The fight for a clean and reliable transportation system is ramping up in Springfield, and we need your help!
If you want to see a game-changing solution to our transit challenges, promising not just survival but a thriving future for public transportation in the region, we need you to act now.
Please consider filling out a witness slip on behalf of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority (MMA) proposal, a bold plan that would transform our transit system into one that is regionally focused and rider centered.
Filing a witness slip is easy, only taking minute or two. When you file a witness slip, it simply means that you’re going on record in support of a bill. Please see instructions below.
THE MMA GIVES PRIORITY TO RIDERS’ NEEDS
The Metropolitan Mobility Authority legislation, championed by the Active Transportation Alliance and a broad coalition of supporters, aims to unify our four major Chicagoland transit agencies into a cohesive entity, delivering substantial benefits to everyday commuters and occasional riders alike.
The MMA would bring together the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, and Pace into an integrated, regionally-focused organization.
This long-overdue move has garnered significant public support, with a statewide poll showing that voters favor the unification by a 2-1 margin.
Key benefits for riders:
- A single app and fare system for seamless journeys
- Better coordinated and more frequent services
- Precursor for increased state investment in public transit
HOW TO SUBMIT A WITNESS SLIP
We need you to act fast by filing a witness slip for the HB 1833. Filing a witness slip means that you’re going on record in support of a bill.
You must file the witness slip before Wednesday, March 19. Please follow the steps below.
- Go to the Illinois General Assembly webpage for filing witness slips.
- In section I, add your information. If you are representing an organization as an employee, include the name in the “firm/business” field. If you are not representing an organization as an employee, add “self.”
- In section II, if you are representing a group, organization, or business, also add the name here. Make sure you have permission to do this! Otherwise, type “self” or “na.”
- In section III, select “HB 1833” in the drop down menu.
- Mark yourself as a “proponent”
- In section IV, select “record of appearance only”
- Agree to the terms of agreement, and then select “create slip” in the lower right hand corner, and then ask 3 friends to do the same!
FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE REIMAGINED
The MMA comes with a companion appropriations bill that would allocate a minimum of $1.5 billion annually in additional operating funds for public transportation operations. This funding would avert service cuts and pave the way for significant improvements to enhance the rider experience.
A streamlined board structure, similar to the current RTA but with broader representation, aims to foster collaboration and eliminate inter-agency competition. This new approach will break down geographic and service-type barriers, ushering in a more integrated and efficient transit system for all.
DRIVING A GREENER FUTURE
As part of the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act (CETA), the MMA aligns with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition’s vision for sustainable transportation. This initiative resonates with 72 percent of voters who support eco-friendly transit options.
At Active Transportation Alliance, we’ve been busy building a diverse coalition of supporters across business, civic, environmental, and community-based groups, and have helped organize dozens of meetings with elected officials, as well as briefings, lobby days, and community town halls.
By uniting funding, governance, and sustainability goals, the MMA represents a bold step towards transit system that regionally focused and rider centered.