State lawmakers and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns welcomed passage of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act and detailed its benefits to local suburbs.
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act replaces the Regional Transportation Authority effective June 1. Senate Bill 2111 passed the Legislature on Oct. 31 and awaits the governor’s signature.
Speaking at a news conference Nov. 25 at the Geneva Metra station, state Rep. Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, said they faced a fiscal cliff and climbed a figurative educational mountain to get the bill passed.
“Transit has been a part of my life for 21 years,” Hanson said. “I’m a trailblazer, and then I’m the first railroader [BSNF Railway engineer] to be in the General Assembly. That was useful for a while. We talked over and over about the fiscal cliff.” The “fiscal cliff” was more than a $200 million shortfall that threatened a 40% service cut, according to transit agencies.
The legislation provides $1.5 billion to a new, expanded regional transportation plan, documents show.
Dany Robles, legislative director for the Illinois Environmental Council, also spoke on behalf of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition.
“We mean it when we say this bill is for all of Illinois,” Robles said. “Whether you live in Geneva or Joliet, Romeoville or Roselle, this legislation will benefit you.” Robles said that when his family first moved to the suburbs from Mexico, he experienced culture shock when he saw that his new community did not have public transit options to move around like he did back home.
“As I entered college, I grew to appreciate the sophisticated system that the Chicago Transit Authority had, and I felt like I was back home,” Robles said.
And now with NITA, the suburbs can envision a future with more transit options for everyone, Robles said.
“The easier and safer and more reliable public transit is to use, the more we will ride it. And by fixing and funding public transit, we’re taking action on climate and mitigating air pollution,” Robles said. “This bill is truly a win across the board.”
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