Metra denies claim of discrimination in funding

Metra defended itself Wednesday against claims that transit funding favors white, suburban commuters over minority Chicago CTA riders.

Two Chicago residents sued Metra, the Regional Transportation Authority and state of Illinois in a federal class-action lawsuit that states the way transit dollars are divided systemically underfunds the CTA.

The RTA, Metra and state are "discriminating against Hispanic and African-American riders by an inequitable and unconstitutional funding scheme," attorney Rafael Vargas said. "These violations are in direct contrast to state and federal civil rights laws."

Metra shot back, denying any racial discrimination, noting that funding is set by state statute.

"While one-third of Metra's stations are located in Chicago, Metra receives no discretionary funds from the Regional Transportation Authority, while the CTA receives ninety-five percent of those funds," Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said, adding the lawsuit was inaccurate.

RTA officials said that the agency "shares the goal to increase resources and provide quality service for our entire transit system while operating as efficiently as possible." They had no further comment.

Attorneys for the class action argued that the funding formula was a political scheme hatched in 1983 that took advantage of a CTA funding crisis, political weakness on the part of then Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and power-brokering among suburban lawmakers.

The result led to fare decreases for Metra riders and increases for Chicago Transit Authority riders. It also decreased the CTA's share of RTA revenues from 71 percent to 59 percent, although the CTA serves 82 percent of the region's riders, the lawsuit claims.

More than 60 percent of CTA passengers are Latino or black, while more than 70 percent of Metra users are white, attorneys said.

"This is about people's livelihoods," said plaintiff Manuel Munguia, a Chicagoan who uses the CTA regularly. "Every year there's talk of routes being cut or shortened."

According to the RTA's 2009 budget book, the CTA got $635 million, Metra got $316 million and Pace got $122 million in operating funds. Meanwhile ridership for 2008 was about 524 million for the CTA, 87.7 million for Metra and 38.9 million on Pace.

The Illinois Department of Transportation had no comment on the lawsuit.

However, state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Chicago Democrat who heads the transportation committee, said it was right on the money. "The lawsuit reflects the disparities in public transportation accurately," Sandoval said.

But Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, said the lawsuit "was like comparing apples and oranges. Whether you like it not, more white people live in the suburbs and more minorities live in the city. You have to dig deeper and understand the demographics," she said.

One suburban rider who uses Pace, Metra and CTA to reach his job at the Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind and Visually Impaired called the suit ridiculous.

"We need to get away from us versus them," Glen Ellyn resident Ray Campbell said.

"For suburbanites, it's not like we're against having a strong CTA when we come into the city on Metra - that's how we get to where we want to go."