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Activists propose hike in state gas tax to fund public transit

Activists propose hike in state gas tax to fund public transit

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 29, 2012 at 1:18pm

With gas prices in Chicago approaching $4/gallon and a state-wide average of $3.88/gallon, I predict this proposed legislation will be DOA.

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 29, 2012 at 4:30pm

We're keeping our fingers crossed. Here's a stat that is helpful in showing that this is reasonable (besides that investing in transit will help ease congestion for those that do drive every day).

A family that drives 20,000 per year would pay roughly an extra $3 to 4 per year. This assumes a 0.4 cent increase in the state motor fuel tax to account for inflation.

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 29, 2012 at 7:09pm

+1  When I was handing out flyers, a fair number of people were enthusiastic about the prospect of a better funded, more reliable public transit system.

clp said:

Chris C said:   The tax increase is neglible....I shouldn't have to pay for services that are non-existent....

C'mon Chris.   How thin do you need us to slice it for you?   With increased funding, who knows?  Perhaps PACE or METRA will INCREASE the number of stops in your county.  Which comes first?  Funding or action?  Chicken or egg?

I was out there with the leaflets this morning.  I was gratified that at least HALF those I approached on State St. were very happy to consider increasing GAS TAXES to support better transit funding.  It is about time.  Why should Europeans and many other countries have transit systems superior to ours, and much higher gas taxes?

Here's the petition that we were asking everyone to sign.

 

 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on February 29, 2012 at 8:34pm

 A friend of mine sat in on a budget meeting of the state that she was an advocacy organization director in (she was there to try to make sure bicycle infrastructure wasn't forgotten.)

She reports having to suffer through a discussion of how to get people to drive more.

That's right . . . it seems that people were driving less, resulting in funding shortfalls of road projects that were funded by gas taxes.  So the solution was to try to increase driving. . . .

Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on March 1, 2012 at 9:37am

We'll just call it even for all those counties taking money out of cook to spend it out in the suburbs by people working in the city and living in the suburbs.

Yes, I live in the suburbs, I work in the city.

Chris C said:

The tax increase is neglible.  What irks me is that the residents of 5 other counties are expected to cough up. 

 

Here's a thought.  Pro-rate the fuel tax rate by county.  Base the rate on the cumulative number of CTA, PACE and Metra service stops within each county. 

 

I shouldn't have to pay for services that are non-existent in my area.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 1, 2012 at 12:55pm

Everyone who isn't driving in Cook County, or elsewhere is providing a service to your lungs and to your planet by reducing the overall carbon footprint. If you choose to live in a less sustainable location you should be responsible for paying for the resulting damage.

The proponents of the tax increase might not want to mention it, but an additional benefit to increasing the gas tax is that people will drive less. Driving decreases as fuel costs increase. That is a good thing no matter where you live.

Chris C said:

...

Again I assert the gas tax rate be pro-rated by county based on the amount of service provided to each county. 

Permalink Reply by Vilda on March 1, 2012 at 1:06pm

I gotta agree with Chris C on one thing. Giving more money to the CTA/RTA crew is akin to throwing it down the pit in 300. Get the tax hike to promote more biking or infrastructure. 

Permalink Reply by Jared on March 1, 2012 at 3:14pm

So its more sustainable to live in the city and drive out to your job in Schaumburg?  A gas tax increase of less than a penny a gallon isn't going to change people's habits. 

Tony Adams said:

Everyone who isn't driving in Cook County, or elsewhere is providing a service to your lungs and to your planet by reducing the overall carbon footprint. If you choose to live in a less sustainable location you should be responsible for paying for the resulting damage.

The proponents of the tax increase might not want to mention it, but an additional benefit to increasing the gas tax is that people will drive less. Driving decreases as fuel costs increase. That is a good thing no matter where you live.

Chris C said:

...

Again I assert the gas tax rate be pro-rated by county based on the amount of service provided to each county. 

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 1, 2012 at 5:36pm

I received this from Lee Crandell, Director of Campaigns, Active Transportation Alliance:

 

Friends of Riders for Better Transit:
 
Riders for Better Transit held a press conference and our first Transit Day of Action on Feb. 29 with 30 volunteers to introduce Transit Fast Forward (SB 3236), state legislation that would improve Chicagoland transit service through increased investment and a new dedicated source of funding that would grow over time. We’ve launched an online action alert for the bill today. Would your organization spread the word about Transit Fast Forward to help us fight for better transit? Please find below a blurb you can cut and paste into your organization’s email newsletter, blog, social media, etc. If you have any questions about the bill or about how you can help, contact Lee Crandell, lee@activetrans.org.
 
 
ACTION ALERT: Urge your state legislators to support Transit Fast Forward!
 
Do you want trains and buses in Chicagoland to be faster, more reliable and more frequent?  Our transit system should be moving forward, not backward! Transit Fast Forward (SB 3236) is state legislation that would improve and expand Chicagoland transit service through better investment. It would provide a new, dedicated source of funding for transit that will grow over time. Transit Fast Forward could help build new stations, expand routes and service times, bring back express buses and eliminate slow zones. It could help prevent future service cuts and fare increases. Tell your state legislators to support Transit Fast Forward today at: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50110/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY...
 
Lee Crandell
Director of Campaigns
Active Transportation Alliance
9 W. Hubbard St., Ste. 402
Chicago, IL 60654-6545
T 312.427.3325 x395
F 312.427.4907
lee@activetrans.org
www.activetrans.org

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 3, 2012 at 8:12am

That is pretty simple, don't take a job in Schaumburg unless to live close enough to ride/walk/transit there. During my last job search I declined to pursue any job that I could not reasonable get to by bike. For me that worked out to a limit of 10 miles. I did interview in Evanston for one particularly interesting job, but I'm glad I did not get an offer for that one. 

Jared said:

So its more sustainable to live in the city and drive out to your job in Schaumburg?  A gas tax increase of less than a penny a gallon isn't going to change people's habits. 

Tony Adams said:

Everyone who isn't driving in Cook County, or elsewhere is providing a service to your lungs and to your planet by reducing the overall carbon footprint. If you choose to live in a less sustainable location you should be responsible for paying for the resulting damage.

The proponents of the tax increase might not want to mention it, but an additional benefit to increasing the gas tax is that people will drive less. Driving decreases as fuel costs increase. That is a good thing no matter where you live.

Chris C said:

...

Again I assert the gas tax rate be pro-rated by county based on the amount of service provided to each county. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 3, 2012 at 9:00am

That's all well and good -but in this economy not everyone is in such a situation where they can do this.

They (the ubiquitous they) do not want to call this what it really is -a Depression, but that is what we are in and it is getting worse and will be even worser (love that word) after the election when they will have to scale back on the supports they have been putting into place to cushion the fall. 

A lot of people are having a hard time finding ANY job -not just ones that are 10-miles from their house.  I'm happy that you can find work in your field or in a field you are qualified to work in that can support  you so easily.

Moving is often not an option -especially if you own your house and are upside down on your mortgage. Selling right now is pretty hard.  Housing prices are still going down and probably never will go back up to bubble levels.  We still haven't fallen to pre-bubble norms (again, something they aren't telling you.)

I find it very hard to bitch about someone else's choice of how they feed their family or how far they have to drive to find said job... 


Tony Adams said:

That is pretty simple, don't take a job in Schaumburg unless to live close enough to ride/walk/transit there. During my last job search I declined to pursue any job that I could not reasonable get to by bike. For me that worked out to a limit of 10 miles. I did interview in Evanston for one particularly interesting job, but I'm glad I did not get an offer for that one. 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 3, 2012 at 10:50am

You make some very good points. I'll amend my suggestion: don't take the Schaumburg job if you have a choice not to. We need to send a message to employers that their choice to move, or establish themselves in the suburbs was a bad decision.

James BlackHeron said:

...

I find it very hard to bitch about someone else's choice of how they feed their family or how far they have to drive to find said job... 


Tony Adams said:

That is pretty simple, don't take a job in Schaumburg unless to live close enough to ride/walk/transit there. During my last job search I declined to pursue any job that I could not reasonable get to by bike. For me that worked out to a limit of 10 miles. I did interview in Evanston for one particularly interesting job, but I'm glad I did not get an offer for that one. 

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