Price tag for signs irks RTA board member

A $475,295 price tag for signs stopped at least one Regional Transportation Authority board director in his tracks Thursday.

RTA planners explained that commuters with trips straddling the city and suburbs can find it confusing to transition between Metra, the CTA and Pace.

As a result, the agency is hiring a graphics firm to design, build and install signs for four key transit points as a pilot project.

But Director William Coulson balked at the cost, asking "are they made out of platinum, or what?"

RTA planners clarified that 80 percent of the cost will come from a federal grant and the agency pays about $95,000.

Coulson still voted against the measure, which passed Thursday. The RTA and the transit agencies it oversees are experiencing cash problems related to lackluster sales tax revenues, limited state funding and lower ridership linked to unemployment.

The amount gave him some doubts at first, RTA division manager of regional coordination Kevin Stanciel told the board.

But because these are prototypes and the RTA is ordering only a limited number, the startup costs are significant, he said. If successful, the RTA's next step would be to order more signs for 70 other priority locations, costing $8.5 million. The bulk order is about 40 percent to 50 percent less, Stanciel said.

The four locations are: Van Buren Street in downtown Chicago where CTA and Metra interconnect; Davis Street in Evanston where Metra, CTA and Pace link up; Joliet Union Station which has Pace and Metra services; and 95th Street and Western Avenue in Chicago, which has CTA and Pace buses.

There will be various signs at each location displaying directions, maps and schedules.

If the RTA pursues the second phase, the agency will seek federal funding to subsidize the cost.

"The overall goal is to make the transfer process as seamless as possible," RTA senior deputy executive director of strategic planning Leanne Redden said. The three transit agencies provide signage for their individual services but that leaves gaps the RTA can fill, she said.