ACTION ALERT: RTA Chair refers to disabled as "INFIRM" and Paratransit as a "Limousine Service" - Join us on OCT 24, 2012

The Chicago Daily Herald Editorial Board, and transit reporter Marni Pyke had a meeting with Chicago area's Regional Transportation Authority Chairman John S. Gates Jr. Below is the part of the article on funding, budgets, and service. The below excerpt of the article should be of 'interest' for people with disabilities, and for those that use paratransit service for there public transportation.
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Limo service? RTA chairman laments cost of paratransit

Article updated: 10/15/2012
Article By Marni Pyke
The Daily Herald

But before those dollars are awarded, paratransit is funded first — this year receiving about $136 million.

“It's a civil right. It has to come right off the top,” Gates said. “You send out a van every time somebody schedules one. The more volume you have, the more money you lose.

“It's not like other systems ... where the more volume you have, the more money you make or the less money you lose. That's the issue, and as the population ages and gets more infirm, the volumes go up faster than the rest of the system,” Gates explained.

“It's a limousine service, but it's a federally mandated limousine service that we have to provide,” he added. “The farebox pays 10 percent, we lose a ton of money. ... It's hugely expensive, but it's something we have to do. It's the law. It's a civil right.”

For the full article; http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121015/news/710159935/

The next RTA Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, October 24, 2012 (subject to change)at RTA Headquarters - 175 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1650 in Chicago. Board committee meetings typically begin at 8:30 a.m. Agendas are posted at least 48 hours prior to the meetings. To offer Public Comment on any issue you must summit a request prior to the meeting, please visit the RTA for more information: http://rtachicago.com/

PLEASE JOIN US AT THE RTA BOARD MEETING ON WED. OCT 24, 2012, 9:00 am* THERE WILL BE GIVEN TESTIMONY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ON CHAIRMAN GATES COMMENTS:
BY HAVING A SHOW OF DIVERSE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILY MEMBERS, & FRIENDS ATTEND, IT WILL SEND A MESSAGE

*This will be updated with a better idea for start times of testimony and end time so you can plan your day.

While RTA Chairman Gates description of 'infirm' is as disrespectful AS possible towards all within the disability community, and those that use paratransit, and is far from a limousine service, and to lead the public into blaming people with disabilities that rely on paratransit service as a major reason for the financial and funding issues that have plagued the RTA in there role. Let's be above the RTA and show respect to the process at the RTA Board of Directors meeting.

Jim Watkins
Ability Chicago

Please feel free to contact for any reason: jimwatkins@abilitychicago.info

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