NITA takes over public transit with $1.5B annual taxpayer funding

(The Center Square) – Beginning Tuesday, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority officially took full control of Chicagoland public transit, including the CTA, Metra and Pace, from the Regional Transit Authority.

NITA brings with it $1.5 billion in annual public funding for the system.

The act creating NITA and associated funds was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in December, following months of back and forth on the legislation in Springfield.

Pritzker said last month the annual funds for NITA would make significant improvements to upstate transit.

“The NITA Act provides $1.5 billion annually to support transit operations across Illinois and it increases public safety. It improves our coordination so that our transit system works as one network. It expands affordable fair programs and strengthens our commitment to accessibility by creating a unified regional ADA advisory committee,” Pritzker said.

A release from the Governor’s Office on Tuesday touted increased safety through the additional funding and coordination between state and local agencies like the CTA.

During the Chicago Transit Board’s July 8 meeting, CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen reported that crime in the Chicago train and bus system had fallen for six consecutive months, and in nine of the past 11-month period.

“Major crime on CTA, according to CPD's most recent statistics in June, was down 45% from last June. And that means that major crime across the entire system year to date is down 30%. Violent crime on CTA saw an even steeper drop in June and marked a 58% drop from the same period in 2025,” Leerhsen said.

The NITA Act included the funding “without creating new state taxes or increasing existing statewide taxes.,” according to the release.

Funds for the act stem from a diversion of roughly $860 million annually from the state’s Motor Fuel tax, an already in effect 0.25% increase in sales tax in the NITA region, and $200 million in its first year and adjusted annually after from the state’s Road Fund.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved board president Toni Preckwinkle’s eight NITA appointments July 16. Five of the eight will serve on other transit boards in addition to NITA.

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s five NITA appointees July 15. Four of the five currently sit on the Regional Transit Authority or Chicago Transit Authority boards.

Pritzker’s eight appointees are subject to approval by the State Senate, which returns to Springfield for the fall veto session November 17.

The new authority’s first meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Sept. 10 in the former RTA office board room at 175 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago.

Jim Talamonti contributed to this story

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.