US EditionIllinois Law Generates $1.5B to Save Public Transit From Fiscal Calamity
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority will oversee $1.5 billion annually to improve safety, reliability, and fare integration across CTA, Metra, and Pace systems.
- On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 at Union Station, creating the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and delivering $1.5 billion annually for Illinois transit.
- Faced with a looming 2026 fiscal cliff, State lawmakers passed the measure after more than two years of debate to avert a projected $770 million gap as federal pandemic relief expired.
- Funding comes from redirected revenue streams, including $860 million from motor fuel sales tax diversion, $478 million from a 0.25% regional sales tax increase, $200 million from Road-Construction Fund interest, with 85% to NITA and 15% to downstate transit, while NITA replaces the Regional Transportation Authority.
- The law immediately spares transit systems from cuts, with safety initiatives led by the Cook County sheriff and a 2027 transit ambassador program; riders called it welcome, with CTA rider Linas Sutkus saying `I think it's great`.
- Looking ahead, debate centers on critics including Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran warning suburban taxpayers will pay more and lose representation, while advocates highlight nearly $150 million targeted outside Cook County.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Chicago Sun Times
Usa newsPritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that ‘makes transit safer and more reliable’
Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation pumping $1.5 billion per year into Chicago-area transit agencies and instituting a new oversight system, ending years of debate over how to govern and finance the CTA, Metra and Pace as they struggle to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.Lawmakers bridged the $200 million-plus fiscal cliff that had faced the agencies next year by redirecting gas sales tax revenue, dipping into interest on the state’s massi…
Associated Press News
Illinois law generates $1.5B to save public transit from fiscal calamity
Public transit in the Chicago metropolitan area will get a $1.5 billion infusion to save it from financial disaster under a law that will take effect next summer. Gov.
RiverBender.com
AroundPtown | Prophetstown, Erie, Lyndon & Tampico, ILGov. Pritzker Signs Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, SB2111, into law, marking a landmark action in modernizing Illinois’ transit system. The law creates a new regional authority to oversee CTA, Metra, and Pace, while delivering significant investments in public transit, capital projects, and tollways across the state—all without raising statewide taxes.The law will redefine how transit operates in Ill…
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