Illinois Passes Transit Funding and Reform in Veto Session

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois General Assembly passed a transit package (SB 2111) to modernize governance, avoid transit service cuts, and invest in the system and its users.  

The following are statements from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) transportation advocates:  

“Illinois is showing the country how policymakers can come together to provide clean and affordable transportation choices so that traffic congestion and dirty air are no longer inevitable,” said Samantha Henningson, senior transportation advocate at NRDC. “The importance of robust public transit in a modern transportation system cannot be understated: It gives people the option to choose a less expensive and less polluting way to get around, including the possibility of not owning or owning fewer vehicles.” 

“The general assembly has made it much easier for businesses to electrify vehicle fleets. It is essential to transition to better connect our trucks and buses to the grid, and this bill does that by setting clear deadlines and streamlining vehicle charging infrastructure investments.” said Muhammed Patel, senior transportation advocate at NRDC. “This is a big win for Illinois businesses and clean fleets—and will help continue the transition to cleaner vehicles, leading to cleaner air and reducing climate change pollution from our transportation sector.” 

Highlights of the transportation package: 

• Averts the feared “fiscal cliff” that would have cut transit service by 40 percent in the region and cost thousands of transit workers their jobs. This also means the Chicago region will be spared 30 percent more cars on the road and the associated congestion and air pollution.
• Creates the Northern Illinois Transit Authority to integrate fares across Chicagoland transit providers, center rider experience and safety, and streamline decision-making in the region for transit as a regional system.
• Supports transit-oriented development and the increased housing, retail, and jobs that such development creates. Provides authority for transit agencies to develop more amenities near transit stations through “joint development,” which can also serve as a long-term source of transit funding.
• Supports EV charging investments across the state by creating transparent timelines for businesses and electric vehicle fleets to connect to the grid. 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).