Jiménez-Backed Transit Reforms to Improve Rider Experience and Safety Signed into Law

CHICAGO – On Tuesday, a major transit reform package law supported by Rep. Lilian Jiménez, D-Chicago, to make buses and trains safer, more reliable, and more efficiently managed was signed into law. 

“When you’ve spent your whole life in the city, you depend on your local bus or train running on time and getting you to your destination safely and affordably; this was under threat due to growing, critical issues facing our regional transit agencies,” Jiménez said. “This package of reforms will lay the foundation for a system that truly works for riders by bolstering safety measures, ensuring accurate and transparent fare planning and more. Ultimately, our public transit efforts are fueled by our commitment to making your life easier. These reforms will make sure that your daily commute to work, school or the grocery store is the least of your worries.” 

Jiménez 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. 

Jiménez’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.