IL State Rep. DuBuclet Backed Transit Reform Law Delivers Safer, More Reliable Public Transportation Across Illinois

CHICAGO – Illinois commuters will soon see safer, more reliable, and more efficiently managed public transportation under a sweeping transit reform law backed by State Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet, D-Chicago.

“Our public transportation system is the backbone of our regional economy and a lifeline for working families,” DuBuclet said. “This legislation strengthens transit without resorting to layoffs or service cuts, while improving safety, accountability, and reliability for riders and workers alike.”

Public transit connects people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and businesses more than 400 million times each year across Illinois. Yet years of fragmented governance, uneven investment, and sharp ridership declines following the COVID-19 pandemic have strained the system, leading to service delays, canceled routes, safety concerns, and a looming fiscal cliff that threatened long-term stability.

To address these challenges, DuBuclet worked to pass Senate Bill 2111, a comprehensive reform package that modernizes transit governance and operations across northeastern Illinois. The law creates the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), a new unified body that brings together Pace, the Chicago Transit Authority, and Metra under a coordinated regional framework.

NITA is designed to streamline decision-making, reduce duplication, and ensure public dollars are spent efficiently, while delivering a better, more consistent experience for riders throughout the city and suburbs.

Under the law, transit reform will:

• Strengthen accountability and financial stability through enhanced internal and independent auditing, new oversight mechanisms, and required reserve funds to help prevent future fiscal crises.
• Improve service reliability and coordination by aligning fares, schedules, and operations across bus and rail systems so riders can move more easily throughout the region.
• Enhanced safety for riders and transit workers with a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement strategy, expanded use of transit ambassadors trained to assist individuals experiencing mental health crises, and the creation of a permanent Office of Safety to guide long-term planning.

State Rep. DuBuclet emphasized that the reforms are about protecting riders, workers, and taxpayers while positioning Illinois’ transit system for long-term success.

“Strong public transit is essential to economic growth, climate goals, and equitable access to opportunity,” DuBuclet said. “This law puts riders first and ensures our transit system is prepared to meet the needs of the region for decades to come.”

Senate Bill 2111 was signed into law Tuesday.