Illinois will be putting more than $500 million into its mass transit system statewide. The funding will come from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program and is expected to create 18,000 jobs while improving system safety and service delivery. Funding will be split mostly between the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and PACE with systems out side of the Chicagoland area getting a smaller portion.
The state hopes that by providing more funding for CTA they can eliminate slow zones, renovate elevated train stations and improve safety. The RTA will get $442 million which it will split up, providing $253 million to CTA, $157 to Metra and $32 million to PACE. The Metra will use its funds for new electric cars and station renovations. PACE will use its money for bus line improvements, new para-transit vehicles and a system-wide radio upgrade.
“Our mass transit systems drive Illinois’ economy and we must invest in them to continue our economic recovery and create jobs,” said Governor Quinn. “This important capital investment will improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the public transportation systems that people throughout Illinois rely on every day.”
Information about the full scope of improvements inside and outside of Chicago are available here and here.
