Remember “The Halloween Miracle” that happened last October 31, when state legislators stayed up way past the witching hour to pass Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act? That budgeted some $1.5 billion a year to save Chicagoland bus and train service from a fiscal cliff, and provided funding for downstate public transportation upgrades as well. Instead of service cuts, fare hikes, and the dreaded “transit death spiral,” this heralded a new era of more reliable, efficient, safe, equitable, environmentally friendly, and enjoyable transportation in the Land of Lincoln.
Fast forward seven months, and on June 1 the NITA Act became law, so now it’s time to put the rubber to the road, and the steel wheels to the tracks. Let’s take a look at what some of the key officials agencies, and advocates involved in making the legislation a reality had to say about this milestone.’
Sen. Ram Villivalam
Last Friday evening, Sen. Ram Villivalam was looking forward to the enactment of the legislation he and his colleagues had worked so hard to pass. “The Northern Transit Authority Act is a historic, transformative law securing the future of world-class public transit in Illinois,” he said in a statement. However, he noted the the importance of passing a cleanup bill to fine tune the document. “With June 1 quickly approaching, it is imperative that we continue to work and ensure streamlined implementation throughout the transition to NITA.”
Villivalam said that House Bill 2335 “would clarify dates and align implementation timelines to ensure the law can be administered effectively and consistently.” The new legislation passed over the weekend. In the near future, Streetsblog will provide details about exactly what’s in the cleanup bill.
Villivalam concluded, “I am grateful to advance this measure thanks to collaborative work from stakeholders, advocates and everyday riders as we are now one step closer to safe, reliable, accessible and affordable public transit for all Illinoisans.”