Chung-Backed Law Delivers Accessible and Affordable Transit for the 91st District

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, has secured nearly $150 million in new funding for downstate communities to expand access to affordable, reliable public transit options in Central Illinois in the transit package signed into law Tuesday. This funding will further enhance the efficacy of the Downstate Operating Assistance Program and Office of Intermodal Project Implementation, and expand public transit across the communities in the 91st district.

“An investment in transit is an investment in our communities, job opportunities, students and families,” said Chung. “With investments from this bill, you’ll be able to get to school, work or anywhere in the community much more efficiently and conveniently.”

Downstate communities rely on transit agency options more than 30 million times every year, offering communities an affordable option to get to work, get to school and back home again. While this bill addresses the challenges facing Chicago transit, Chung worked to call attention to the state’s chronic underfunding of downstate public transportation systems, including Connect Transit and other transit agencies nearby, and secure downstate funding.

Passing Senate Bill 2111 provides a historic level of new investment in downstate transit systems, delivering $129 million to improve operations and an additional $20 million to expand service and improve infrastructure—without new taxes or fees on downstate communities, a priority for Chung. This legislation achieves record-high funding by using existing state funds and interest generated from the state’s Transportation Fund.

Senate Bill 2111 was signed into law on Tuesday.