Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that pumps $1.5 billion into the state’s rail and bus networks every year, reported the Associated Press.
The new law, which will become active in June, rescues Chicago-area transit from looming service reductions that would have affected millions of daily riders. Funding will flow from multiple sources, including a reallocation of taxes collected on gasoline sales and a modest sales tax increase in the Chicago metro area.
The legislation also establishes a brand-new oversight body, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. It will handle strategic planning and funding decisions, while existing operators such as the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra rail service, and Pace focus on day-to-day operations and the rider experience…