Public Transportation 'Saves Energy, Time and Money'

Public transportation benefits more than just riders, according to a report released March 25 by Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).

In Chicago, the CTA saves city residents and businesses $474 million a year, reduces our oil consumption by about 181 million barrels, and improves the air we breathe by keep nearly 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

“This report shows that transit saves Illinoisans energy, time, and money,” said Brian Imus, Illinois PIRG state director, at a news conference at the Clark and Lake station in the Loop. Imus challenged lawmakers in Springfield to “stop dragging their feet” and develop a capital investment plan that funds transit rehabilitation and expansion projects. Peter Skosey, vice president of external relations for the Metropolitan Planning Council, added that the state should develop a set of objective criteria for choosing projects funded by the capital plan.

Ill. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), chair of the Illinois House Mass Transit Committee, said she is hopeful that Springfield will approve a new capital plan this session. According to U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), state lawmakers risk losing more than $4.1 billion in federal money if they fail to come up with a state match.

Read Illinois PIRG’s report, A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21 st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit.