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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - R-19-001 - 01/21/2019 - Metra Res in Support of a State Capital BillDepartment of Economic Development McHenry Municipal Center 333 Green Street McHenry, Illinois 60050 r� I Phone: (815) 363-2170 Fax: (815) 363-2173 www.ci.mchenry.il.us Metra Resolution in Support of a State of Illinois Capital Bill WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has a critical need of a Capital Bill to fund transportation and infrastructure projects; and WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has not had a Capital Bill since the FY 2010 Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Bill; and WHEREAS, Metra operates 686 revenue trains every weekday on 11 lines through the six - county area, has 242 stations, nearly 500 route miles, and nearly 1,200 track miles; and WHEREAS, Metra provides nearly 290,000 passenger trips each weekday; and 75.9 million trips projected annually; and WHEREAS, Metra benefits citizens of Illinois by removing millions of automobile trips from arterial roads and expressways, thus reducing congestion and maintenance costs of the existing roadways and eliminating the need for the construction and maintenance of up to 27 additional expressway lanes and arterial roads; and WHEREAS, Metra's economic model determined 40 years ago is no longer sustainable due to decline in sales tax growth as a result of changing macroeconomics factors, budget cuts, the burden of funding increasing ADA transportation costs and largely unfunded federal mandates; and WHEREAS, Metra has the oldest fleet and more than 800 bridges, over half of which are 100 or more years old resulting in a minimum need of $5 billion over the next five to seven years to buy new passenger cars; improve, rehabilitate or replace stations, adding warming shelters, locomotives and bridges; and to provide service enhancements on various existing Metra lines; and WHEREAS, transit agencies have stressed to the General Assembly that funding is needed to keep their existing system in the State of Good Repair; and WHEREAS, a significant way to relieve the financial needs of transit agencies and ensure that the transit system in the State of Illinois does not deteriorate further, a fully -funded capital bill dedicated to annual transportation funding is needed. Department of Economic Development McHenry Municipal Center 333 Green Street McHenry, Illinois 60050 Phone: (815) 363-2170 Fax: (815) 363-2173 www.ci.mchenry.il.us NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of McHenry supports requesting the Governor of Illinois and the General Assembly work together to dedicate funding for a transportation capital bill in FY 2019. AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of McHenry will support all efforts of the Governor of Illinois and the General Assembly to approve a transportation capital bill. APPROVED and ADOPTED by the City of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois this 215Y day of January, 2019. �U Mayor Wayn Jet Attest: Deputy City Clerk Debra Meadows