On Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, raising costs for suburban transit riders while decreasing the suburban voice in future transit decisions. Following the bill signing, State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles), the Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Transportation Committee, issued the following statement:
“When discussions began two years ago about reforming Illinois’ public transit system, I believed a bipartisan, fair, and responsible solution was within reach. From the outset, I made clear that reform must not place a disproportionate financial burden on any one region and must include a governance structure that fairly represents all taxpayers. The collar counties should never be forced to subsidize years of mismanagement by the City of Chicago and the Chicago Transit Authority. Unfortunately, that is exactly where the process landed.
“What was promised as reform has instead turned into a $1.5 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for Chicago and its failing CTA. Rather than delivering real accountability, the plan relies on new toll hikes and sales tax increases that fall hardest on suburban families and working taxpayers.
“Under this law, suburban tollway users, 92 percent of whom live outside the City of Chicago, will pay an additional 45 cents on every toll, with automatic increases tied to inflation. Families across the six-county transit region will also face higher sales taxes, all while suburban representation and influence on the new NITA board are reduced.
“The Governor can attempt to call this reform, but Illinoisans know the truth. Suburban taxpayers are paying more, losing their voice, and being asked to bail out a broken system they do not control. Residents of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties were sold out. It’s that simple.”