Will Davis-Backed Transit Reform Law Aims to Make 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 package law passed by state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood.

“Thanks to the efforts of so many people, the Chicagoland transit systems are finally being transformed,” said Davis. “Our transit systems serve millions of people every year, and it’s up to us to ensure that they’re getting quality service. With these new reforms, not only will our transit systems be financially stable; they will also provide safe, reliable transportation that anyone can feel comfortable using.”

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.

Davis worked 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.

Davis’s 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.

Senate Bill 2111 was signed into law Tuesday.