Table of Contents 1 Introduction 5 Metra RTA Board of Directors ................................................... 3 Overview ......................................................................... 101 Letter from the Executive Director ................................ 4 Service Characteristics .................................................. 101 Guide ............................................................................. 5 Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 105 Service Operations & Capital Funding Issues .............. 6 Statutory Compliance .................................................... 110 Vision ............................................................................. 6 2009 Budget vs. 2009 Estimate .................................. 110 Governance Fare Structure ................................................................ 111 Overview ......................................................................... 6 Organizational Structure ................................................ 111 Budget Process .............................................................. 8 Financial Policies............................................................ 10 Ordinance 2009-93 ....................................................... 13 The GFOA Award ............................................................. 28 6 Pace Pace Suburban Service Budget in Brief Overview ......................................................................... 115 2 Service Characteristics .................................................. 115 Overview ......................................................................... 31 Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 120 Service Characteristics .................................................. 31 2009 Budget vs. 2009 Estimate .................................. 125 Operating Budget ........................................................... 32 Statutory Compliance .................................................... 125 Statutory Compliance .................................................... 38 Organizational Structure ................................................ 125 Source and Use of Funds............................................... 40 Capital Program .............................................................. 40 ADA Paratransit Overview ......................................................................... 127 Service Characteristics .................................................. 127 RTA Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 128 3 2009 Budget vs. 2009 Estimate .................................. 133 Region Operating Plan Statutory Compliance .................................................... 133 Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 43 2009 vs. 2009 Estimate ............................................... 52 Agency Departments & Staffing 7 Capital Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 53 Regional Overview .......................................................... 137 Goals and Performance Measures Source of Funds ............................................................. 137 Background .................................................................... 65 Use of Funds ................................................................... 139 Vision ............................................................................. 65 CTA Overview .................................................................. 140 Goals and Objectives ..................................................... 65 Metra Overview .............................................................. 141 Performance Measures ................................................. 65 Pace Overview ................................................................ 142 Performance Metrics ..................................................... 67 Capital Impact on Operations ........................................ 146 Reference RTA Bonds ....................................................................... 73 Fund Accounting ............................................................. 75 8 Appendices Basis of Budgeting ......................................................... 78 2009 Business Plan Calendar ...................................... 153 Budget Hearing Schedule .............................................. 154 4 CTA Glossary .......................................................................... 157 Overview ......................................................................... 83 Supplementary Data Service Characteristics .................................................. 83 National Economic Projections ..................................... 165 Budget and Financial Plan ............................................ 86 RTA Region ...................................................................... 165 2009 Budget vs. 2009 Estimate .................................. 93 RTA System Map ............................................................ 170 Statutory Compliance .................................................... 94 Organizational Structure ................................................ 94 RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan and Five-Year Capital Program 1 1 Introduction 2 RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan and Five-Year Capital Program RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan and Five-Year Capital Program 3 RTA Board of Directors Jim Reilly Patrick J. Durante Michael Rosenberg RTA Chairman DuPage County City of Chicago James Buchanan Phil Fuentes J.D. Ross City of Chicago City of Chicago Will County Jan Carlson Al Jourdan Horace E. Smith Kane County McHenry County City of Chicago William R. Coulson Dwight A. Magalis Judy Baar Topinka Suburban Cook County Lake County Suburban Cook County L. Tyrone Crider, Sr. Patrick V. Riley, Jr. Douglas M. Troiani Suburban Cook County Suburban Cook County Suburban Cook County Stephen E. Schlickman Executive Director 4 RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan and Five-Year Capital Program Letter from the Executive Director Enclosed is the 2010 budget and operating plan for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which includes Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace. The severe economic crisis that began in late 2008, and intensified throughout most of 2009, deeply affected the regional transit system. Thankfully, the operating funding and reform legislation that became law in January 2008 provided the regional transit system with the necessary resources to work through this crisis. Without it, the transit system would have been unable to meet the demands of out more than 2 million daily riders. Over the last year, the RTA worked with CTA, Metra and Pace to maintain reliable, affordable service for our riders while managing the severe economic crisis. The RTA re-allocated resources and helped the transit agencies avoid significant service cuts and fare increases in 2009. While the economy has shown some signs of recovery, we anticipate that significant economic challenges will remain in 2010. Due to the ongoing recession, some service changes and fare increases will be part of the transit agencies’ 2010 budget and operating plans. Despite the economic turmoil experienced over the last year, both the Illinois General Assembly and the federal government approved critical capital investments in our transit system. These important funds will be used to replace aging vehicles, rebuild and replace track and stations and help us improve the overall condition of the system. Just as importantly, the RTA will complete an update to our Regional Strategic Plan next year that will help guide transit investments and operations in the future and will ensure we make the most efficient and accountable use of our resources. Thank you for your support and confidence in the regional transit system. The RTA is looking forward to a successful year of growth and rejuvenation. We will continue to meet challenges head-on and work to provide reliable, quality service for the region’s transit riders. For more information and to receive important updates, visit www.MovingBeyondCongestion.org, and register as a Partner for Transit. Thank you again for your support. Sincerely, Stephen E. Schlickman Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year Financial Plan and Five-Year Capital Program 5 Guide The outline below is presented as a guide to the organization of the RTA 2010 Budget, Two-Year (2011- 2012) Financial Plan, and Five-Year (2010-2014) Capital Plan. In reading this document it is important to note that the information provided reflects the Region’s funding and service conditions when the RTA Board adopted Ordinance 2009-93 on December 17, 2009, which approved the 2010 budgets and 2011-2012 financial plans of the Service Boards, the Agency, and Region as a whole. It is also important to note that the funding marks (public funds to cover operating deficits) for each Service Board were set on September 15, 2009. The book is divided into the following eight sections. 1. Introduction that provides a list of the members of the RTA Board of Directors, a letter from the RTA Executive Director explaining the key points of the 2010 budget, a guide to the overall structure of this document, key budget issues, RTA’s Vision, Governance including the 2010 budget ordinance (2009-93), and the 2009 GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. 2. Budget in