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.
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Trump taps Jay Clayton as new DNI, too late to salvage FISA vote
Rollins defends tax policies, calls for domestic fertilizer
POLL: Voter inflation concern hits record high as prices keep climbing
Illinois Quick Hits: Storms cause damage, closures
Oil prices continue steady decline after Trump declares Project Freedom a success
Washington high court: State will strip gun rights after two DUIs
Extension of pension buyout program to drop $144B liability
Man pleads guilty in killings of Minnesota House speaker, husband
Fraud, price gauging, terrorism concerns plague World Cup debut in US
Trump cancels impending strikes on Iran, final deal pending
FBI arrests eight accused of ‘terrorizing’ U-M leaders, Jewish Federation
Colorado’s only ICE detention center operator sues state
