Deuter-backed Transit Reform Signed into Law, Aims to Make Local Trains and Buses More Reliable

WESTMONT, Ill. – Emphasizing the impact public transit has on the region’s economy, state Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, supported a comprehensive plan to create a safer, more reliable and better managed public transit network that area residents can depend on.

“This transit package is going to create a healthier system ready to meet the demands of today and tomorrow,” Deuter said. “Reforms needed to come first before any funding considerations, and this is a responsible, thought out plan that rejects the status quo in favor of a stronger system. When I speak with residents and businesses about public transportation, it’s clear that it is instrumental in our regional economy, connecting communities, jobs and access to investment.”

Across our state, riders use public transit more than 400 million times every year to get to work, visit businesses, see family and more. 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.

Deuter worked to save and improve transit by supporting 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.

Deuter’s reforms mean:

 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.

For more information, please contact Office@RepMartiDeuter.com.