Center for Neighborhood Technology

U.S. State of Climate Delivered to White House

The Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) delivered the State of the Climate paper to the White House this morning with a very impressive list of signatories. The list includes two Nobel Laureates, a number of the nation’s top climate scientists and policy experts, mayors, and business leaders. CNT’s President and member of the PCAP Steering Committee Scott Bernstein is one of the signatories.

PCAP is encouraging President George Bush to consider the assessment of climate change and policy as he prepares his State of the Union address on Monday, January 28, 2008. In releasing the report, PCAP “regret[s] to report that the state of the nation’s climate policy is poor, and the climate and the ecosystems that depend upon it are showing increasing signs of disruption. Global climate change now threatens not only the environment, but also our national security, our economic stability, and our public health and safety. We can longer discuss the State of the Union without addressing the state of the nation’s climate.”

CNT contributed to the Presidential Climate Action Plan that contains more than 300 proposals for new federal policies and programs to address climate change. Our research on transportation and climate found that reducing motorized trips is as important as cleaner cars: a 1% annual reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduces roughly as much carbon as a 4% annual improvement in fuel efficiency. When we reduce our carbon by VMT reduction, it results in large cost of living savings for America’s families.

While the Presidential Climate Action Plan frames the agenda for the first 100 days of the next Administration, it is a resource that the current Administration could use to move the federal government into leadership domestically, and the United States into leadership internationally, on this urgent issue.

To read the final statement and add you name to the current signature list, go to the PCAP web site at http://www.climateactionproject.com/soc.php.

For information about the Presidential Climate Action Plan, read the full report here.

For more information on CNT’s Climate Program, visit www.cnt.org/climate.

New Bill Keeps Transit Rolling in the Region

Good news for transit riders and advocates: CTA “Doomsday” has been averted through the Illinois Legislature’s $530 million plan to cover the CTA’s operating expenses. Just what do you need to know about this bill now as it stands right now?

The Governor and legislature have decided to fund the new plan, which will go into effect on April 1st, through a quarter-percent increase in Northeastern Illinois sales taxes as well as funds from a new property-transfer tax. In addition, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace, will be restructured with more power to coordinate those agencies, with the goal of eliminating overlaps in service like those that occur in inner-ring suburbs serviced by multiple RTA systems. Pension reform is another part of the bill; the fund for CTA employees will be fully funded by the year 2050.

The Governor’s last-minute addition of an unexpected amendatory veto stipulating that all senior citizens who live in transit districts ride free troubled many people. Currently, there are about 20 million seniors using CTA reduced fare cards; many more do not currently hold reduced fare cards, and thus no one can conclusively estimate the potential revenue loss to the CTA. Disability advocates are also upset that Blagojevich did not extend free service to disabled people, many of whom are immobile without the help of transit and overloaded with medical expenses.

The Illinois House recently introduced a plan to override Blagojevich’s veto and replace it with a plan to extend free service to those seniors who qualify for a discount program called Circuit Breakers, which currently provides discounts on property taxes and medical care for the elderly. Under the House’s plan, which will be introduced to the Senate next week, seniors who meet the income requirements for the Circuit Breakers plan will receive free service. Pending approval by the Senate, the plan will go to Governor Blagojevich; if he approves it, it will go into effect July 1 of this year, but if he vetoes it, the legislature will have to go into a veto session.

CNT has long been an advocate for comprehensive transit funding as an investment to the vitality of the region. Since the 1970s, the CTA’s resources have been dwindling, and the need for funding has clashed with Illinois’ desire for a balanced budget. It was not until recent years, however, that the RTA was fully backed up against the wall with the elimination of Federal Transit Administration subsidies and the later service cuts and fare hikes. Since then, the CTA’s infrastructure has been declining along with its quality of service, resulting in the infamous “slow zones” on elevated tracks as well as the long wait times that plagued riders. Voices within the CTA and without are now saying that even though doomsday may no longer be upon us, the solution addresses only operating expenses, with the capital funding necessary to improve aging infrastructure still unaddressed.

Victory! (Sort Of)

A bill substantially similar to the much lauded SB 572 just passed in the Senate. This bill provides a permanent funding solution for transit in Northeastern Illinois, reforms the governing structure of the region’s transit agencies, and sorts out the CTA pension mess. The additional funds it provides come from a quarter-percent sales tax increase in the region.

So, what’s not to like?

Governor Blagojevich, who had previously stated his opposition to the bill because it raises taxes, has appeared to moderate his stance over the last week. This spurred hopes that perhaps he would be willing to sign the bill after all. However, shortly after the bill’s passage, he announced that he slap an amendatory veto on the bill so that seniors will be allowed to ride for free.

Giving seniors a free ride isn’t a bad idea, necessarily, but many lawmakers are irked that the governor would choose to bring up this concern at the last minute, forcing the legislature to return to Springfield for a special session next week.

All in all, the situation still looks hopeful. We can hope that this latest hurdle the governor has placed before transit advocates will also be the last. If not, the Jan 20th doomsday is a short 5 days away…

We urge legislators to return to Springfield for this week’s special session. A quorum has to appear in order either to override the veto or approve it. While an override would be best for the residents of the region, an approval would be preferable to allowing the doomsday to go ahead.

Please, contact your legislator and ask him or her to make this one final effort on behalf of transit.

Reflecting on 2007: Headlines from CNT

2007 was a busy year for CNT - with implementation of new programs and expansion of existing ones, research and reporting, and lots of planning for the future in the year of our 30th anniversary! As we prepare for a new and exciting year, we wanted to also reflect on our successes this past year. With your support, in 2008 we can continue to work to make environmental and economic sustainability a reality in Chicago and across the country.

WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2007- A Year in Headlines

Read the headlines from our past blogs and updates from 2007 after the jump. You can also look at photos of CNT’s past year at http://www.cnt.org/support and our Flickr page.

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