Transforming our transit system with NITA implementation

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act passed on October 1, 2025, and will go into effect on June 1, 2026. This legislation not only increases funding for the system so service can increase, but also creates a dynamic new transit agency, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, to oversee integrated regional transit service. At its core, this legislation seeks to create the structure and conditions to deliver transit service that is exceptional, works for people at all stages of life, supports communities and connects our region. We know it’s going to take some time to execute this transition, and change is hard. We are hopeful that everyone in our region will embrace this work to get to an end result that is better for our residents.   

In advance of the Act going into effect, MPC developed and produced a new report that outlines critical details about NITA and the implementation needs required for this legislation to be successful. The report, Riding into the Future: A Regional Vision for the Implementation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, was released digitally and in-print on April 30. Among the details included, the report highlights that this reformed governance structure will enable us to greatly increase the caliber of the transit experience in the region and improve Chicago’s position as a world-class region. 

NITA will focus on delivering service that is reliable, convenient, safe, easy to understand, and enjoyable. We must take a regionally integrated approach to planning and delivering transit that works for riders, so they choose transit. As transit works better and more people ride, fares paid into the system will increase, which will provide additional operations funding and strengthen the bottom line. This will increase our region’s connectivity and our competitiveness.

To accomplish these goals, our region’s transit system will undoubtedly go through a period of transition and transformation.

Illinois should be commended for passing the most ambitious transit reform bill in the country in recent decades. Other regions are watching us as we begin the implementation phase of this legislation. Let’s show them the possibilities of bringing the vision of a better integrated transit system to reality. By setting a clear, replicable example of how bold policy can transform connectivity at a regional level, NITA can serve as a model for transit reform efforts nationwide.