Transit agencies, lawmakers try to fix paratransit funding

Pace officials hope to avoid budget angst for disabled riders through legislation being pushed by suburban lawmakers.

Facing a massive paratransit shortfall, Pace accepted a temporary fix brokered by Gov. Pat Quinn in 2009 with relief.

But the emergency cash will run out at the end of 2011, leaving concerns about a funding gap.

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, is backing legislation mandating that the Regional Transportation Authority fully fund paratransit, the regionwide pickup service for disabled riders.

The trick for lawmakers is to find a way to pay for the service with limited RTA revenues. As of Tuesday, negotiations with transit agencies were continuing.

“We need to do this for the disabled in our community — it’s the fair thing to do,” Nekritz said.

Paratransit is funded through sales tax but with rising costs and the recession flattening revenues, Pace has run into shortfalls previously. The situation reached a crisis level in fall 2009 when the suburban bus agency considered substantial fare hikes to make up for a $20 million funding gap.

In November 2009, Quinn announced that the state would give Pace $8.5 million a year in 2010 and 2011 to avert raising fares. Pace officials said at the time the solution gave them breathing room, but wasn’t a permanent fix.

Now, “we want to stay out in front of this so we don’t run into a situation like we had in 2009,” Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said.

“There will be problems if we don’t work together on a solution. We’re very positive about the discussion.”

Funding paratransit has run into friction previously at the RTA with Pace, Metra and the CTA all competing for scarce dollars — and those conflicting interests are part of the discussions in Springfield.

It appeared an agreement on the language of the bill was close, RTA communications Director Diane Palmer said.

“It is a regional service and one that is not only mandated but one many people rely on as their mode of transportation,” she said. “We have to do all we can ensure the service and funds are there.”

Metra and CTA officials said they were monitoring the legislation as it evolved.