Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed transit cut could shrink Rockford bus services

ROCKFORD — Nearly a quarter of the city’s bus and paratransit services could disappear, mass-transit officials say, if legislators approve a 10 percent funding cut to public transit agencies included in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget.

Rauner outlined his plan in February to erase Illinois’ crippling budget deficit and billions of dollars in unfunded pension liability and unpaid bills by dramatically slashing state spending.

If the state transit cut is approved, the Rockford Mass Transit District would lose $5 million, a third of its annual operating budget.

State operating funds account for 65 percent of RMTD’s budget. Federal and city funding, along with bus fare revenue, cover the rest. If state funding were to fall 10 percent ($3.7 million), the agency would lose an additional $1.3 million.

It’s unclear how many jobs would be affected, but the idea of scaling back spending is making bus driver Marty Maher nervous.

“I’d get laid off,” he said. “We figure probably 17 drivers would get laid off.”

RMTD spokeswoman Lisa Brown said 22 percent of services would have to be trimmed to compensate for funding reduction, the equivalent of cutting all night and weekend bus routes.

“Realistically, we would look at the whole picture and see where that 22 percent could be made up on unproductive routes,” she said. “Whatever we cut from the fixed route, we will cut from the paratransit routes in equal measure.”

According to data obtained from RMTD through a Freedom of Information Act request, the Bell School Road (No. 18) and CherryVale Mall (No. 19) routes are by far the least traveled. In 2013, the Bell School route carried 282 passengers and CherryVale carried 1,045; more than 1.7 million people rode the district’s 45 routes that year.

But Brown said low ridership does not necessarily mean a route would be scaled back or cut. Other factors will be considered.

Since Monday, RMTD employees and supporters have been encouraging people to sign petitions urging Rauner to scale back the transit cut.

Rosie Lowe, 23, described herself as a regular on Rockford buses. She has been soliciting signatures and has collected more than 400.

“I just don’t like the fact they’re trying to take the buses from us because some of us need these buses to get back and forth to work and school,” she said.

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