[il-talk] petition

[CONCERNED CITIZENS OF PARATRANSIT]

PETITION

September 15, 2009

 

Regarding the paratransit service changes proposed by Pace Suburban Bus Co. which include extreme Fare Increases, elimination of the Chicago Monthly Pass, elimination of Transfers between the City of Chicago and Suburbs, and elimination of critical paratransit Reservation scheduling times:  

 

  1.. The primary purpose of each change is to eliminate disabled riders and deny people with disabilities in Chicagoland their civil right. ADA fare mechanisms were not put in place to deny disabled riders their civil right and thus are counter to the spirit of the ADA as well as the State mandate to create a regionally coordinated paratransit system for people with disabilities.
  

  2.. The planned elimination of up to 27.1% of the 40,000 paratransit riders will negatively impact local carriers and the regional economy by creating a trickle-down effect, resulting in a loss of jobs for drivers and office staff due to decreased service demand.  This would be occurring during a struggling economy, when jobs should be created and not eliminated.
 

  3.. Disabled riders impacted are 80% African-American and 58.4% are senior citizens. Annual household income data reflect 47.6% are below $10,000, 31.5% are between $5,000 and $10,000, 16.1% are below $5,000. 43% live on Chicago's South side and 77.8% have no household vehicle. (2004 CTA survey)
 

  4.. Any cost savings will more than likely be used to fund yet another raise for Pace Suburban Bus Co. upper management. (Chicago Sun-Times, November 30, 2008)
 

Therefore we the undersigned oppose the Pace Suburban Bus Co.'s proposed paratransit service changes which are self-serving and detrimental to the economy as a whole:

 

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cc:  RTA, Pace Suburban Bus Co., Mayor Richard Daley, State Legislatures and Senators