OPINION, as submitted to 'Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force'...
With Illinois Gov. Quinn appointing a Task Force to examine Public Transit in Northeastern Illinois. With longtime questions of the responsibility and oversight of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA); the continuing issues and any real oversight of Metra; the on-again/off-again service issues and again oversight with both Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace Suburban Bus (and Paratransit services). The examining of the Board of Directors, Senior Staff, and departments and their roles at RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace.
As a Public Transit Advocate (and public transit geek) over the last decade for People with Disabilities having served on various Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Advisory Committees/Boards for RTA, Pace and CTA, Pace Paratransit Blue Ribbon Committee, RTA AD-Hoc Paratransit Transition Committee, and as past Chair of the RTA Regional ADA Advisory Committee (2006-2010) there must be at least the understanding of public transit in general, and the relationships with the public.
The Transit Agencies of Northeastern Illinois also have different forms of Advisory Boards/Committees such as Citizens and ADA Advisory Boards/Committees. The formation, responsibility to, and treatment of such Advisory Boards/Committees vary from purpose, responsibility, and oversight with the transit agencies, and their Board of Directors. The acknowledgement and responsibility of the transit agencies are diverse, even with there own Advisory Boards/Committees purpose. The appointments to such Advisory Boards/Committees vary from transit agency, and within each transit agency itself. By definition members of such Advisory Boards/Committees are ‘officers’ of the transit agencies, and at the minimum the transit agencies have the responsibility of complying with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and Illinois Code of Ethics Act’s. The responsibility of the Transit Agencies vary, and with no one verifying if such accordance is within place at the transit agencies.
In closing, while the purpose of the Task Force is to examine the diverse and complicated Public Transit entities, consider that diverse Advisory boards and committees within our system. The Board of Directors, and senior staff of the transit agencies have responsibility to the public, and one of the relationship’s are the Advisory Committees/Boards that can and do offer opinions for the public transit system of Northeastern Illinois.
Sincerely,
James Watkins; Exec. Director
Ability Chicago
jimwatkins@abilitychicago.info
Sept. 09, 2013
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For the 'Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force' webpage: CLICK HERE
With Illinois Gov. Quinn appointing a Task Force to examine Public Transit in Northeastern Illinois. With longtime questions of the responsibility and oversight of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA); the continuing issues and any real oversight of Metra; the on-again/off-again service issues and again oversight with both Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace Suburban Bus (and Paratransit services). The examining of the Board of Directors, Senior Staff, and departments and their roles at RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace.
As a Public Transit Advocate (and public transit geek) over the last decade for People with Disabilities having served on various Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Advisory Committees/Boards for RTA, Pace and CTA, Pace Paratransit Blue Ribbon Committee, RTA AD-Hoc Paratransit Transition Committee, and as past Chair of the RTA Regional ADA Advisory Committee (2006-2010) there must be at least the understanding of public transit in general, and the relationships with the public.
The Transit Agencies of Northeastern Illinois also have different forms of Advisory Boards/Committees such as Citizens and ADA Advisory Boards/Committees. The formation, responsibility to, and treatment of such Advisory Boards/Committees vary from purpose, responsibility, and oversight with the transit agencies, and their Board of Directors. The acknowledgement and responsibility of the transit agencies are diverse, even with there own Advisory Boards/Committees purpose. The appointments to such Advisory Boards/Committees vary from transit agency, and within each transit agency itself. By definition members of such Advisory Boards/Committees are ‘officers’ of the transit agencies, and at the minimum the transit agencies have the responsibility of complying with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and Illinois Code of Ethics Act’s. The responsibility of the Transit Agencies vary, and with no one verifying if such accordance is within place at the transit agencies.
In closing, while the purpose of the Task Force is to examine the diverse and complicated Public Transit entities, consider that diverse Advisory boards and committees within our system. The Board of Directors, and senior staff of the transit agencies have responsibility to the public, and one of the relationship’s are the Advisory Committees/Boards that can and do offer opinions for the public transit system of Northeastern Illinois.
Sincerely,
James Watkins; Exec. Director
Ability Chicago
jimwatkins@abilitychicago.info
Sept. 09, 2013
###
For the 'Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force' webpage: CLICK HERE
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