October 5, 2006 Situation Analysis Interim Report Summary Table of Contents Page Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………….. 1 1.0 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….… 5 Regional Strategic Plan Process …………………………………………………………… 5 Benefits of the Regional Transit System …………………………………………………. 5 Existing Situation …………………………………………………………………………… 7 2.0 Vision ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 3.0 Agency Profiles …………………………………………………………………………... 10 RTA ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 CTA ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 Metra …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Pace ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11 4.0 Current Situation versus the Vision …………………………………………………. 13 Provide Transportation Options …………………………………………………………………………. 13 Ensure Financial Viability ………………………………………………………………………………….. 18 Enhance Livability and Economic Vitality ……………………………………………………………. 25 Demonstrate Value ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25 5.0 External Factors ……………………………………………………………………….…. 28 Socio-Economic Factors ………………………………………….………………………………………… 28 Travel Markets ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 Traffic Congestion ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 32 Land Use ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33 Freight Transportation ……………………………………………………………………………………… 34 Fuel/Power Prices …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35 Parking …………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… 35 6.0 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….…. 36 i October 5, 2006 Situation Analysis Interim Report Summary Executive Summary Investment in Public Transit: An Investment in the Future Northeastern Illinois faces a critical decision in 2007: invest in, modernize, and expand the Regional Transportation Authority’s (RTA) $27 billion transit network, or begin shrinking the transit network and lose the economic and quality of life benefits that accompany it. Since its beginnings, Chicago’s public transportation system has helped define the region’s character and economy. Over the years, both users and non-users alike have come to depend on transit as a major contributor to mobility, to economic vitality, and to the way of life of the Chicago region. Public transportation continues to shape our region, by promoting economic development and access to jobs, mitigating the traffic congestion that immobilizes our city in gridlock and contributes to lost productivity, linking communities, and providing transportation options. Public transportation is vital to enhancing Chicago’s position as a major center of the global economy, with nearly 100 corporate headquarters, strong technology, freight, and manufacturing sectors, and over 30 million visitors a year. Public transportation is a key component to enhancing our quality of life, improving air quality, addressing traffic congestion, and reducing our dependence on oil. The mobility options created by public transportation - also reduce the isolation of our most vulnerable citizens. The RTA system provides the region with more than $12 billion annually in economic impacts and congestion relief, plus substantial additional non-monetary environmental, mobility, and quality of life benefits. The region must now commit to maintaining and continuing to improve the RTA’s extensive system of assets that include 3,830 buses, paratransit vehicles and vans, and 2,300 rail cars and locomotives. The 400 bus routes and 19 rail lines that serve the 3,700-square mile northeastern Illinois region need to be improved and expanded to serve the growing six-county RTA region of 8 million residents and 5 million jobs. Transit benefits us all— The continued growth and changing demographics in our region create more opportunities and needs for the transit system, as even non-users. Imagine well as challenges that go hand-in-hand with the opportunities. if the almost two million The region’s traffic congestion is the third worst in the nation and rides on transit each day costs the region over $4 billion in travel delay and excess fuel were carried in cars – consumed. This congestion is the result of increased auto and TOTAL GRIDLOCK! truck use, fueled by the outward movement of low-density residential and non-residential land use, with little transit service. Congestion costs the average peak period traveler $1,000 each year. It is one of the greatest sources of frustration to area residents, and one of the key threats to our quality of life. And congestion is only going to get worse – as the Chicago region adds 2 million more residents by 2030, our transportation system will need to accommodate 6 million more trips every day. With many of our highways already at capacity, our long commutes will keep getting longer. By 2030, the Chicago Although our current transit system has experienced recent region will add two growth, it has not yet recovered from historical ridership losses, million residents and nor has it kept pace with changing demand from regional growth. Our inability to keep up with these demands stems from over one million jobs. If inadequate investment in the upkeep and enhancement of we can’t “build our way service. If we intend to maintain northeastern Illinois’ century- out of congestion,” then long role as America’s Transportation Hub, with a world-class we must rely on transit transit network at its center, we need new and bold ideas to and other alternative prepare us for the 2.3 billion additional annual trips predicted by modes. 2030. 1 October 5, 2006 Situation Analysis Interim Report Summary Rising fuel, power, construction, healthcare, pension, and security costs have major impacts on our transit service providers. CTA, Metra and Pace are all facing funding shortfalls and are left with little choice but to transfer capital funding to operations. Without a better solution, disinvestment in the system and the downward spiral from unfunded needs will soon result in large service cuts, increased fares, and declining reliability. As evidenced by the RTA, CTA, Metra, And Pace joint statement on the 2007 transit budgets, transit faces a “large operating and capital shortfall, because there has not been any new state capital funding for transit since Illinois FIRST, and because operating funding has not kept pace with 21st century demand.” The system is at a critical crossroads. The Chicago region resounds with consistent themes and issues: the current transit network focuses on traditional markets, but service in those markets should be improved, and the transit network is not adequately addressing new travel markets. Customers want safe, clean, affordable and reliable service, and they want more of it. The transit system must respond to needs by providing more choices, more coordination, and better integration among services. We must increase our efforts to address land use and its relationship with transportation, developing new techniques for making the two work better. Understanding past trends will help the region respond to these needs. Despite recent ridership gains, the region has yet to return to ridership levels achieved as recently as the 1980s, and ridership growth has lagged behind similar regions around the country. Over the past two decades, the collective purchasing power of the region’s transit agencies has declined, causing reduced service levels and decreased ridership in traditional transit markets with a high return on investment. Opportunities to expand transit exist in both new geographies and in these traditional markets. When faced with similar challenges and choices, other regions, such as Denver, Houston, New York, and Seattle have recognized the value of public transportation, and have responded with significant investments in transit system renewal and expansion. For example, when the New York City metropolitan region was confronted with investment decisions, business and civic leaders joined together to lead a successful campaign for investment in transit. As a result, over the last two decades, almost $95 billion (in adjusted dollars) in capital improvements have been made to the New York region’s transit system. Service has improved dramatically. Ridership has grown significantly. And, a robust transit system has helped fuel a resurgence of the region’s economic vitality. This summary highlights the value of our current system, its benefits, challenges, and opportunities. The RTA is using the strategic planning process to think creatively about the future and how to significantly improve and expand transit in the region through strategic investments that will yield large dividends for years to come. Initial steps in that process, as summarized in this interim report, document the need not only to continue our maintenance of the existing public transportation system, but also to improve its performance and significantly expand the system so it can play a central role in the region’s future livability and economic vitality. In order to achieve our vision for a world-class public transportation system that is the keystone of the region's growing business opportunities, thriving job market, clean air and livable communities, we must invest in public transportation – it’s an investment in the future. The following are key findings from the Situation Analysis by each of the goals in our Vision, which is presented in Section 2.0 of this report. Transportation Options y Transit ridership has been growing since 2003. However, auto travel is growing even faster. y Service coverage, service span, and service frequency are generally good for CTA given