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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING THOMAS J. ROSS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM PACE
WHEREAS, Thomas J. Ross will retire on November 30, 2018 from Pace. Pace is the suburban bus and regional paratransit division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago metropolitan area that serves tens of thousands of daily riders and 284 municipalities. For over twenty years TJ Ross has diligently served the citizens of Cook County and further has the distinction of not missing a single Pace Board Meeting during his tenure; and
WHEREAS, Thomas J. Ross began his service to Pace Suburban Bus in 1998 as the Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross’s leadership was instrumental in the I-90 Market Expansion Program, the largest service expansion in Pace history which included the State of Illinois’s first inline (on highway) bus station; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross brought bike racks to Pace buses and oversaw the conversion of Pace's fixed route fleet to accessible low-floor vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross introduced Transit Signal Priority (TSP) to the region with Pace’s South Cook County TSP Program, resulting in more reliable service; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross converted Pace’s South Division to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), reducing emissions and saving $1.2 million dollars annually in fuel; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross led Pace during the launch of Ventra, Pace’s first real-time information signs, dozens of new bus routes, and hundreds of vanpools; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross successfully transferred Chicago ADA Paratransit Service from the CTA to Pace, stabilizing the system and improving service; and
WHEREAS, Executive Director Ross leaves Pace with the appreciation and good wishes of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County takes great pleasure in honoring Thomas J. Ross on his retirement from Pace and herewith honors and thanks him for all that he has done bettering the lives of the citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Thomas J. Ross.
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