Pace warns RTA funding balk will hurt riders
Turf wars between Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority could leave disabled bus riders in the lurch this fall because of a paratransit budget shortfall.
Regional Transportation Authority directors voted 8-7 Thursday against using $8 million in capital funds shared by all three agencies to help plug a $20 million financial hole in the paratransit program, which Pace operates.
The decision scuttled a tentative deal where along with the $8 million, Pace would contribute $9 million in capital funds and raise paratransit fares as a short-term fix.
Without cooperation from the RTA, it's futile for Pace to make financial sacrifices, Chairman Richard Kwasneski said.
"Rest assured we will not have money to operate in October," he said, adding disabled riders in Chicago and the suburbs are the ones who will suffer.
"These people have enough on their plates. We do not want them to have to worry about getting around in the fall," he said.
The "no" votes resulted from pressure by the CTA and Metra, whose leaders are loathe to lose any money, several officials explained.
But the disagreement also highlighted the downside of using capital money meant for buying buses and fixing infrastructure for operations.
"I find it unfair to push money away from other agencies in a shell game," RTA Director and former state Treasurer Judy Baar-Topinka said.
Director William Coulson, who represents suburban Cook County, countered that "this seems like building a bridge two-thirds of the way across the river and asking people to drive across."
Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said the agency recognizes the importance of paratransit but wanted an alternative to draining "scarce" capital funds. "To offset operating expenses with capital funding is what we are opposed to," she said.
Declining revenues and ridership increases have put paratransit, a ride service for people with disabilities who can't use fixed routes, in the red, officials said.
"I understand the importance of paratransit, but why didn't Pace figure in the shortage of dollars?" questioned Director James Buchanan, who represents Chicago.
Kwasneski said Pace had been frugal and warned if a budget doomsday comes, disabled riders will take advantage of free rides offered on the CTA, creating a crisis for Chicago.
Director Pat Durante, who represents DuPage County, wished the board had postponed the vote. "I would have liked more time to get the service boards together to reach an agreement," he said.
RTA Chairman Jim Reilly promised to keep seeking a solution but had clearly hoped for a resolution. "The longer we dither and talk, the worse it gets," he said.
Paratransit user Jim Watkins of Chicago took the board to task, saying "I'm very disappointed that the disabled community is being held hostage to turf wars."