[Iabs-talk] Fw: The Transit Fight Continues -- Join Us in Springfield 10/11!

[Kelly Doty]

I am forwarding an e-mail I received tonight. Even if you cannot go to Springfield, it is still important that you keep contacting your elected state officials. This issue still needs a long-term solution.

Kelly
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Transit Riders Alliance 
To: kelly at dls.net 
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:11 PM
Subject: The Transit Fight Continues -- Join Us in Springfield 10/11!




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Kelly,

As you know, Chicago area transit riders narrowly averted doomsday last month, when CTA, Metra, and Pace received a one-time advance of 2008 state revenues. 

But the fight to prevent service cuts and fare increases is not over. CTA and Pace will have no choice but to implement the cuts and fare increases on November 4, unless the legislature and the Governor can come to terms on a long-term, dedicated, and sustainable funding source to cover the shortfalls facing Chicagoland's transit agencies. 

And the crisis won't stop there. The funding advance that staved off the cuts last month actually makes a deeper budget hole in 2008. Combined with the existing operating deficit and the need to fund the transit workers' pension fund, even more draconian cuts are anticipated early next year. 

Senate Bill 572, a bill that would have provided the needed funding and reforms, narrowly failed a preliminary vote in the House last month. But the bill, or a similar plan, is expected to come to a vote again in the next few weeks. 

We need to keep the pressure on. Legislators need to know that their constituents care about transit. The best way to let them know this is to meet them face-to-face. 

If you can, please join us and other volunteers for an all-day trip to Springfield on Thursday, October 11, 2007. We'll meet at Chicago Union Station bright and early to catch the 7:00 am train to Springfield. We'll provide a briefing and training session to help you know how to find your legislators and know what to ask them. When we're done, we'll catch an evening train back to Chicago. 

Please let us know if you plan to participate in this exciting opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers about transit. RSVP to midwesthsr at aol.com. 

Sincerely,
Rick Harnish,
Executive Director, Transit Riders' Alliance,
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EVENT DETAILS,
Transit Riders' Alliance Springfield Lobby Day,
Thursday, October 11, 2007,
All-day event

We'll be taking the Amtrak to Springfield and back using the following trains: 

* Train #301 - From Chicago Union Station to Springfield, IL. Leaves Union Station at 7:00 AM sharp. 

* Train #304 - From Springfield, IL to Chicago Union Station. Leaves Springfield at 4:57 PM (and scheduled to arrive back in Chicago at 8:40 pm) 

Please meet with us in the Amtrak Waiting Room at 6:45 AM.
If you miss us the meeting point, it will be easy to find us on the 7:00 train to Springfield. 

Go to www.midwesthsr.org/events for a more detailed agenda.

RSVP to Rick Harnish, Executive Director, at midwesthsr at aol.com. 

There is no charge for this event. Amtrak fare and food are individual settlement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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SaveChicagolandTransit.com and the Transit Riders' Alliance are projects of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association and are not affiliated with the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, or Pace.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------- next part --------------
I am forwarding an e-mail I received tonight. Even if you cannot go to Springfield, it is still important that you keep contacting your elected state officials. This issue still needs a long-term solution.
 
Kelly
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:Info at savechicagolandtransit.com Transit Riders Alliance
To:
mailto:kelly at dls.net kelly at dls.net
Sent:
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:11 PM
Subject:
The Transit Fight Continues -- Join Us in Springfield 10/11!
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bwTUP8YoXk9hUgL1BpfNH7E2A7iDdgwJ http://www.savechicagolandtransit.com/images/email/trascltmailheader.gif
Dear Kelly,
As you know, Chicago area transit riders narrowly averted doomsday last month, when CTA, Metra, and Pace received a one-time advance of 2008 state revenues.
But the fight to prevent service cuts and fare increases is not over. CTA and Pace will have no choice but to implement the cuts and fare increases on November 4, unless the legislature and the Governor can come to terms on a long-term, dedicated, and sustainable funding source to cover the shortfalls facing Chicagoland's transit agencies.
And the crisis won't stop there. The funding advance that staved off the cuts last month actually makes a deeper budget hole in 2008. Combined with the existing operating deficit and the need to fund the transit workers' pension fund, even more draconian cuts are anticipated early next year.
Senate Bill 572, a bill that would have provided the needed funding and reforms, narrowly failed a preliminary vote in the House last month. But the bill, or a similar plan, is expected to come to a vote again in the next few weeks.
We need to keep the pressure on. Legislators need to know that their constituents care about transit. The best way to let them know this is to meet them face-to-face.
If you can, please join us and other volunteers for an all-day trip to Springfield on Thursday, October 11, 2007. We'll meet at Chicago Union Station bright and early to catch the 7:00 am train to Springfield. We'll provide a briefing and training session to help you know how to find your legislators and know what to ask them. When we're done, we'll catch an evening train back to Chicago.
Please let us know if you plan to participate in this exciting opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers about transit. RSVP to midwesthsr at aol.com.
Sincerely,
Rick Harnish,
Executive Director, Transit Riders' Alliance,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EVENT DETAILS,
Transit Riders' Alliance Springfield Lobby Day,
Thursday, October 11, 2007,
All-day event
We'll be taking the Amtrak to Springfield and back using the following trains:
* Train #301 - From Chicago Union Station to Springfield, IL. Leaves Union Station at 7:00 AM sharp.
* Train #304 - From Springfield, IL to Chicago Union Station. Leaves Springfield at 4:57 PM (and scheduled to arrive back in Chicago at 8:40 pm)
Please meet with us in the Amtrak Waiting Room at 6:45 AM.
If you miss us the meeting point, it will be easy to find us on the 7:00 train to Springfield.
Go to http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=9FEQylEazl%2F%2FvUZrUTGQW3wNrngamEBt www.midwesthsr.org/events
for a more detailed agenda.
RSVP to Rick Harnish, Executive Director, at midwesthsr at aol.com.
There is no charge for this event. Amtrak fare and food are individual settlement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this message because our system shows you as being on http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Yry%2BAOQ6YXyJxzkvPLwtlLE2A7iDdgwJ SaveChicagolandTransit.com
's transit updates list. If you want to stop receiving e-mail messages from us, please reply with the word "REMOVE" in the subject line. Thank you!
SaveChicagolandTransit.com and the Transit Riders' Alliance are projects of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association and are not affiliated with the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, or Pace.
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