agree on that approach we would most definitely implement it."

How much, or when, the fare hike would occur is unclear.

RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman reiterated that position Thursday.

"If the legislature decides to actually mandate a specific fare increase for next year, obviously we will adhere to that," Schlickman said before leaving for Springfield to join Reilly and CTA President Ron Huberman, in making last-minute pitches for votes.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich left Chicago for Springfield midday Thursday.

Schlickman and Reilly both indicated that the contemplated revision of the RTA Act that is expected to go to another vote in the House Friday maintains the provision of the law that requires mass transit agencies in the region to recoup half of their operating costs at the fare box.

Schlickman said that is far more than most transit agencies in the country are expected to recoup.

Republican votes have been needed, at least in the House, to approve any resolution to the transit funding issue since the legislative session went into overtime at the end of May.

When put to a test vote earlier this fall, the sales-and-title transfer tax solution proposed by Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) received a majority of votes, but fell nine votes short of the supermajority needed both to pass the bill and to override the veto promised by Blagojevich.
    T
he governor has promised to veto any increase in the sales tax, whether regional or statewide.

Reilly said in his letter to Watson that "there is still no concrete competing proposal for consideration."

Schlickman Thursday reiterated the RTA's position that it would not accept another short-term loan or cash advance, and that a long-term solution is what needed.

The effective date for the first wave of CTA and Pace contingencies was moved back seven weeks to Nov. 4 when Blagojevich offered, and the RTA accepted, an advance of $47 million in state revenues originally earmarked for the agencies' 2008 budgets.

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