CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce today issued a letter to Illinois's Congressional Delegation in opposition to a proposal in the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill to eliminate the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund.

"The Chicagoland's business community relies on the region's mass transit systems, Metra, Pace and the CTA to transport both customers and employees," said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "Mass transit is the centerpiece of our economy and federal funding helps keep it affordable for everyone to use."

The current proposal in Congress calls for eliminating the 2.86 cent per gallon contribution to the Mass Transit Account. The Chamber refers to a study sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association which equates for every $1 billion spent on capital projects over 28,000 jobs are supported and created. The Chicagoland's mass transit agencies rely on the Mass Transit Account to support funding their capital projects.

"In a time when our country needs jobs, we need push Congressional leaders to figure out ways to provide more funding for mass transit projects to keep the economy moving, not stop it in its tracks," said Roper on the reason for sending the letter.

About The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1904, we are a private, non-profit business assistance and economic development organization. With 2,600 members, representing over 1.3 million individual employees in the six-county Northeastern Illinois region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry & Will), we are the largest Chamber of Commerce in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation. Our mission is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America and to enhance our members' success through aggressive advocacy, member benefits, services, and actionable information.

Contact:      Chris Johnson 
Phone:        (312) 494-2767
Email:         cjohnson@chicagolandchamber.org

SOURCE Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.chicagolandchamber.org