Transit bill sponsor ok with recycled board appointments

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Although recent appointees to the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority already hold seats on current transit boards or will also hold seats on other boards, the state lawmaker who drove NITA legislation remains confident that reform will happen.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved board president Toni Preckwinkle’s eight NITA appointments on Thursday. Five of the eight will serve on other transit boards in addition to NITA.

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s five NITA appointees on Wednesday. Four of the five currently sit on the Regional Transit Authority or Chicago Transit Authority boards.

“These appointments bring experienced public servants to our regional public transit boards and reflect our commitment to building a system that is safer, more reliable and much better connected for riders across the entire region,” Johnson said.

Supporters of the $1.5 transit bill passed by the General Assembly last fall and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in December promised that reform and accountability would accompany funding, which includes sales tax hikes in Chicago-area counties, higher tolls for Illinois Tollway users and gas tax revenues from the state’s road fund.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, sponsored Senate Bill 2111 to create the new transit agency.

Villivalam told The Center Square he’s confident that the law creating the new transit board provides for accountability and integration.

“In some ways, regardless of who the appointee is, the statutory requirements as outlined by the NITA law will make sure that there is accountability and integration as envisioned by the Illinois General Assembly,” Villivalam told The Center Square.

Villivalam said the law allows for NITA board members to also serve on boards for other transit agencies.

“We have made sure that there’s overlapping board appointments, so people are communicating with one another,” Villivalam said.

The new appointees are scheduled to be seated Sept. 1.