In a move to bolster Illinois' public transit system, lawmakers have approved a $1.5 billion funding bill that was expedited through an overnight session, CBS News Chicago reports. A key part of the bill is a sales tax increase, which would see the Regional Transportation Authority sales tax rise to 1% in several counties and 1.25% in Cook County, expected to generate around $478 million in revenue.
The significant financial package proposed by Senate Bill 2111 will also direct a hefty sum of $860 million from sales taxes on motor fuel to support transit operations, and an additional $200 million is slated to come from interest accrued in the Road Fund as highlighted by NBC Chicago, amidst earlier proposals of new amusement and delivery taxes being dropped from the final agreement, Governor JB Pritzker's signature is all that stands before these changes come into effect.
This legislative action comes as a response to the impending transit funding gap, stemming from the expiration of federal funding that supported the system through the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill, besides closing the budget gap, aims to invest in new projects and safety initiatives related to transit infrastructure. In addition to the sales tax changes, drivers on Illinois' toll roads will see a 45-cent increase per toll for passenger vehicles, while commercial vehicle tolls are set to rise by 30%.
The newly formed Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), which will supersede the current Regional Transit Authority, stands to gain better representation across the region with its 20-member board this board will incorporate appointees from the governor, Chicago’s mayor, Cook County's board president, and the executives from the collar counties of DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake, and Will, "Through this measure, we are ensuring that Illinoisans, no matter where they live, have access to safe, reliable, affordable and integrated public transit, for years to come," State Sen. Ram Villivalam told NBC Chicago.
The legislative vote—which occurred franc-tireur style in the dead of night—saw the House approve the bill with a 72-32 margin just before 2 a.m. and a subsequent 35-22 affirmative vote in the Senate, indicating a clear priority for state officials to sustain and advance Illinois' public transportation network.
