Facing a looming fiscal crisis that threatened the future of public transportation, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 into law on Tuesday, December 16. The historic measure averts a financial collapse by injecting $1.5 billion annually into the system and dissolving the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in favor of a new, more powerful governing body: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), known as NITA.
The legislation aims to unify the disjointed operations of the CTA, Metra, and Pace under a single regional umbrella while ensuring stable funding without creating new statewide taxes.
This new governing body, NITA, is designed to enhance efficiency and service across the board.
The establishment of NITA represents a transformative step forward for public transit in Illinois.
“Having a reliable public transit system is a genuine need, not just for our communities but for every state in the U.S.,” said Peters. “With this new law and the establishment of NITA, we’re not only avoiding crisis, we’re making a long-term reform in the system that keeps our region moving.”
A New Governance Era Effective June 1, 2026, NITA will assume oversight of service planning, capital projects, and funding allocation. While the operating divisions (CTA, Metra, Pace) will continue to manage day-to-day service, NITA will hold the power to enforce coordination. The new 20-member board will include appointees from the Governor, the Mayor of Chicago, the Cook County Board President, and collar county executives.
The reform includes meaningful structural changes:
• Unified Fares: A single, integrated fare system for all three agencies is mandated for implementation by 2030.
• Accountability: NITA will enforce new service standards starting in 2028, backed by independent audits every five years and a modernized “farebox recovery ratio” set at a realistic 20-25%.
• Capital Fast Track: A streamlined process to accelerate major infrastructure projects.
Funding the Future The bill secures $1.5 billion annually to stabilize the system through a mix of existing revenue redirections and regional adjustments, including:
• Gas Sales Tax Diversion: 85% allocated to NITA and 15% to downstate transit (approx. $860 million/year).
• Regional Sales Tax: A 0.25% increase within the 6-county NITA region (approx. $478 million/year).
• Road Fund Interest: Interest income from the State Construction Account Fund (approx. $200 million/year).
Importantly, the bill also reduces the local cost-share burden for downstate communities from 35% to 20%, ensuring smaller towns can maintain transit services despite fluctuating tax revenues.
Safety and Experience Addressing rider concerns, the law establishes an Office of Transit Safety and Experience. By 2027, riders will see a “Transit Ambassador Program” deploying unarmed staff to assist customers and coordinate with social services. A Law Enforcement Task Force led by the Cook County Sheriff will also coordinate responses across jurisdictions.
Tollway Updates Separate from the transit funding, the Illinois Tollway is planning rate adjustments—the first in over a decade—to fund maintenance and system upgrades. While rates remain below national averages ($0.07 per mile for passenger vehicles), the revenue will support a safer road network across Northern Illinois.