The development of a plan for a stronger and more financially secure transit system for Chicagoland is now underway.

The outcome will be a set of state legislative recommendations that ensure the long-term financial viability of a comprehensive and coordinated regional public transportation system, as required by state law enacted last year.

With a fiscal cliff facing the region’s transit providers, the Illinois General Assembly and Governor J.B. Pritzker approved Public Act 102-1028. The law requires the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), in collaboration with stakeholders, to submit a report that considers transit system funding, governance, coordinated regional service, and other factors. The Plan of Action for Regional Transit, or PART, report is due to the legislature by January 1, 2024.

Illinois Senator Ram Villivalam (District 8) and Representative Eva-Dina Delgado (District 3) sponsored the legislation.

"Illinois has the opportunity to build a more equitable and accessible future for transit. A reliable public transit network means better access to jobs and essential services for working families,” said Sen. Ram Villivalam. “I am proud to have passed legislation that brings our partners in the industry together for a coordinated effort in addressing the challenges we face. With their recommendations, we will lay the foundation for a more robust and inclusive regional transit network that serves our neighbors in every community.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam was sworn in to represent Illinois’ 8^th Senate District for a second term on Wednesday.

“Serving my community in the Illinois Senate has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, and look forward to building on that progress in the 103^rd General Assembly.”

Due to ongoing construction at the Illinois State Capitol, lawmakers this year took their oaths of office at the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. The historic site is the location where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech and where President Barack Obama announced his candidacy, and served as Illinois’ statehouse from 1840-1876.

In his first term Senator Villivalam championed several first-in-the-nation laws, including the Workers’ Rights Amendment, Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act, requiring Alzheimer’s training for doctors and the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act. He passed more than 60 laws during his first term. Senator Villivalam’s legislative priorities for his second term include comprehensive paid family and medical leave, keeping communities safe, expanding equitable job opportunities, and ensuring that Illinois’ transportation and infrastructure industries remain competitive.

Senator Villivalam represents Illinois’ 8^th Senate District, which includes 24 neighborhoods on Chicago’s North Side and five suburban municipalities.

SPRINGFIELD – Building on his work to strengthen workers’ rights in Illinois, State Senator Ram Villivalam helped pass the Paid Leave for Workers Act – providing nearly 1.5 million people in Illinois with expanded access to paid sick and family leave.

“Working people are more than cogs in a machine, and deserve to be able to take time off to care for themselves and their families without risking their livelihood,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Paid leave is an essential workplace right, and Illinois is taking action to enshrine that right for all working people.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam voted in support of legislation that establishes broad protections for patients seeking reproductive health care in Illinois.

“Health care is a human right, and that includes reproductive care,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Illinois continues to be a national leader in preserving and protecting this right for all people. As neighboring states work to strip these rights away, we welcome all who need access to this type of care.”