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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING JOHN PLANTE ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE METRA BOARD
WHEREAS, John Plante, a strong proponent of railroad safety during his long career at the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra, is leaving the commuter rail agency’s board after serving seven years; and
WHEREAS, Plante was appointed to the Metra Board in 2013, not long after the board was rocked by an embezzlement scandal and subsequent years of turmoil. During his tenure on the board, he served as board treasurer and chairman of the Safety Committee; and
WHEREAS, Plant is best known for his regional approach to transportation and his concerns about safety. “Safety is our most important issue, and Plante raised the bar in that area,” said former chairman Norm Carlson, who remains on the board. Plante took Metra’s safety efforts “to a whole new level,” said Don Orseno, former Metra executive director who was recently appointed to the board. Plante has been a “strong advocate” for safety and is well-known for his efforts in the railroad industry; and
WHEREAS, Carlson also praised Plante for taking a regional approach to issues facing Metra. In Plante’s words, “We are a mass transit system … serving an entire region. That perspective is important.” He added that in the “bad old days” Metra and the other transit agencies used to fight over funding, but “we resolved that;” and
WHEREAS, Plante, 75, told Trains News Wire that his proudest accomplishment was helping bring credibility back to Metra’s board: “There was a lot of bad history there. We were able to put together a group of people (on the board) who were dedicated and took the job seriously”; and
WHEREAS, John’s career followed a lifelong interest in trains. Prior to his service on the Metra board, Plante worked for 35 years at the CTA. He retired in 2013. He began his tenure as a trial attorney, and then moved to trial supervision and then managing attorney for the claims department, risk management, and senior manager of emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, Plante also has served on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors and as chairman of the APTA Risk Management Committee. He continues to serve as a member of the Risk Management Committee and all the APTA Security Emergency Management Standards Committees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the life and contributions of John Plante, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to 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 same be tendered to John Plante.
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