Invest in and protect transit’s core strengths

The region’s transit agencies should focus limited funding on projects that build on transit’s key strengths: frequent, fast, reliable service that makes connections in areas of moderate and high density and walkability. Transit can serve these markets and trips more efficiently and effectively than any other mode. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA( has identified six key transit markets that enable the region to build upon existing transit assets, and these markets should be the focus of coordinated planning and investment by the transit agencies, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Tollway, CMAP, and local governments.

Focusing investment will mean different things for different transit modes. On the rail system, it often means addressing capacity constraints that limit the speed and frequency of trains on high ridership routes. These capacity constraints are often operational and relatively invisible to riders, such as lack of space at railyards and maintenance facilities, track junctions, and old signal systems. Bus service can be improved quickly and at relatively low cost; replacing traffic signals and implementing TSP are cost-effective investments that can substantially speed up service on arterial routes. In key corridors with high ridership or plans for supportive land use, the combination of TSP, dedicated right of way, and improved boarding strategies can substantially reduce travel times. The region should move forward on implementing planned ART routes and planning future bus system improvements.

Given transit’s importance as the backbone of a multimodal transportation system, it is also important to implement policies that help bolster transit’s core strengths and prevent degradation of public transit service on high frequency corridors through dense parts of the region. These policies could include new rules or regulations on private mobility services.