This is what’s known as “lip service”
Monday, Jul 27, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From coverage of Gov. Rauner’s budget proposal…
The CTA, Metra and Pace would lose almost $130 million in state funding under the 2016 budget plan that Gov. Bruce Rauner presented Wednesday, potentially threatening transit services provided to disabled riders and opening the door to deep service cuts and fare increases for daily commuters on trains and buses, transit officials said. […]
Meanwhile, paratransit services, which are provided through Pace under the Americans with Disabilities Act, would lose about 15 percent of the state funds, or $8.5 million, according to the RTA.
Customers pay $3 per ride, while the cost to provide the federally mandated ADA service is roughly $40 per ride, officials said. The service’s projected annual cost is $172 million, while revenue from fares totals about $14 million, Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said. […]
Federal law prohibits transit agencies from discriminating against people with disabilities because transportation is a civil right.
* More…
The CTA issued this response: “Eliminating or reducing the $28 million reimbursement for a free and reduced fare rides for seniors and riders with disabilities would place a further burden on a state-mandated program that is already woefully underfunded.”
More than 50,000 people are currently using paratransit to get around at a cost of more than $2800 a year per person – a price tag that cuts deep into an agency that stands to lose millions in funding.
* From this past weekend…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:23 am:
Another perfect example;
“Love what I say, ignore what I actually do, by tens of millions of dollars. Love me.”
Great catch, Rich.
- anon - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:23 am:
This gives a new meaning to the phrase “Cruel and Unusual”
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:25 am:
Perfidy
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:26 am:
He makes it look easy.
- I'm New Here - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:32 am:
*Puts on tinfoil hat*
I know Uber is pushing its own transportation option for people with disabilities, hence my lack of surprise that gov $ for these programs is disappearing…
http://newsroom.uber.com/houston/2014/09/uberaccess-expanding-transportation-options-2/
- From the 'Dale to HP - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:32 am:
Wonder who those Metra riders in DuPage County, west and northwest Cook, McHenry, and the North Shore voted for…
- walker - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:32 am:
Double entendre?
sorry
- Joe M - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:35 am:
Kind of in the same vein as posing with FFA members at the Capitol after he had proposed cutting funding for FFA - and posing with school children at the Illinois State Museum, and then proposing to close it. A pattern seems to be developing. I expect that he soon will ride some public transportation for photo ops with the disabled.
Beware about inviting the Governor to pose for a photo with your group - or he wants his picture taken with your group - or if the Governor acknowledges your group in social media.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Rich, you forgot the last tweet…
“But I’ll be darned if I’m gonna pay for it.”
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:36 am:
When is the last time Bruce Rauner gave up his seat on Metra or the Red Line for a disabled rider?
Oh, right. Nevermind.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:39 am:
On the radio Sunday, Dillard was saying how valuable the paratransit services were to the community. Also how much value public transit added to properties.
As an economics student I was taught to listen lightly to why people say but watch hard what they do. Actions trump words.
- Wensicia - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:40 am:
Rauner: “Let the disabled ride motorcycles!”
- Federalist - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:41 am:
“Federal law prohibits transit agencies from discriminating against people with disabilities because transportation is a civil right.”
What does this mean? Certainly it is not discriminatory to charge people the same amount for a given service. Nor is it discriminatory to not offer a service that is not being offered to others. Lack of reasonable physical service to such service certainly would be discriminatory.
- AlabamaShake - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:41 am:
**The #ADA expanded opportunities for over 40 million Americans w/ disabilities to live independently & participate fully in our communities**
Funny, coming from the guy who is slashing home care services, forcing tens of thousands out of home care and into nursing homes.
- the Other Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:46 am:
@Federalist, it means that disabled customers pay doughnuts same as regular fare ($3) even if providing access to the service to disabled people costs more than it does to provide the service to able-bodied people.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:48 am:
This is a terrible situation. Those tweets from the Gov, and the similar tweets from legislators who helped create this situation, are tone-deaf to their surroundings.
But the CTA holds the state responsible for finding that $28 million where?
Who ==gives== while they ==get== under their current scenario?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:48 am:
Keep cutting services and the recipients will either move elsewhere or die, reducing the burden on the state. Excellent strategy, Governor!
- Mattman - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:52 am:
“$40 per ride”…. seriously ?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:00 pm:
- the Other Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:46 am:
@Federalist, it means that disabled customers pay doughnuts same as regular fare ($3) even if providing access to the service to disabled people costs more than it does to provide the service to able-bodied people.
Thanks, I was hoping that was what it meant and not something else.
- A guy - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:07 pm:
=== Mattman - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:52 am:
“$40 per ride”…. seriously ?====
Often it’s more than $40, depending on the disability. These are high maintenance rides and getting 6 people “to and from” is considered a pretty productive day. A blind person requires less time and service than someone without the use of their legs in a wheel chair. This is a very good service, and often the people who take advantage of it are very patient because it gives them some mobility they wouldn’t otherwise have. It’s very expensive and often very tough physical work.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
Does the governor even know these cuts were in his budget? After all this is a man who was surprised to find out he proposed an unbalanced budget.
- PublicServant - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
===This gives a new meaning to the phrase “Cruel and Unusual”===
I disagree. With Rauner, it’s Cruel and Business as Usual.
- Mongo - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
$40 a ride sounds about right.
Lift equipped vehicles typically cost double a standard vehicle. It isn’t just the lift, many have a raised roof and special flooring to embed the wheelchair tie-downs.
Operating costs are higher. If an able bodied rider gets off a bus, she just stands by the door, waits for the bus to stop, bounds off, and the door closes and the bus moves.
It doesn’t happen that way with a lift.
The bus comes to a complete stop. The driver gets out and deploys the lift to a position in which it can have a person roll out of the van onto the lift. The driver then comes back and unsecures me in my wheelchair from the tie-downs. Then the driver moves me onto the lift and locks my wheels. Then the driver gets out and stands by the lift and lowers the lift. Then the driver unlocks my wheels and I roll off the lift.
Then the driver closes the lift and makes sure it is locked. Then the driver gets in the vehicle and drives off.
It is not unusual to have a stop take 5 to 7 minutes.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:26 pm:
$2800 a year? That’s not a typo? because that’s a bargain if it’s right. I spend slightly less than half that on my 30 day transit passes in a year.
- DuPage - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:28 pm:
Rauner showed us how he took care of the elderly and disabled people at the nursing homes. I would be surprised if he cares much about elderly or disabled people who need the service to be able to live at home. He should remember they cost the state a lot more if they are forced into a nursing home.
- Nobody important - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
Mabey….just maybe…. it’s time for the word “free ride” to be replaced with a discounted $2 fare. The days of “free” government give aways is over. CTA has run out of other people’s money to give away.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:08 pm:
Joe M-
They are his “trophy” photos.
- Whosonfirst - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
Relax. There will still be paratransit, people. Riders may have to pay more than $3 for a $40 ride , however. ADA is not a bottomless pit of money. Rauner’s statements are not at all inconsistent with these proposed cuts.
- Huh? - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 3:43 pm:
Whosonfirst- great point, noted. A combination of actions out of the Administration have left the impression in the disability community that the Governor doesn’t value them.
- Angela Botz - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 5:53 pm:
Bruce Rauner have to learn stop saying disabled. The Illinois law passed to say People with Disabilities.
- Angela Botz - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 5:53 pm:
Bruce Rauner have to learn stop saying disabled. The Illinois law passed to say People with Disabilities.
- details - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 6:05 pm:
The last RTA ‘reform’ made the efficiency disincentives around paratransit worse. Growth in costs comes at the expense of CTA and Metra while Pace gets to grow its influence. No, you can’t raise fares more than double the cost of the bus ride, but you CAN drop most riders off at an accessible bus or train stop. A better solution would have been to put the paratransit budget in DHS so that the door to door subsidies could be targeted towards those who need them most, and included in holistic programs that include job training, independent living etc. But I’m not holding my breath, because those programs aren’t funded either.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 6:11 pm:
Oh, Lou Lang.
#ToneDeafTweets
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 6:17 pm:
==The guy eliminates FY16 budget PACE paratransit funding, but has chutzpa to offer phony ADA praise. Unbelievable.==
Another version of Mr Lang’s tweet could read
==The guy spends 28 years helping lead Illinois to this fiscal cliff, then has chutzpa to offer phony criticism when state runs low on money. Unbelievable==
- NoGifts - Tuesday, Jul 28, 15 @ 6:14 am:
Service for people with disabilities is the only service transit agencies are required by Federal law to provide! So I don’t think it will be going anywhere. The cost will have to be shifted from other fixed route service.