Proposal would merge Chicago’s four transit agencies into one

Angelica Sanchez
·2 min read
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CHICAGO — Chicagoland’s transit agencies would merge into one, new entity and get a financial boost of $1.5 billion annually under a proposal introduced Monday by two state legislators.

The Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, unveiled by state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago), aims to streamline services and reduce the competition for funding between the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

The proposal comes just days after Gov. JB Pritzker said “new leadership” was needed at the top of the beleaguered CTA, which has found challenges in providing reliable, clean and safe service, and a looming fiscal cliff. The transit agencies will have a $730 million budget gap once COVID funding expires by 2026.

And it follows a report last year by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that suggested consolidating the four regional transit agencies, among other reforms.

Pritzker: ‘New leadership’ needed at the CTA

Governance of the new body would be in the form of nearly 20 voting members, down from the nearly 50 split between the current agencies. Three members would be appointed by the governor. The mayor of Chicago and president of the Cook County Board would appoint five each. One member would be appointed by each of the county executives of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. A chair would be chosen from the members but would not be someone from the group.

Another six non-voting members would join the board: the secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, the chair of the Illinois Tollway, an organized labor representative chosen by the governor, the chair of the agency’s citizen advisory board and a representative each for the business and disabled communities, chosen by the board.

Chicago’s non-partisan Civic Federation recently endorsed the consolidation idea. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has also indicated she’s on board.

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