Governor Quinn Commends Transportation Leaders for Earth Day XL Summit

CHICAGO – April 22, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today commended the seven Chicago-region transportation agencies for convening a first-of-its-kind Earth Day XL Transportation Summit to improve coordination among the region’s transportation leaders.

“This Accord is the first step toward introducing greener, more sustainable transportation practices to better serve our region, today and into the future,” Governor Quinn said. “By signing the Earth Day Transportation Accord our transportation leaders have committed to operational excellence and long-term environmental preservation.”

The Earth Day XL Transportation Summit was led by chairs of Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Chicago Transit Authority, Illinois Tollway, Metra, Pace, RTA and Illinois Department of Transportation, and included nearly 100 agency heads and board members of these transportation-related entities in the region.

The Summit included the signing of the first-ever Earth Day XL Accord, in which transportation and transit agencies committed to work toward a shared transportation vision for the region; support multi-agency information sharing and coordination; examine programs and proposals to maximize efficiency, reduce costs; and improve service; and report publically on Earth Day 2011 regarding progress and plans for future collaboration.

A coordinated and effective transportation system is essential to metropolitan Chicago’s business climate, employment base, quality of life, and natural environment and is fundamental to reducing its carbon footprint. The purpose of this Summit is to pursue the shared goal of promoting economic growth and environmental quality by operating an integrated and coordinated transportation system that maximizes efficiency, reduces costs and improves service.

• Earth Day Accord