A failure to increase funding for mass transit will widen racial equity gap in Cook County

People of color in Chicago rely more on mass transit than white Chicagoans, which is why increasing the affordability and availability of trains and buses should be a top goal, RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard writes. (Manuel Martinez/WBEZ)

I read Alden Loury’s thoughtful column “Black employment in Cook County sandwiched between hope and reality” in last Sunday’s Sun-Times and was struck by the critical role transit plays in not only creating good-paying jobs but also in providing access to jobs for our region’s residents, particularly residents of color.

According to Nation Equity Atlas, regionally 25% of Black households do not have access to a vehicle compared with 12% of all households. The latest Census data show that 17% of Black workers commute via transit, compared with 10% of all workers in our region.