SPRINGFIELD — Following eight subject matter hearings with over 35 hours of testimony, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation through the Senate aimed at addressing issues facing the current public transit system in Illinois.

“Over the last 19 months, I have collaborated and held discussions with stakeholders, advocates, transit workers and everyday riders about the state of transit, issues currently facing the system and what we can do to improve service for its riders,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “It’s imperative that we deliver a public transit system that provides reliable service for its riders and is accountable to our taxpayers. Now is the time to break through the status quo and embrace solutions made for lasting change.”

House Bill 3438 would create the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, known as NITA – shifting authority from the Regional Transit Authority to the new entity that will oversee CTA, Metra and Pace. The NITA board would comprise of 20 members, with five appointments each from the governor, mayor of Chicago and Cook County Board president, as well as one from each chair or county executive of the collar county boards of DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake and Will.

The measure would create the Interagency Coordinating Committee on transit innovation, integration and reform to focus on how to improve and better integrate transit with intercity rail and bus networks in Illinois outside of the northeast region.

Additionally, House Bill 3438 would address safety concerns through various reforms, including establishing a transit ambassador program to deploy unarmed staff at transit stations and on vehicles across the system to provide customer service assistance, liaise with social service providers and alert law enforcement to potential criminal activity. The bill would also create the Office of Transit Safety and Experience through NITA to develop a regional safety strategy, establish and enforce safety standards and liaise with police and social service providers.

The measure would also establish a unified fare system, support the state’s climate goals by requiring all newly purchased transit buses to be zero emissions, and improve accountability by requiring Senate confirmation of all NITA board appointments, among other changes.

“This legislation addresses the critical relief that our public transit systems are yearning for by providing viable, long-lasting solutions to work toward making Illinois home to a world-class public transit system,” said Villivalam. “Across Illinois, residents will now have greater access to affordable, safe, reliable, coordinated and economically impactful transit to get them to where they need to go.”

House Bill 3438 passed the Senate on Saturday.