Welch, House Democrats Enact Transit Reform Law Aimed at Making Buses and Trains Safer, Efficient, and Reliable
CHICAGO – Buses and trains will be safer, more reliable, and more efficiently managed under a major transit reform law passed by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.
“We have all seen the challenges public transit has faced, and we also know the critical role transit plays in communities across Illinois,” Welch said. “The trains and buses that connect our communities also drive our economy, help us share the cultural events that enrich our lives, and form the foundation of communities we can afford. By streamlining administration, improving the rider experience, and investing in the kind of transit system we all want to see, this transit bill moves Illinois toward a brighter future.”
Across our state, public transit takes people to work, takes people home, and connects people, businesses, and communities more than 400 million times every year. But that system has faced major challenges; fragmented governance, uneven investment, and post-COVID ridership losses have left transit struggling with unreliable service, delayed trains, canceled routes, and a looming fiscal cliff that’s threatening to derail it all.
Welch tapped Reps. Kam Buckner and Eva-Dina Delgado to lead the Transit Working Group, which led House Democrats’ efforts to save and improve transit by passing Senate Bill 2111, a transformational package of reforms that brings Pace, CTA, and Metra together into one modern, efficient system. The new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) is a major step toward a transit system that gets people where they need to go affordably, protects taxpayers, and offers a better experience for riders and workers.
These reforms mean:
More efficient administration: NITA will operate with new internal and independent auditors to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in transit. It will be required to maintain a reserve fund to prevent future bailouts.
Reliable, modern service: NITA will bring uniformity to fares and schedules to better meet the needs of riders—whether on buses or trains, whether in the city or the suburbs.
A safer experience for riders and workers: A multijurisdictional law enforcement team will step up enforcement right away. NITA will deploy ambassadors across the system to assist people experiencing mental health crises. And a permanent office of safety will lead long-term planning to keep riders and workers safe.
The measure also makes a historic new investment in downstate transit systems, delivering $129 million to improve operations and an additional $20 million to expand service and improve infrastructure.
“Transit has always been about more than fare cards, tracks and timetables; transit is about people and getting them where they need to go safely, reliably and efficiently,” Delgado said. “The reforms package signed into law earlier today meets the moment and lays the foundation for a system that better serves the hundreds of thousands of trips performed daily across multiple counties, transit agencies and communities. I am honored to have partnered with the House Public Transit Working Group to deliver a transformative package of reforms that not only rescues regional public transit, but allows us to do more than patch a broken system—create a better one.”
Senate Bill 2111 was signed into law Tuesday.
