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Posted: Sunday, 23 August 2009 8:12AM
RTA hearings on 2010 budget begin Monday
Bob Roberts Reporting
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CHICAGO (WBBM) -- It's only August, but the Regional Transportation Authority begins a series of 13 hearings on next year's budget Monday.
No one has seen a budget yet, because one doesn't exist. But RTA Chairman Jim Reilly said mass transit agencies face tough choices because of the continuing economic downturn.
"No one's going to like the 2010 budget at any level because revenues are down," Reilly said. "So the CTA, Pace and Metra mainline service will be very tight because of that, and paratransit also, but my hope is that we can put together a budget that can get us through 2010."
The RTA seeks input to help it establish funding priorities, as well as guidance on service levels and fares.
It tells the CTA, Metra and Pace next month what they can expect in terms of public funding -- a figure that a year ago proved to be wildly optimistic.
The hearing schedule is as follows:
9 a.m. Monday - Loop Room, University Center, 525 S. State St.;
6 p.m. Monday - Woodson Public Library auditorium, 9625 S. Halsted St.;
6 p.m. Monday - Woodstock Administration Building, conference Room A, 667 Ware Rd.;
6 p.m. Tuesday - National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.;
6 p.m. Tuesday - Malcolm X College, Room 2418, 1900 W. Van Buren St.;
6 p.m. Tuesday - The Centre of Elgin, Heritage Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin;
6 p.m. Wednesday - Truman College Student Cafe, 1145 W. Wilson Av.;
6 p.m. Wednesday - Joliet Historical Museum, Caterpillar Auditorium, 204 N. Ottawa St.;
6 p.m. Thursday - Hillside Village Hall Board Room, 425 Hillside Av.;
6 pm. Thursday - University Center of Lake County, room 212, 1200 University Center Dr., Grayslake;
6 p.m. Aug. 31 - South Suburban mayors & Managers Room 1906, 1904 W. 174th St., East Hazel Crest;
6 p.m. Aug. 31 - DuPage County Building Audtorium, 421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton; and
6 p.m. Sept. 1 - Pace HQ Board room, 550 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights.
Board members will offer opening remarks followed to RTA senior staff, who will conduct presentations before the meetings are opened to public comment. Comments will be welcomed on both operating budgets and state and federal capital funding priorities; RTA staff will explain recommended projects for funding.
Additional hearings are expected in November, after the CTA, Metra and Pace have submitted budgets to the RTA.
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