FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 CONTACT: [email protected]
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (SB 2111) establishes the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to replace the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and oversee CTA, Metra, and Pace. NITA will have expanded authority over service planning, capital projects, fare collection, and funding allocation, allowing operating divisions to focus on day-to-day operations.
The bill provides $1.5 billion in annual funding to stabilize transit systems across Illinois, including downstate operations, while improving governance, accountability, safety, and coordination. This was accomplished without creating any new state taxes or increasing any statewide taxes. Separate from $1.5 billion in transit funding, the bill also bolsters Illinois Tollway capital program, which is designed to fund maintenance, operations, and systems improvements, providing an improved road network across Northern Illinois.
Facing a fiscal cliff similar to many U.S. metro areas across the country, Illinois leaders came together to achieve what seemed insurmountable, delivering a comprehensive plan that secures funding, strengthens governing structures, and ensures safe, reliable transit for riders in Illinois.
Funding & Investments
SB 2111 directs existing revenue streams to ensure stable operations and invest in capital improvements without creating new statewide taxes. Key sources and allocations include:
- Gas Sales Tax Diversion:
- 85% allocated to NITA, 15% to downstate transit
- Generates approximately $860 million annually for operations
- RTA Regional Sales Tax Increase:
- 0.25% increase within the 6-county NITA region
- Generates approximately $478 million annually for NITA operations
- Road Fund & State Construction Account Fund (SCAF) Interest:
- 90% for Northeastern Illinois, 10% for downstate capital
- Provides roughly $200 million annually in the first year, declining as balances are spent down.
Governance, Operations, and Accountability
SB 2111 introduces meaningful reforms to improve regional governance, operations, and accountability across NITA, CTA, Metra, and Pace. The new structure allows operating divisions to focus on service delivery, while NITA oversees broader planning, funding, and performance standards. Key elements include:
- Unified fare system: All fares are collected and managed through a single, integrated system to be implemented by 2030.
- Service and performance standards: NITA sets standards and allocates funding accordingly to ensure accountability start to be implemented in 2028. Funding allocation uses pre-set statutory standards until 2030.
- Operating divisions: CTA, Metra, and Pace remain focused on day-to-day service delivery.
- Capital and development oversight: NITA oversees regional capital projects and transit-oriented development initiatives to be implemented starting in 2027.
- Board structure: Cross-membership, dual chairs, and minimum experience requirements to ensure expertise and regional accountability to begin once the bill goes into effect.
Accountability measures include:
- Independent performance audits every five years by the Auditor General
- Chief Internal Auditor within NITA for ongoing compliance audits
- Executive Director oversight, including authority to review and remove for cause
- Updated farebox recovery ratio, which measures how much of a transit system’s operating costs are covered by fare revenue. SB 2111 sets it at 25% from 2026–2028 and 20% starting in 2029, reflecting changes in commuting patterns and ensuring funding expectations are realistic for transit agencies.
Safety Initiatives
SB 2111 provides funding to implement statewide transit safety measures, ensuring riders can travel confidently across Illinois.
- Law Enforcement Task Force: Led by Cook County Sheriff, coordinated responses across jurisdictions will start after the bill goes into effect.
- Transit Ambassador Program: Unarmed staff who will assist riders in coordination with social services, and alert law enforcement of safety issues will go into effect in 2027.
- Coordinated Response Safety Council: Law enforcement and social services develop long-term safety strategy that will go into effect in 2027.
- Safety Technology: Mobile application allows riders to report safety issues in real time.
Tollway Funding & Updates
Separately, the Illinois Tollway has not raised rates for over a decade, and any adjustments made by the Illinois Tollway Board are intended to keep pace with rising costs, as well as fund system upgrades and maintenance. Under current law, 100% of toll revenue will continue to be dedicated to Tollway maintenance, operations, and capital improvements, supporting a safer and more reliable road network across Northern Illinois[CA7] . Importantly, this new revenue is separate from the $1.5 billion previously mentioned, which is dedicated to transit investments including downstate transit.
- The Illinois Tollway is planning rate adjustment for both passenger and commercial vehicles, which are subject to approval by the Tollway Board.
- Current rates remain low: Illinois’ per-mile rates are $0.07 for passenger vehicles and $0.66 for commercial vehicles, below most peer systems nationwide.
Agency
Commercial Rate (per Mile
Passenger Rate (per Mile)
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (IL)
$0.66
$0.07
Transportation Corridor Agencies (CA)
$2.20
$0.55
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA)
$0.86
$0.17
New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJ) – New Jersey Turnpike
$0.59
$0.19
Texas Department of Transportation (TX)
$0.87
$0.23
Downstate & Suburban Impacts
NITA is targeted support for communities outside Chicago and the suburbs, ensuring that transit systems across the state are stabilized and improved. Key highlights for downstate and suburban transit include:
- Downstate Funding: $150 million to stabilize operations and support capital needs.
- Local cost-share reduced from 35% to 20%: making it easier for smaller towns or communities with limited or changing tax revenue to maintain and improve transit services.
- Suburban Transit Improvements: better Metra and Pace coordination and service frequency, a regional Dial-a-Ride program for on-demand transit (especially for seniors and people with disabilities), and a Metra regional rail model providing more frequent suburb-to-suburb service.
Structural Improvements
The NITA Act includes targeted structural reforms to modernize how transit-related projects are planned, built, and supported across Illinois:
- Capital Fast Track Program: Creates a streamlined process to accelerate the planning and delivery of major transit capital projects, reducing delays and bringing critical infrastructure improvements online faster.
- Transit-Oriented Development: Removes mandatory parking minimums within a half-mile of major transit hubs, lowering construction costs, and making it easier to build housing and commercial development near trains and buses—so communities grow around transit.
- Intercity Rail Investment: Strengthens the state’s commitment to intercity rail by allowing downstate capital funds to be used for intercity rail capital projects connecting downstate communities with each other and with Chicago.
###
