Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in (Updated)
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Posted in:
* Seems a bit late. From the Suburban Mayors Coalition for Fair Transit via the Illinois Municipal League…
Honorable Members of the Illinois General Assembly:
Over the past 18 months, members of both chambers have dedicated considerable time to evaluating our region’s transit system and exploring ways to improve service for the more than one million daily riders who rely on Metra, Pace, and the CTA. Many of these riders are among our most vulnerable residents, who have no alternative means of transportation. We appreciate your commitment to addressing the looming fiscal cliff facing public transit. However, the legislative proposals introduced thus far raise significant concerns for municipalities and the residents we represent.
We respectfully share the following concerns:
Real Estate Transfer Tax
The proposed $3 per $1,000 real estate transfer tax would apply to transactions in suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties while excluding the City of Chicago. This new tax would add to the growing barriers to affordable housing in our communities. Furthermore, it would derail parallel legislative efforts that aspire to improve housing access across the state.
Retail Delivery Fee
A statewide $1.50 delivery fee on all motor vehicle deliveries of goods subject to sales tax would affect every household, regardless of income or proximity to transit. This fee is regressive, disproportionately burdens low to moderate income families, and lacks a clear connection between those paying and those benefiting from the transit system.
Development Authority
The proposed authority for the new regional transit entity to acquire, develop, or redevelop property within a ½-mile of transit stations or ⅛-mile of bus stops raises serious concerns about local control and private property rights. Even with the inclusion of local zoning requirements, granting such powers to an unelected regional board would allow development across broad swaths of suburban communities potentially overriding local planning efforts. This also includes concerns about the regional board exerting authority over local parking requirements. These decisions should remain under municipal governments.
Board Composition and Voting
The proposed structure of the NITA Board lacks the necessary safeguards to ensure balanced regional representation. We urge you to consider models like the CMAP Board, which requires a 4/5 majority vote to pass all major decisions. Without similar protections, there is a real risk of disenfranchising any one subregion and discouraging collaboration.
Board Membership
The restrictions on who may be Directors on the NITA Board and service boards preclude local elected officials who may be the most knowledgeable people on transportation needs of their constituents. Local elected officials have been some of the most reliable and knowledgeable members of our region’s boards for decades. There is a reason so many members of boards like CMAP, the service boards, and ISTHA have been elected officials or former elected officials, they know the regional challenges of funding and operating complex systems.
Service Standards and Funding Distribution
The proposed performance metrics and service propensity measures may disadvantage Metra and Pace in favor of CTA, potentially skewing future funding and service priorities. Considering the legislation proposes only fifteen votes of the NITA Board to approve these criteria, the suburbs and collar counties could face significant hurdles in receiving sufficient funding to providing transit to their residents. Greater clarity and assurances regarding service equity and long-term funding parity are essential before finalizing this legislation.
We are asking you, our legislators, to stand up for our hometowns and your constituents in northeastern Illinois and across the state. We urge you to pass legislation that would provide for a more efficient and regionally balanced approach to public transit. We further hope this new legislation will align new revenue sources with access to transit service, ensures meaningful representation for all subregions, and preserves local authority over land use, parking and development.
Transit reform should focus on improving service, expanding access and financial sustainability, not on development powers at the expense of municipal autonomy or creating new burdens on residents with little connection to the transit system.
We respectfully ask to be included in ongoing discussions to better collaborate on a path forward that supports fair, reliable, and equitable public transit for all northeastern Illinois.
Thank you for your service and for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
The undersigned Mayors and Village Presidents:Rodney Craig, Village of Hanover Park
Leon Rockingham, Jr., City of North Chicago
John Noak, Village of Romeoville
Nancy Rotering, City of Highland Park
William McLeod, Village of Hoffman Estates
Frank Saverino, Village of Carol Stream
Craig Johnson, Village of Elk Grove Village
Jeffery Schielke, City of Batavia
Tom Dailly, Village of Schaumburg
Philip Suess, City of Wheaton
Gary Grasso, Village of Burr Ridge
Frank Trilla, Village of Willowbrook
Paul Hoefert, Village of Mount Prospect
Eleanor Sweet McDonnell, Village of North Barrington
Donna Johnson, Village of Libertyville
Tom Hundley, Village of Addison
David Kaptain, City of Elgin
Rick Reinbold, Village of Richton Park
Mark Kownick, Village of Cary Larry Herman, Village of Oak Brook
Rick Mack, Village of Ringwood
David Pileski, Village of Roselle
Joseph Marchese, City of Darien
Sam Cunningham, City of Waukegan
* From a spokesperson for Reps. Eva-Dina Delgado and Kam Buckner…
Years of discussions and more than a year of formal negotiation have generated valuable feedback, and that has brought us to the point where we are close to a better path forward for our transit agencies. While some discussions continue, those discussions need to be focused on constructive feedback and solutions.
* From Senate President Don Harmon’s spokesperson John Patterson…
We welcome the feedback and look forward to their input and ideas on how to resolve this looming crisis.
Your translation of the responses?
* Meanwhile, Sen. Ram Villivalam talked to Governing Magazine about the immediate future…
Governing: Are there sticking points in the reform conversation. If so, what are they?
Villivalam: The reforms that have been presented in House Bill 3438 are largely agreed to by all of the stakeholders and I think represent what our residents and taxpayers want to see in terms of having a safe, reliable, accessible and integrated public transit system. The Senate has passed a package of reforms and funding with a transformational investment of $1.5 billion. We believe the package of reforms has really achieved a consensus of stakeholders and residents that have been involved in this process.
Governing: You’re waiting for the House to vote on that.
Villivalam: If there’s a better funding plan that achieves $1.5 billion in investment, we’re happy to work with folks on that. Our position, though, is that we passed a bill, and short of there being a better funding plan, we’d like to see our bill passed and sent to the governor.
In other words, the governance and related reforms are basically locked down. Some revenues are still up in the air.
…Adding… Press release…
Labor, Environmental, and Transit Advocates call on legislators to return to Springfield, address $770 million transit fiscal cliff
With pink slips scheduled for September and planned cuts to transit service, advocates and workers rally, urge state lawmakers to prevent a catastrophe
WHAT: The Illinois General Assembly adjourned on May 31 without addressing the state’s $770 million transit fiscal cliff. With pink slips scheduled for September and the RTA’s instruction for the CTA, Metra, and Pace to plan for service cuts, transit riders and workers are urging the General Assembly to avert a catastrophe by returning to Springfield for a special summer session.
After months of negotiations, legislation passed the Senate on May 31, but was not available to be called in the House. The bill included long-awaited reform measures agreed upon by labor, environment, and transit advocates and a new, dedicated revenue stream for transit.
As a result of Springfield’s inaction, the RTA estimates that nearly 3,000 transit workers could lose their jobs, including 2,000 CTA workers. The service boards have indicated that staffing cuts will result in a 40% reduction to service, leaving Chicago with a transit network smaller than Madison, WI.
By law, the 2026 CTA, Metra, and Pace budgets must only include the funding they will receive for the next year when the budgeting process begins in July 2025. As such, even though the General Assembly is scheduled to return in October for a fall veto session, the agencies must still plan as if they are not receiving the funding to address the fiscal cliff. All four agencies have indicated that, even if a revenue solution were proposed, the collected revenue from October through December would not be enough to plug the budget hole.
WHO:
State Senator Ram Villivalam
State Senator Graciela Guzmán
Tiffany Rebb, CTA Bus Operator
Orlando Rojas, Metra Conductor
Ann Marie Moore, Flight Attendant, Transit Rider
Evan Urchell, The People’s Lobby, Transit Rider
Jose Manuel Almanaza, Equiticity, Transit AdvocateWHEN: Thursday, June 26, 2025
12:00 PM
WHERE: 238 S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL (Between Union Station & Chicago River under the overhang)
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 1:48 pm
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in (Updated)
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Only answer from Springfield is,always,tax,tax,tax…you ever hear,them say cut cut cut? Honest discussion please.
Comment by Boomer Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 1:55 pm
Boomer - you can’t start out with a willfully ignorant, partisan, untrue comment and then tell people to have an honest discussion with you. That just isn’t how actual honest discussion works.
Comment by RiverNorthGuy Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:03 pm
===and then tell people to have an honest discussion with you===
Agreed. Also, since when is this your comment section, Boomer?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:05 pm
Theoretically it makes sense for an elected official to be allowed on the board but I am old and cynical that it is a spot for either defeated or vainglorious officials to retire too.
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:15 pm
==The proposed $3 per $1,000 real estate transfer tax…excluding the City of Chicago.==
That’s because Chicago already has a $3 real estate transfer tax that the seller pays. All of it goes directly to the CTA but I assume would go to the consolidated transit unit NITA.
Implementing this for the suburbs could be difficult because the party liable for RETT varies. In Chicago, the seller paid nothing before their 3% tax, so the idea of soaking the party awash in “found” money was more palpable. But some suburbs have a 3% RETT now, so doubling the rate will seem excessive.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:32 pm
The answers from the members of the General Assembly are basically, “we have been working on this for a long time, so please accept our ideas no matter if they are good or bad” The Mayors are literally giving the feedback members of the GA are asking for. None of the feedback given by the Mayors is addressed.
Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:33 pm
Metra, PACE, and CTA should start increasing fares as soon as possible.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:36 pm
@Boomer
One does, indeed, have a tough time finding Illinois politicians who will pretend that civilization doesn’t cost money.
Comment by Irreverent Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:47 pm
=Honest discussion please.=
Honest? Ok, what operating costs have gotten cheaper every year that you can cut?
Or are you talking about cutting mass transit? If that is the case then you are not trying to start an “honest” discussion or an adult discussion.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 2:50 pm
I still can’t believe the NITA negotiators are giving the agencies years to figure out unified fares and a customer feedback/satisfaction system but the money upfront with no strings attached.
That aspect as much as the revenue piece is the part that I think is going to come back and haunt ILGA members who vote for the package if they have a primary or general election opponent. Slap that $1.2 billion a year tax figure on an old Popeye “I’ll gladly pay you Wednesday for a hamburger today” cartoon and direct mail every voter over 60 in a suburban district.
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:00 pm
I think the tax on deliveries to fund transit is a good idea, maybe lower the rate. Toss the transfer tax and cut the initial “investment” from $1.5 billion to ~$750 million. Time to make a deal.
Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:21 pm
@Chicagonkl: of course fares need to go up. No one is saying they shouldnt.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:27 pm
@chicagobars: absolutely agree with you.
Recently gave some feedback to one of the agencies and because the form was not filled out properly, “case closed”. Completely unacceptable.
Either giver the individual the ability to update the form. Or for as long it took to write the “case closed” reply, how about just saying: “looks like you forgot to give us the route number” or whatever was missing.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:32 pm
I always appreciate a good reminder about how we have too many municipalities.
Comment by The Opinions Bureau Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:33 pm
$1.50 Delivery Tax
Would like to see the breakdown of north/south of I80 per household
This is clearly and internet sales tax.
Comment by It's always Sunny in Illinois Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:39 pm
=== I still can’t believe the NITA negotiators are giving the agencies years to figure out unified fares and a customer feedback/satisfaction system but the money upfront with no strings attached. ===
Can’t stop the system on a dime. Buses and trains need to somehow keep running while the new fares, plans, boards, etc. are organized and set up.
Comment by StarLineChicago Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 3:42 pm
Guest opinion in Trib yesterday complained that Chicago would lose power under NITA. Suburban mayors now say they will lose power. I thus conclude that an acceptable compromise has been found.
Comment by Ben Tre Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 4:29 pm
This current proposal already has been moved to compromise with suburban mayors.
Comment by Walker Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 4:46 pm
To the press release…
Those 2 State Senators gotta’ be the only people in Illinois politics unaware Governor kicks off his reelection campaign with a massive press blitz tomorrow.
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 4:50 pm
As usual, suburbs complain about revenues and funding then say they want transit but offer no alternatives on how to pay for it.
Comment by Wolfy Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 5:02 pm
A new governance structure is needed and it’s good to hear the two chambers agree on that. But what do the taxpayers and transit users get for this new $1.5 Billion in spending? No one is speaking truly about what that money will be used for other than to avoid a fiscal cliff. Everyone will pay new taxes for the status quo. The status quo isn’t working. It appears the House is reluctant to sign off on a bunch of new taxes before the transit agencies are forced to make any cuts or efficiencies to benefit the riders. Sen Villivalam has tried to claim a win because the bill has $63 million in “efficiencies”. That’s it? There’s a lot more waste at these agencies that can be cut before the taxpayers spend more than a billion dollars to maintain a broken system.
Comment by Skin in the game Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 5:31 pm
The press conference was scheduled before the Gov’s news came out. I am surprised though that it isn’t being moved back to maybe next Monday.
Comment by Press conference Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 5:37 pm
===The press conference was scheduled before the Gov’s news came out===
That’s news to me.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 5:53 pm
===The press conference was scheduled before the Gov’s news came out===
Have organizers asked the Gov to cancel since they were first?
Comment by Casper the Ghost Bus Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 6:16 pm
===The press conference was scheduled before the Gov’s news came out===
Needed that LOL. Thanks Casper.
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Jun 25, 25 @ 8:37 pm