Summary as Introduced
Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that, on January 1, 2026 the Chicago Transit Authority shall become a division of the Regional Transportation Authority. Abolishes the Chicago Transit Board and provides that the Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Authority will serve as the Board of the Chicago Transit Authority. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, on January 1, 2026 the Suburban Bus Board and the Commuter Rail Board are abolished and that the Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Authority will directly operate the Suburban Bus Division and the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transit Authority. Creates various committees composed of Directors of the Board of the Regional Transportation Authority, including committees to oversee the operations of each Division of the Authority. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Open Meetings Act, State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, and the Illinois Municipal Code making conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
Staff Analysis
House Bill 2839 proposes a major structural overhaul of the governance and oversight of public transit in the Chicago metropolitan region.
Effective January 1, 2026, the bill consolidates the governance of three major transit agencies—the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra (commuter rail), and Pace (suburban bus service)—under the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The current separate boards for each of these entities—the Chicago Transit Board, the Suburban Bus Board (Pace), and the Commuter Rail Board (Metra)—would be abolished. In their place, the RTA Board of Directors would assume full governing authority over all three transit service divisions.
The legislation restructures the CTA as a division within the RTA and merges governance functions to streamline accountability and enhance regional coordination. In place of the now-independent boards, the RTA Board would establish specialized committees composed of its directors to oversee the operations of the CTA, suburban bus, and commuter rail divisions. These structural changes are intended to foster integrated planning, reduce administrative redundancies, and improve overall transit system performance.
In addition to revising the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act, HB 2839 makes necessary conforming changes to other statutes, including the Open Meetings Act, the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, and the Illinois Municipal Code. The bill signifies a comprehensive governance realignment aimed at unifying transit leadership and strengthening regional oversight in one of the nation’s largest transit markets.