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Chicago group supports tax increase for mass transit


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:44 PM

Chicago Tribune, 4/3:

Advocates call for raising tax money to pay for mass transit improvements

A coalition of transportation advocates supported by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle has recommended raising new tax money in Cook County to help pay for billions of dollars of mass transit improvements.

Launching a campaign called “Transit Future” supporters Thursday urged the Cook County board to consider creating a new “robust revenue stream” for leverage in borrowing transit money under federal financing programs.

The coalition cautioned that it is not calling for any specific taxes, but is encouraging the Cook County Board to conduct a study of options and potential revenue.

In a meeting with the Tribune’s editorial board, coalition leaders said that the board could potentially raise property, sales, or gasoline taxes for the local share. The money would help pay for such big-ticket projects in Chicago and Cook County as the long-sought extension of the CTA’s Red Line to the far South Side.

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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 April 2014 - 04:47 PM

Chicagoist.com:

Could This Be The Future Of Public Transit In Chicago?

Last week the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Active Transportation Alliance unveiled a new campaign called “Transit Future” to encourage the Cook County Board of Commissioners to find a new revenue stream to fund a modernization and expansion of public transit in the greater Chicago area. The campaign already has the backing of nine county commissioners.

Transit Future is modeled after a successful campaign to fund the expansion of Los Angeles’ public transit system. In 2008, Angelenos voted to raise L.A. County’s sales tax by a half-penny, generating $40 billion for the project. Active Trans and CNT believe “Transit Future” would cost $20 billion to realize but they’re vague on where the money would originate. (That’s probably a wise decision since County Board President Toni Preckwinkle rolled back the penny sales tax hike of her predecessor Todd Stroger and area voters have been trained to scream whenever the words “tax hike” are uttered.)


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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 April 2014 - 04:52 PM

Grist.com:

This could be the future of Chicago public transportation

In olden times, back when people wore pocketwatches and used the word “gallimaufry,” Chicago’s transit system was simple. People from the city outskirts took the train downtown for work, then they hopped back on the L and schlepped home.

Nowadays, shit’s different. People live even farther out than before (sprawl!). New business hubs have sprung up – downtown isn’t the only game in town, you might say. All of this forces people into their cars. (Well, that and the fact that when you’re in a car it’s harder for strangers to judge you while you eat Doritos Locos.)

So the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Active Transportation Alliance just proposed a new, expanded transit map to serve the Chicago of today and tomorrow. Here it is, juxtaposed with the existing rail system: . . .

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