Resolution
WHEREAS, The Center for Neighborhood Technology and Active Transportation Alliance launched the Transit Future campaign in April 2014 with the support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle; and
WHEREAS, Transit Future is a new vision for an expanded mass transit system in Chicago and Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Transit Future's vision is informed by projects already carefully vetted by the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency's GO TO 2040 regional plan;
WHEREAS, The campaign is a County effort that will be voted on by the Cook County Board to determine potential funding sources; and
WHEREAS, The current transit system was developed for an early 20th century economy focused on Chicago's Loop and has not grown with regional economic expansion; and
WHEREAS, Nearly half a million Cook County, residents live in a transit desert and are unable to access frequent train or bus service, and four of the Chicago region's five largest employment areas are in the suburbs and not well connected to high quality public transportation; and
WHEREAS, Only 24 percent of jobs in the region are accessible by transit in 90 minutes or less by a typical resident, according to a recent study; and
WHEREAS, Improved, expanded and modernized public transit will energize economies in neighborhoods, connect workers to jobs, and improve the quality of our air; and
WHEREAS, Increased public transportation is crucial to Chicago's global economic competitiveness by promoting urban development, enhancing residential real estate value, and reducing cost of living; and
WHEREAS, Transit Future will create new rail commuter lines, rapid transit bus lines, and grade separations specifically for freight trains to decrease road congestion; and
WHEREAS, Creating a local, matching revenue stream can unlock billions in federal and other funding vehicles for the kinds of transit projects Transit Future envisions; and
WHEREAS, Transit Future has the potential to catalyze ov...
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