Illinois Rescues Transit With $1.5 Billion Bill, Creates New Authority

The Illinois legislature passed a $1.5 billion transit funding bill that dropped prior proposals for new taxes on billionaires and major events, instead increasing road tolls and the sales tax in some counties. 

According to an article by Claire Grant in the Springfield State Journal-Register, the bill allocates 85 percent of funding to northern Illinois transit, up from the typical 45 to 55 percent, causing Republican lawmakers to decry the loss to downstate road and bridge projects.

The bill creates a new regional agency, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, which would take over the Regional Transportation Authority and establish a universal fare between transit providers. “Directors for the ITA will be appointed through gubernatorial vote, and voting on the ITA board of 20 will need a supermajority 15-vote majority to pass new legislation.”