SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A measure backed by state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, to ensure that local public transit agencies receive promised state funding will take effect on July 1.

“During the governor’s budget crisis, funding that was owed to downstate transit districts like MetroLINK was raided to pay for projects in Chicago, with no timeline of when it would be repaid,” said Halpin. “This led to higher fares, fewer available routes and reduced access to reliable and affordable transportation in downstate communities. We have to prioritize public funding for all communities in our state, and I’m glad to see that our local public transportation network will receive the dollars it is owed.”

Local transit agencies faced funding uncertainty during the state’s nearly three-year budget impasse. In response, Halpin passed House Bill 2453, which prohibits Springfield politicians from playing games with funding set aside by law for public transit in downstate communities. Under Halpin’s law, these funds must be deposited directly into a dedicated fund. More than 50 urban and rural transit agencies, including Rock Island’s MetroLINK, receive operating assistance through the Downstate Transportation Fund, for which funding is generated automatically through the state sales tax. Halpin’s measure allows transit agencies to be directly paid money that has been set aside for them, instead of having to wait for existing bureaucratic procedures that have prevented agencies from receiving what is rightfully owed in a timely manner.

“Public transportation systems across Illinois provide crucial access to employment, school, health care and recreational activities,” said Halpin. “For the thousands of Quad-City residents who utilize public transit, this new law provides assurance that they can count on their ride to work or school being there for them, regardless of the state’s fiscal situation.”

COLLINSVILLE, Ill – A measure introduced by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, to ensure that local public transit agencies receive promised state funding has now become law.

“Residents in my district and throughout downstate Illinois rely on public transportation to take them to their job, doctor’s appointments and school,” Stuart said. “Affordable, reliable and safe public transportation is critical to any economy, especially here in the Greater St. Louis area. In the case of transit in the Metro East, the state is required by law to transfer a designated amount from the state’s sales tax to our transportation funds. Local residents have continued paying their sales taxes, but our local agencies haven’t seen the revenue that they were promised and that they were depending on.”

After facing funding uncertainty during the state budget impasse, Stuart’s House Bill 2453 requires state sales tax funds earmarked by law for downstate transportation to be deposited directly into a dedicated fund rather than passing through the state’s general revenue fund, eliminating the need for an authorized transfer by the state Comptroller. Stuart’s measure allows transit agencies to be directly paid money that has been set aside for them, instead of having to wait for existing bureaucratic procedures that have prevented agencies from receiving what is rightfully owed in a timely manner.

“Streamlining the state funding to downstate transit agencies allows Madison County Transit (MCT) to provide critical transportation services to thousands of local residents,” said MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane. “We appreciate Rep. Stuart’s efforts to prioritize the needs of our communities and ensure that local agencies receive the vital support that is needed to operate.”

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is calling on Governor Bruce Rauner to sign legislation that ensures the hard-earned tax payer dollars of Southern Illinois workers are being spent on downstate road and construction projects.

“The new “lockbox” constitutional amendment requires that revenue coming from gasoline sales taxes must be used to fund transportation projects,” Hoffman said. “However, there are no protections in place to ensure that the funds raised in the Metro-East and downstate are spent on projects in our communities. This measure would fix that problem.”

Hoffman sponsored and helped pass House Bill 2453 to require funds earmarked for downstate transportation to be deposited directly into the Downstate Public Transportation Fund, rather than passing through the state’s General Revenue Fund, eliminating the need for an authorized transfer by the state Comptroller. The legislation works to streamline government, as well as protect funding for downstate transportation and construction projects.

“This measure would ensure that the hard-earned tax dollars of Metro-East and downstate residents are used to create jobs and improve infrastructure in our community,” Hoffman said. “I urge the governor to sign this proposal and make sure that our communities downstate are getting a fair deal.”