CTA Remains Optimistic On Funding

CHICAGO (WBBM) - The CTA, Metra and Pace were left behind in last week's state budget message, but at least publicly, the CTA's top officials remain optimistic.

WBBM's Bob Roberts has the story.

"There's a growing recognition that it needs to be addressed and I'm confident it will be," said CTA President Frank Kruesi.  "I think it's going to take a lot of leadership by a lot of people."

The governor's budget blueprint includes no new operating subsidies and only $425 million dollars in capital money -- to be shared by all three agencies. 

The Regional Transportation Authority's "Moving Beyond Congestion" strategic plan calls for $400 million in additional operating subsidies.  It also seeks $10 billion over five years in capital construction money, to be authorized as part of a new state infrastructure program, the first since the Ryan-era Illinois FIRST program ended in 2004. 

No provision was made in the state budget blueprint for a general infrastructure program.

Asked if Springfield will come through without leadership from Blagojevich on the issue, Kruesi disagreed with the question itself.

"I wouldn't characterize that in any way," he said.  "It's too early to know what really will happen in Springfield."

Kruesi said he believes 2007 will be the year in which "a lot of important things get addressed."

The Blagojevich budget focuses its new funding on schools, health care and the replenishing of state pension funds. 

"The consequence of not addressing them will be clear to everybody," he said.

Brown said Blagojevich and legislative leaders understand that the alternative is gridlock.

"The entire transportation system cannot function without new investment," she said.  "We need continued  investment in our infrastructure and in our operating (subsidies)."

Although the federal government does not provide operating subsidies to big-city transit systems, Kruesi said he would like to see a quantum jump from another federal source -- the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

Kruesi said the CTA could use "tens of millions of dollars" more than the $12 million that Homeland Security has given the transit agency, which is being used "as quickly as possible" to install more security cameras in subways and on "L" platforms, and make video from "L" and bus security cameras available to Chicago Police patrol officers through wireless means.

"The Dept. of Homeland Security has been very good at coming up about coming up with ideas to spend money," Kruesi said.  "They're not very good at funding us."