Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation creating a new regional authority in Northern Illinois to oversee transit agencies, while delivering significant investments into public transit capital projects and tollways across the state.
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act would modernize the state’s transit system and bring Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace all under one agency. The governor’s office said the law will redefine how transit operates in Illinois, giving Northern Illinois expanded authority over service planning, capital projects, fare collection and operational oversight. The legislation also gives the NITA the ability to address the fiscal cliff the state’s transit system is facing.
“The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act is designed to modernize Illinois’ transit systems—from the far northern reaches of our state to East and West Central Illinois, to Southern Illinois,” Pritzker said. “We are bolstering operations and upgrading trains, tracks, and buses, and we’re doing it in the most responsible way, with no new statewide taxes. For families, workers, businesses, schoolchildren, and visitors, this is a once in a generation investment that will benefit everyone, especially the overall Illinois economy. We need to continue pushing forward until Illinois truly has the best transit system in the nation, the one our riders need and deserve.”
The legislation delivers $1.5 billion in annual transit and infrastructure funding without creating any new statewide taxes. Funding is generated through diverting gas sales tax to transit, authorizing Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago area to increase regional sales tax by 0.25 percent, diverting Road Fund and State Construction Account Fund interest to Transit Capital, and revenue measures supporting a new Tollway capital program.
“Today, we commit—clearly and unequivocally—to a transit system that works for the people who depend on it every single day,” Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said. “We are saying to riders across Illinois: You matter. Your time matters. Your safety matters. By signing this bill into law, we are building a system designed around riders, not agencies; around outcomes, not excuses; and around the future of Illinois. This law puts people first, strengthens our economy and moves our state forward—together.”
The legislation will invest in the suburbs and downstate, providing support to strengthen transit across Illinois, as well as strengthening public safety on transit.
The bill goes into effect on June 1, 2026.