Senator Seth Lewis supports major transit reform with passage of NITA Act
After nearly a year of bipartisan negotiations and two years of public hearings, Illinois lawmakers have passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act. Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett), who serves on the Senate Transportation Committee, played a key role in supporting the legislation, which aims to secure long-term investments in state infrastructure and reform transit governance.
Senate Bill 2111 was approved during the final hour of the fall veto session. According to Lewis, the version that passed both chambers was significantly improved compared to earlier drafts proposed by the majority party.
“Public transit is vital to the continued success of our region. Every day, thousands of residents in the 24th District rely on Metra and Pace to commute to work, while many others depend on it for travel to and from the City on weekends,” said Lewis. “Earlier versions of this legislation included a range of unpopular statewide and regional taxes, including taxes on home deliveries, streaming services, and rideshare trips, and a real estate transfer fee. These proposed revenue sources were successfully negotiated out of the legislation. While the final bill is not perfect, the version brought forward on Friday represents a substantial improvement and a meaningful step forward for our transit system and the communities it serves.”
The new law will divert more than $1 billion from existing revenue streams rather than introducing new taxes or fees for taxpayers. This funding will help stabilize current transit operations across Illinois and ensure full funding for paratransit services in Chicagoland. The act also grants greater financial authority to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), offering flexibility for future funding needs.
Governance reforms are another focus of SB 2111. The current RTA board will be replaced by a Northern Illinois Transportation Authority (NITA) board with expanded oversight and decision-making powers.
“These are concepts that have been used successfully in the private sector, and I advocated for them throughout our negotiating process. We’re investing in Illinois’ future by modernizing our public transit systems to better connect communities and strengthen our economy,” Lewis said. “These transformational reforms will improve reliability, sustainability, and access for riders across the RTA region and provide additional funding for improvements to downstate transit systems. By building a more efficient transit network, we’re laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth and opportunity and making Illinois a place where people want to live and not leave.”
The effective date for SB 2111 is June 1, 2026.
Lewis was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois' 24th Senate District in 2023 after succeeding Suzy Glowiak.