[il-talk] FW: Pace Bus released it's 2011 budget

Thu Oct 28 16:43:58 UTC 2010

-----Original Message-----
From: "Robert A. Hansen" <roberthansen1970 at gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:42:34 Pacific Daylight Time
To: "Robert A.Hansen" <roberthansen33 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Pace Bus released it's 2011 budget

  PACE BOARD RELEASES PROPOSED 2011 BUDGET

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

October 13, 20106:00:00 PM

Media Release Office: (847) 228-4295

Contact: Patrick Wilmot (847) 228-4295

No fare increases or service cuts called for as public input process begins

Despite the slow pace of the economys recovery from recession, the Pace 

Board of Directors has released a very stable and austere budget with 

virtually no impacts on riders in the form of fare increases or service 

cuts.

The economic recession has posed several problems for our agency, most 

notably in the form of reduced sales tax funding and ridership, said 

Pace Chairman of the Board Richard Kwasneski. Weve cut costs internally 

over the past few years to remain as efficient as possible while 

continuing to offer a high level of service to our customers, and that 

allows us to release a balanced budget that calls for no sacrifice on 

the part of riders.

The proposed Suburban Services operating budget, made up of fixed route 

bus, vanpool, and dial-a-ride service totals $183.3 million and is 

balanced thanks to proactive steps taken during 2010. These cost 

controls offset growth in revenue over the past three years that has 

been essentially flat at just 1.1%. Although Pace is prepared to use up 

to $2 million of capital funding to eliminate any operating expense 

deficit, that may not be necessary if sales tax collections- the primary 

source of operating funds- outpace current estimates. The Suburban 

Service Capital Program totals 80.3 million, nearly 88% of which is 

focused on replacing older buses in the current fleet including up to 60 

hybrid buses to be purchased with state capital funds.

The proposed Regional ADA Paratransit operating budget adds up to $120.7 

million, with just over 78% of expenses stemming from service provided 

in Chicago, and close to 20% for suburban service. Ridership is again 

projected to grow as service changes in recent years have expanded 

capacity, though per-trip costs continue to trend downward thanks to 

efficiencies that have also been implemented. On the capital side, $4.7 

million will be used to purchase new paratransit vehicles using capital 

funds that the State released earlier this year. The purchase of these 

vehicles marks the first dedicated State investment in the ADA 

Paratransit capital program.

The proposed budget has officially been approved for release to the 

public by the Pace Board of Directors. Public Hearings will take place 

during the last two weeks of October. For those unable to attend, the 

budget document is posted on Paces website, www.pacebus.com, and will be 

distributed to libraries and municipal buildings throughout Paces 

service area for display. Comments can be submitted at hearings via the 

Pace website or via mail to Pace External Relations, 550 W. Algonquin 

Road Arlington Heights, IL 60005. The Board will review public comments 

received prior to approving the budget and submitting it in November to 

the RTA. In December, the RTA Board approves its final budget inclusive 

of the respective budgets from Pace, Metra, and CTA.

# # #

Pace Suburban Bus

Proposed 2011 Budget

Public Hearing Schedule

*Monday, October 18, 2010

Will County Budget Public Hearing

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Bicentennial Park Theater

201 W. Jefferson St. at Bluff St.

Joliet, IL 60435

*Monday, October 18, 2010

Noon - 2:00pm

City of Chicago (West) Budget Public Hearing

Garfield Park Conservatory - Community Room

300 N. Central Park Ave.

Chicago, IL 60624

*Tuesday, October 19, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm

North Cook County Budget Public Hearing

Pace Headquarters - Board Room

550 W. Algonquin Rd.

Arlington Heights, IL 60005

*Tuesday, October 19, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm

South Cook County Budget Public Hearing

Homewood Village Hall

2020 Chestnut Road

Homewood, IL 60430

*Wednesday, October 20, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Southwest Cook County Budget Public Hearing

Oak Lawn Village Hall

9446 S. Raymond Ave.

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

*Wednesday, October 20, 2010

3:30pm - 5:00pm

Lake County Budget Public Hearing

Lake County Building

18 N. County Street - 10th Floor, Conference Room C

Waukegan, IL 60085

*Thursday, October 21, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm

West Cook County Budget Public Hearing

Oak Park Village Hall

123 Madison Street

Oak Park, IL 60302

*Thursday, October 21, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Kane County Budget Public Hearing

Kane County Government Center - Auditorium, Ground Floor

719 S. Batavia Ave.

Geneva, IL 60134

*Monday, October 25, 2010

3:00pm - 5:00pm

City of Chicago (Southwest) Budget Public Hearing

Arturo Velasquez Institute

2800 S. Western Ave.

Chicago, IL 60608

*Tuesday, October 26, 2010

5:00pm - 7:00pm

City of Chicago (North) Budget Public Hearing

Northside College Preparatory High School - Cafeteria

5501 N. Kedzie Ave.

Chicago, IL 60625

*Wednesday, October 27, 2010

4:30pm - 6:00pm

McHenry County Budget Public Hearing

Crystal Lake Municipal Complex - Council Chambers

100 W. Municipal Complex

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

*Wednesday, October 27, 2010

DuPage County Budget Public Hearing

4:30pm - 6:30pm

DuPage County Government Center - Cafeteria

421 N. County Farm Rd.

Wheaton, IL 60187

*Thursday, October 28, 2010

7:00pm - 9:00pm

City of Chicago (South) Budget Public Hearing

Olive Harvey College - Cafeteria

10001 S. Woodlawn

Chicago, IL 60628

More information regarding this press release 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/about/annual_budget.asp>.

Home <http://www.pacebus.com/default.asp> | Schedules/Maps 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/default.asp> | Programs 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/programs/default.asp> | News & Events 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/news_events/default.asp> | About Pace 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/about/default.asp> | Business Opportunities 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/purchasing/default.asp> | Pace Store 

<http://ticket.pacebus.com> | Customer Service 

<http://www.pacebus.com/sub/general/customer_services.asp>