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September 23, 2024
Officials Provide Testimony on How Public Transit Mitigates Climate Impact at State Senate Hearing
On Thursday, September 19, the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on the state of public transit and its impact on climate change at Lake County’s Central Permit Facility in Libertyville.
During the hearing, the committee heard testimony from Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart along with other municipal leaders from Lake and Cook counties, as well as organizations and representatives from the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace and Metra.
This was the fifth hearing in the series of Senate Transportation Committee Hearings on this topic. Thursday’s hearing featured discussions about the work being done to proactively ensure that public transit helps mitigate the current climate impact, the importance of public transit to Lake County and northern Cook County residents and what can be done going forward.
Across the Chicagoland region, public transit is expected to hit a $730 million fiscal cliff in 2026, as federal COVID-19 pandemic funding is running out.
"We need to pursue an environmentally sustainable and financially sound solution to ensure our transit system can serve all residents, regardless of where they live in the region," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "It is essential that all counties have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of our transit agencies."
According to Illinois Senate Transportation Committee Chair Ram Villivalam’s state website, hearings on public transit will continue. The next hearing is scheduled on October 16 in Springfield and will focus on how funding transit is a statewide priority.
Contact
Tammy Chatman
Chief Communications Officer
communications@lakecountyil.gov
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