2000-11• Y
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-__U_
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CONGRESS TO INCLUDE CONTINUED FUNDING WITHIN
THE FY 2001 FEDERAL BUDGET FOR THE METRA NORTH CENTRAL SERVICE
CORRIDOR EXPANSION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove has long participated in the efforts
to develop and implement commuter rail service on the Wisconsin Central Railway
North Central Service line; and
WHEREAS, the development of the North Central Service line is a nationally -
recognized success and a leading example of intergovernmental and inter - agency
cooperation and financial commitments; and
WHEREAS, since the inception of service in August of 1996, ridership on the
North Central Service line has more than doubled and continues to grow at an
unprecedented rate; and
WHEREAS, expanded train service on the North Central Service line is
necessary to adequately accommodate the present and forecast growth in ridership
and population along the North Central Service corridor absolutely requires the
addition of more commuter trains to properly serve this growth, and in turn
requires the addition of a second track in order to accommodate additional
trains, and
WHEREAS, the efficient use of line within the service corridor, which
serves both passenger and freight service, supports the addition of a second
track, which is further supported by the Wisconsin Central Railway Limited; and
WHEREAS, the development of the North Central Service has been supported
by members of Congress, including Senators Richard Durbin and Peter Fitzgerald
and Congressmen John Porter, Philip Crane and Henry Hyde, is further supported
by those municipalities served directly by the commuter rail line through
significant local financial commitments, by the State of Illinois through
significant financial commitments, and has been included as a recommended project
in the Chicago Area Transportation Study's 2020 Long Range Transportation Plan
for Northeast Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the local oversight agency for this project, Metra, has already
initiated, distributed and received from those municipalities served directly by
the commuter rail line, comments on planning and environmental issues critical
to initiating the completion of the project as proposed; and
WHEREAS, during FY 2000, the Federal Transit Administration, on the weight
of the evidence of the substantial and undisputed value of the North Central
Service corridor expansion program, ultimately rated the project as
"Recommended "; and
WHEREAS, based upon that recommendation by the Federal Transit
Administration, funding for planning was committed within both the federal budget
processes for FY 2000 as well as the recently initiated Illinois First program,
with work along some sections of the service corridor to commence in FY 2001; and
WHEREAS, recent public announcements indicating that the federal FY 2001
Budget does not appear to include specific funding for the North Central Service
corridor expansion program; and
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees continue to strongly believe
that the North Central Service corridor expansion program is in the best
interests of the region, is a national example of the objectives set forth
through the TEA -21 federal transportation bill, will successfully implement a
transit project to serve emerging suburban transit markets, will enhance transit-
oriented land use decisions, and will remain a strong example of continued
intergovernmental cooperation and program implementation; and
WHEREAS, the North Central Service corridor expansion program, when
completed, will permit Metra to substantially increase service on the North
Central Service line, will help reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility and
enhance vital access for area residents and businesses on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, all of the efforts undertaken to date to support the North Central
System will be enhanced with timely funding, planning and completion of the
corridor expansion program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS that:
Section 1. Congress approve, however appropriate, funding within its
Fiscal Year 2001 Budget and later budgets for the Metra /North Central
Service corridor expansion program.
Section 2. Copies of this Resolution be sent to Senators Durbin and
Fitzgerald, Congressmen Porter, Crane and Hyde as well as each of the
declared candidates for the 10th Congressional District. In addition,
copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted to Metra, the Senate and
House budget /appropriation committees and to each municipality along the
North Central Service corridor.
AYES: 6 - Marienthal Reid Braiman, HendrickG, Glover, Barman
NAYES: 0 -
ABSENT:
0 - None
PASSED: February 22 ,2000. APPROVED: February 22 ,2000.
Village President
ATTEST:
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Vi age Clerk