Tribune: Kirk Dillard "Has the Votes" For RTA Chairman

Looks like ole' Foghorn Leghorn will live to fight another day.

News from the Chicago Tribune this morning has Kirk Dillard securing enough votes to be the Regional Transportation Authority Chairman.  Seems like a good spot for Senator Dillard to continue on where he can have a seat at the big boy table.  There is, in our opinion, some risk here.  Metra is fubar'd.  Seriously fubar'd.  What happens to Dillard if things continue to go sideways there?  Does he get some of that stuff to stick to him?  Time will tell.

From the Trib:

State Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, says he has enough support to be elected chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority at its meeting Wednesday. 

Dillard, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, told the Tribune he believes he has the backing of a supermajority of RTA board members, the bipartisan support of suburban county political leaders and especially Mayor Rahm Emanuel. 

“I like a challenge and I think (being RTA chairman) is my way to give back to a state that I love,” Dillard said, when asked why he sought the post. “I think having a world-class transit system is critical to Chicago and all of Illinois.” 

Dillard would replace John Gates Jr., chairman of the agency that oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace for the past four years.”

Chairmanship of the RTA board requires a combination of geographic and political support, which Dillard said he has garnered. The post pays $25,000 a year.

Rahm Emanuel's Ashland Avenue Bus Boondoggle

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his administration has put forth a 'Bus Rapid Transit' proposal together for a 16 mile stretch of Ashland Avenue that would turn it from a useuful street for business owners and residents into a bus superhighway.    Their plan removes most left turns and the center turn lane.  

You'd think that the community who lives and works and shops along Ashland Avenue would know better than some beaurocrat down at City Hall about how to improve the transportation options while maintaining their community?  Well, Rahm doesn't think so.  

Fortunately, there is a group of folks from the local community who have put together a program to "Save Ashland Avenue" from Rahm's $200M boondoggle.  They're putting together an alternative proposal that improves mass transit while maintaining the ability to turn left!

From SaveAshland.com:

Say no to "Bus Rapid Transit" and yes to "Modern Ashland Bus".  

Seems that the group's effort is working.  From the Sun-Times:

Rebekah Scheinfeld says she’s “not up to speed on speed cameras,” but she knows plenty about the furor surrounding the CTA’s $160 million plan to install bus rapid transit lanes along a 16-mile stretch of Ashland Avenue. 

On Monday, the veteran CTA planner chosen by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to become Chicago’s $169,500-a-year transportation commissioner made it clear that she’s listening to those concerns.

“We’re specifically contemplating the possibility of adding more left-turns back into the concept design for the corridor,” Scheinfeld said after the City Council’s Transportation Committee confirmed her appointment.

If you want to get involved, you can go sign their petition or download flyers.