Transit bill sponsor ok with recycled board appointments
(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.
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Colorado pushes ahead on clean energy as EV funding returns
Trump lectures UN, Western Europe for policy failures
Arizonans vote on successor to U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Google says Biden admin ‘pressed’ it to censor some COVID-19 content
Judge’s questions during IL gun ban arguments gives rights advocates ‘hope’
Illinois agencies to post monthly investment reports, lawmaker calls symbolic
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker orders ‘efficiencies’ for state spending; Marshalls recover missing child
WATCH: AR15s protected by 2nd Amendment; advocate reacts to appeals court hearing
Fiscal Fallout: Illinois spending swells 43% under Pritzker
Lake Land College to Name Nursing Simulation Lab for HSHS St. Anthony’s After Major Gift
New Incentives and Homecoming Plans Underway at Casey-Westfield Schools
White House does not expect arrests of sanctuary mayors and governors
