Hernandez-Backed Transit Package Streamlines, Grows and Reforms Public Transit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, aided in the passage of a major transit reform package through the House last week to restructure Illinois’ transit and prioritize safety, reliability, and responsible governance.

“We are going to give Illinoisans a transit system that they can depend on, that’s safe, that is responsible with their tax-dollars and doesn’t lose millions in waste and duplicative work. We are taking steps towards low-emissions vehicles that bring us closer to our clean energy goals. We are building a public transit system that Illinoisans can be proud of,” Hernandez said. “All of this progress will come with no new taxes on food delivery, no new taxes on real estate transfers and no new taxes on streaming services. This is the transit package Illinoisans deserve.”

Senate Bill 2111 is a major restructuring and reforming of Illinois’ public transit system that creates the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to simplify and improve transit in Illinois by putting the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace and Metra under one administrator. NITA will take over regional planning from the current administrator, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), setting service standards, fare policy, long-term capital planning and creating systems of accountability and transparency.

Streamlining this structure comes without any new taxes on food delivery, real estate transfers and streaming services.

“Hundreds of hours of hearings with testimony from experts and stakeholders from across the ideological spectrum brought us to a place where we could make the difficult choices required to get this bill done for the people of Illinois,” Hernandez said. “Millions of people depend on reliable buses and trains to go to work, to go to school, to pick up and drop off their kids, to buy groceries and prescriptions, and see their friends and families. If they can’t rely on safe and consistent public transit, they can’t live. I’m grateful to Speaker Welch, President Harmon and everyone in the Public Transit Working Group who helped get this over the goal line. It’s a big accomplishment.”