Lapsed and current rider survey, New transit data website
Good morning. I’ll be live-tweeting today’s Regional Transportation Authority meeting, starting at 9am, for #ChiDocumenters @ChiDocumenters
08:43 AM Apr 15, 2021 CDT
Today’s @RTA_Chicago board meeting can be viewed on YouTube Live: https://youtube.com/channel/UCHBTEjtqt0bjxN7e3RBdUOA
The meeting went live on youtube at 9:05 with board members figuring out technical issues. Kirk Dillard explains the meeting is online without staff/board members going to headquarters due to the pandemic.
Executive Director Leanne Redden begins ger report. RTA is moving into step 3 of developing their strategic plan. https://t.co/2RgpRHqL74
Government affairs update: An act proposed by Biden would fund mass transit, plus transition to electric vehicle fleets.
The public comment agenda includes a presentation from the Vehicle Electirification Project of the Climate Reality Project. @ClimateReality
Speaker Pam Tate speaks about public health and #climate impacts of pollutants from the transportation sector. https://t.co/PMqXXbZfs7
Some #climate impacts estimated specifically for Chicago. In Illinois, it will disrupt growing crops, eventually leading to food shortages. @ClimateReality https://t.co/vXC9QDdTMP
Six new CTA electric busses have begun service testing.
State and federal legislation should provide funding to switch to electric busses. https://t.co/COWpF1pUKF
It’s critical transit agencies go to zero emissions electric vehicles, not “low emission” busses run on natural gas. Consider long-term lower cost of electric vehicles.
Directors Melvin, Sager, Canty, and Andalcio thank the speaker for an excellent presentation.
Tate says she made a similar presentation to PACE, which has been purchasing natural gas busses due to lower up front costs compared to electric.
Kim Stone points out natural gas bus fueling infrastructure is more expensive than electric bus charging stations. Redden says federal funding is moving toward electric.
Moving on to reports. Ridership is down. Sales tax revenue higher than expected. https://t.co/eXECy7WscJ
CARES act funding will be needed for some time to keep budgets balanced.
Staff member Horsting makes presentstion about RTA community planning program. New interactive story map at their website allows people to view recent projects.
The @RTA_Chicago online meeting format makes it easy to identify speakers by having their name and video visible in the corner during slide presentations. Big improvement over platforms used by most other public bodies.
Brad Thompson presents RTA’S new open data website with tons of info for public and agencies.
Data includes ridership data over time, even for specific bus routes or METRA stations, for example. Projects and funding are searchable. New site is easier to navigate and search.
Next, a presentation of a lapsed rider survey aimed at getting people back to using mass transit. https://t.co/Mijv64fLwZ
Telecommuting is expected to continue for some workers, reducing ridership beyond the pandemic. https://t.co/ko6GPiFwhQ
RTA’s press release includes a summary of some findings.
https://mailchi.mp/rtachicago.org/covid-ridership-survey-4-15-21
Next, a proposal to appoint a new pension board member, Hemingway. He currently works for Exelon. There are a number of campaigns encouraging investment funds to divest from fossil fuels.
Several contract and expense agenda items approved without discussion. Board member training is happening after public meeting. Meeting adjourns at 11:01am.