From: "FRIENDS OF TRANSIT NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit" Subject: CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPEARHEADS NATIONAL BUSINESS RAPID TRANSIT COALITION Date: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 7:49 PM In addition to keeping you abreast of information about transit from a local perspective, from time to time, we thought it might be helpful for you to learn about efforts nationally on issues related to transit. Attached pasted below is a press release about a new organization, 'National Business Coalition for Rapid Transit.' Some of you may be interested in joining their efforts as well. If you need additional information about the NBCRT or Friends of Transit, please contact me. Also, if you know of additional people that we should add to our email distribution list, please let them know they can sign up for our e-mail distribution at our site. We have just published our first newsletter at our site. And remember, if you would like to receive our newsletters via postal mail, you can sign up for that at our site also. Thank you, David Schwartz david@friendsoftransit.org http://www.friendsoftransit.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE:Tuesday, July 24, 2001 CONTACT: Jeff Kaye 312-494-6771 jkaye@chicagolandchamber.org CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPEARHEADS NATIONAL BUSINESS RAPID TRANSIT COALITION Coalition Core Formed to Address Federal Funding Shortfall CHICAGO, IL - The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce today announced the launch of the National Business Coalition for Rapid Transit (NBCRT) to obtain increased federal funding for new and existing rapid transit systems for cities nationwide. The Chamber and other coalition members will coordinate with already existing transit advocacy efforts by organizations like the US Conference of Mayors and the American Public Transportation Association by adding the voice of business to the debate. "The problem we are facing is a shortfall of federal funds for new and existing rail and bus transit systems as traffic congestion plagues our metropolitan economies. This problem negatively affects our ability to retain and attract business," said Gerald J. Roper, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "Rapid transit addresses congestion, provides necessary workforce access and supports urban economic growth." The goal of NBCRT is to advocate for increased federal New Start Program funds within the current appropriations and reauthorization of TEA-21. Business leaders and organizations from Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Salt Lake, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, New Orleans, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Lancaster, PA, have joined the NBCRT. The coalition of local business organizations will add credibility to the existing allied public sector advocacy organizations: New Start Working Group, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Public Transportation Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Commerce must continue to flow! Diverting people from their cars to transit creates and maintains highway capacity for commercial service, materials and commodity delivery," said Roper. "Rapid transit also has proven to be a vital and cost effective commute alternative for employers and employees." -MORE- In 2001 the NBCRT plans to collect testimony and research and develop more authoritative information on the benefits of rapid transit. The coalition will then seek to educate the public and policy makers on the economic need for increased federal investment in transit and will promote increased New Start Program funding in Washington, DC. The General Accounting Office (GAO) has reported a significant shortfall of TEA-21 New Start funds for existing and proposed rapid transit projects. Under federal law, at least 20% of project costs must be funded locally. Currently, approximately 50% of New Start project costs are funded with non-New Start funding. Nationally, the program has been over-committed, making it very difficult for projects to obtain necessary federal matching funds, thus putting the financial burden on state and local governments. TEA-21 provides $6.1 billion in guaranteed New Start program authorization and $2.1 billion in discretionary authorization; appropriators in Congress have failed to provide any discretionary authorization. TEA-21 expires at the end of FY 2003; however, increased New Start discretionary funding in the remaining two fiscal years is still possible. The reauthorization of TEA-21 will provide an opportunity for an increase in the guaranteed New Start program authorization. The Chicagoland Chamber is leading the effort for the Chicago-based Business Leaders for Transportation (BLT) to form a national business coalition in support of rapid transit investments. BLT represents over 10,000 employers in the six-county Chicago metropolitan region and is lead by the Chicagoland Chamber, the Metropolitan Planning Council and Chicago Metropolis 2020. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce was the first regional chamber of commerce in the United States and has served independent businesses throughout the metropolitan area since 1904. The mission of the Chicagoland Chamber is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America and enhance our members' success through aggressive programs of advocacy, member benefits and services, and actionable information. END