Suburbs gaining more leverage in RTA

New mass-transit legislation is not only giving real authority to the Regional Transportation Authority, it's also empowering the suburbs.

Until recently, more than 2.1 million people living in Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties were represented by just two directors on the RTA board. Today for the first time, each county gets a vote on the panel.

"To have half-representation is almost like a slap in the face," McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said of the previous setup. "Every county should have its own representative."

As a result of the law passed by the General Assembly in January, the RTA board grows from 13 to 16 members. It's a necessary correction, contends Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

"We in Will County have different challenges than Lake or McHenry or Kane counties," Walsh said.

The revamped RTA board was a key ingredient for suburban lawmakers when the state passed a sales tax increase to cover funding gaps for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

"The greater representation on the new RTA board … along with a couple of billion dollars in pension concessions by employees were crucial in suburbanites supporting the RTA bill," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard. The Hinsdale Republican and two other DuPage senators were the lone GOP votes in favor.

The new board includes: five -- instead of four -- members from suburban Cook; five individuals representing DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will; the RTA chairman; and five members from Chicago picked by the mayor. The CTA chairman is no longer on the board.

New collar county representatives include former Kane County Board member Jan Carlson, former McHenry County Auditor Albert Jourdan and former Joliet Junior College President J.D. Ross for Will County. Current board member Dwight Magalis of Libertyville represents Lake County.

It's hard to predict what kind of animal the revamped board will become and what role the new players will have, experts say.

"I believe they will be vocal about what transit means to their communities," Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Executive Director Randy Blankenhorn said.

Excluding the CTA chairman was part of the political deal-making that passed the transit bill. Many people questioned why the CTA had a seat at the table when neither Pace nor Metra did.

CTA board Chairman Carole Brown contends, "My solution would be to put the Metra chairman and the Pace chairman on the board. It's not to remove the CTA chairman."

In addition to the beefed-up collar county presence, the RTA has more oversight of CTA, Pace and Metra budgets, the ability to withhold funding and auditing authority.

Since joining the RTA board in 2003, Brown said she offered firsthand information about the agency's financial problems and operational challenges.

That connection was important, Brown said, because RTA leaders are "not the ones delivering the transit services."

RTA leaders said they're working closely with all three transit agencies.

Ultimately, "I think it will be a more representative board for the region," RTA Executive Director Stephen Schlickman said.

According to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Will counties will expand from 1.8 million people to 3.1 million in 2030, a 70 percent increase.

With growth comes a demand for more public transit. But funds are limited, and tough decisions on where to expand service lie ahead.

However, approval of major decisions requires a super-majority of 12 members, meaning compromises are necessary.

DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said he's optimistic the new RTA will take a broad view of transit.

"Obviously the suburbs have to advocate for the suburbs," he said, "but the best way is to deal with it regionally."

Changes at RTA board

Here's a look at the Regional Transportation Authority board's new directors. Each will be paid $25,000 annually.

• Jan Carlson will represent Kane County. He is a former Republican Kane County board member from Elburn and also was circuit clerk. He replaces outgoing director Fred Norris.

• The Rev. Tyrone Crider will represent suburban Cook County. He is senior pastor at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago and was national executive director of Operation PUSH.

• Albert Jourdan will represent McHenry County. He is a former McHenry County auditor and was chairman of the state and county Republican Party.

• J.D. Ross will represent Will County and is a former president of Joliet Junior College. He is executive director of the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic.