RTA Announces Grant Programs to Support Transit Projects

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is working to move transportation forward in our region by soliciting creative project proposals  that are consistent with our Moving Beyond Congestion Strategic Plan.

Communities, counties, and transportation providers are invited to apply for planning, operating, and capital grants that propose ideas to increase transit usage, provide for multi-modal connections, improve efficiency and effectiveness of local transit, improve access to jobs, and help to increase mobility for our region’s seniors, people with disabilities and the general public.

The RTA is seeking to award over $16 million in operating and capital transit projects through a competitive process.  Additional funding is available for planning projects.   

Project applications are now being accepted, and the deadline is August 8. To learn more, attend an RTA open house:

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
University Center – Loop/River Room
525 S. State St. - Chicago

For directions go to http://www.universitycenter.com/assets/location.pdf

RTA's Updated Strategic Plan

Download: Updated Strategic Plan

Chicago -- The Moving Beyond Congestion strategic plan was developed in response to growing road congestion in northeastern Illinois and its threat on our economy. Severe traffic costs residents more than $4.2 billion each year and the proven solution to reducing the cost of traffic’s impact is transit. The RTA system currently saves the region $1.6 billion annually. That’s why the RTA, in partnership with the CTA, Metra and Pace, launched the Moving Beyond Congestion project – to develop a comprehensive regional strategic planning effort to build a world-class public transportation system that is convenient, affordable, reliable and safe, and is the keystone of the region’s growing business opportunities, thriving job market, clean air and livable communities.

The plan will shape how we live, work, play and move around our region for the next decade and beyond and will identify the needs to preserve the existing transit system and will determine how new transit investments can improve the region’s transportation system. Transit is a critical element in promoting economic development and access to jobs, alleviating the congestion that threatens our region with gridlock, and mitigating the isolation otherwise faced by our most vulnerable citizens.

Visit www.MovingBeyondCongestion.org for more information.
 

Senior citizens aged 65 or over living in the RTA service region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties) are eligible for free transit on fixed routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

To take advantage of the free transit, seniors must have the senior reduced fare card to get a free ride.

If you already have a senior reduced fare card, you are already registered. Your reduced fare card will allow you to take transit for free.

Find out more

The RTA Sales Tax increase went into effect on April 1, 2008. Retailers looking for information regarding this increase should call the Illinois Department of Revenue at 1-800-732-8866 or online at tax.illinois.gov.