Governor Quinn Signs Landmark Legislation to Reform Illinois' Mass Transit Agencies

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a mass transit reform law that establishes unprecedented new transparency and review procedures for CTA, RTA, PACE and METRA. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"Many Illinois workers and families rely on public transportation to get them to and from work every day," Governor Quinn said. "The law I signed today helps keep our public transit agencies efficient and reliable - and ensures that Illinois residents throughout the state have access to dependable public transportation."

Senate Bill 3056, sponsored by State Senator Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) and State Representative Al Riley (D-Hazel Crest), requires advance transit board and House and Senate committee review for any proposed mass transit employee contract exceeding $100,000. It also requires advance board review of any proposed employee bonus exceeding 10 percent, or any large employee separation or settlement.

The law establishes revolving door prohibitions for ex-employees, and creates an online portal where the public can access the names of employees and details about contracts, expenditures and accident and safety information. The law will help ensure that Illinois' several mass transit agencies uphold the public's trust and interests at all times. The new law is effective Jan. 1, 2015.

"Mass transit in the Chicago area has struggled with governance, regional planning and transparency for many decades," Senator Biss said. "This world-class region deserves a world-class transportation network, not a scandal-plagued patchwork of agencies, and we can only get there by breaking down barriers that hamper coordination and allow unethical behavior to continue."

"This is the first bill of many which will transform the way mass transit is managed in Northern Illinois," Representative Riley said. "It is critical that the public can trust the day-to-day operations of our publicly funded transit agencies, and know they are ethical and transparent."