Expedite Transit Act Would Streamline Federal Funding for Key Transportation Systems in Need of Improvements
WASHINGTON – July 13, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today introduced legislation that would make the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) eligible for a program that speeds completion of rail improvement projects, such as the Red and Purple Lines Modernization program. The Expedite Transit Act, S. 1734, would expand eligibility criteria of a federal transportation funding program to provide local transit agencies such as the CTA with increased access to public-private partnerships and innovative financing.
“By removing barriers and unlocking millions of dollars in public-private partnership financing, this bill will help transit agencies like the CTA make the infrastructure improvements needed to boost ridership,” Senator Kirk said. “Nearly 1.7 million people in Chicagoland already use the CTA every day, and getting more commuters off the roads and onto public transit is good for both the economy and the environment.”
“I thank Senator Kirk for introducing this legislation and making Chicago transit a priority,” said CTA President Dorval Carter. “The Senator understands the importance of providing agencies like CTA every possible tool in the toolbox to strengthen and modernize our transit system. The ability to enter the Pilot Program is a tool that CTA could use to deliver projects quickly, expeditiously, and safely for CTA riders.”
A program in the 2012 federal transportation authorization, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), expedites the completion of transportation projects by encouraging “innovative project development and delivery methods, or innovative financing arrangements.” Agencies selected for the program receive funds earlier in the process to eliminate unnecessary delays and facilitate reliable investments.
However, many legacy transit systems, including the CTA, are ineligible for the streamlined process because they require a number of improvements in order to be considered in a state of good repair. The Expedite Transit Act would grant a waiver to applicants like CTA that meet the definition of a core capacity improvement project and can be certified that they are making “substantial progress” toward achieving a state of good repair.
As the CTA is combining a core capacity improvement project with state of good repair improvements, under Senator Kirk’s bill the CTA would be eligible for the expedited program. Core capacity, created under MAP-21, requires projects to boost capacity by at least 10 percent for lines that are at capacity or will be soon.
