Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Officially Launches

CHICAGO – Today, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) officially replaced the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), taking over oversight of Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and Pace. Governor JB Pritzker signed the NITA Act into law in late 2025, putting landmark transit reform in motion that will make service more frequent and consistent, fares more affordable, and rides safer and more seamless between lines.

“A year ago, our state’s transit was facing a doomsday scenario, with service cuts and fare hikes that would have left riders stranded,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Together with our partners in the General Assembly, we stepped up to support riders, keep transit affordable, and improve services. Today, NITA is driving Illinois forward with a transformative vision that will deliver a reliable, safe, and unified public transportation system for the entire region.” ​

“Thanks to NITA, Illinoisans will be able to count on safe and reliable transportation when going to work or just getting from point A to point B — all without introducing or raising taxes,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “This is one more way we’re working to improve quality of life in every corner of the state without increasing costs.”

“Public transit is essential to the economic vitality of Cook County and our entire region. Every day, hundreds of millions of residents depend on reliable, accessible transit to get to work, school, health care, and other commitments,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “As the NITA Board is seated today, I am confident that together we can build more reliable, equitable and financially sustainable systems that serve the needs of Cook County residents and the entire service region.”

The NITA Act includes $1.5 billion in annual funding to stabilize transit systems across Illinois, without creating new state taxes or increasing existing statewide taxes. ​

The newly appointed NITA board – with support from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and transit staff – will helm this monumental investment in Illinois transit. Their combined experience in transit, planning, capital delivery, public administration, and finance will improve service and make transit safer and more reliable for all.

“Illinois transit riders have made it clear that service and security are top of mind,” said NITA Chief Transition Officer Maulik Vaishnav. “In transitioning to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, we have already made historic investments from the new funding in these areas, with more frequent service, reduced student fares, and new public safety measures. We are building the transit system the region deserves and NITA will have the tools needed to deliver on that promise.”

Riders Can Expect Ease, Frequency, and Reliability

Under NITA’s new unified governance structure, riders can expect an improved experience as they travel to work, school, and anywhere else life takes them – including when traveling between service lines. NITA will break down the silos CTA, Metra, and Pace previously operated within, and move to an integrated, regional system with a single, unified fare payment system.

Further, NITA will remove the need to pay full price for a second ticket just to change to a different train. Funding tied to clear service standards set by NITA will hold CTA, Metra, and Pace accountable, and will integrate all three systems’ schedules and routes to work together in concert to ensure riders can easily transfer between any system. ​

Early Service and Affordability Gains for Riders

This level of transformation will take time, but NITA has already begun delivering for riders. New funding has enabled better service this summer, including adding routes to CTA’s Frequent Bus Network, providing more weekend Pace service, and increasing frequency on Metra’s Rock Island and Metra Electric lines. ​ ​

New programs to make fares more affordable are already underway and on track for this fall:

Commuter Safety Continues to Improve

NITA is already working to make service safer for everyone, with additional funding and improved coordination on public safety, bringing transit agencies, law enforcement, and human services agencies together to deploy the best response to each kind of incident. ​

This work is already seeing results: following the approval of funding for additional law enforcement officers, more health and human services support, and a crisis intervention pilot in the spring, CTA saw a 76% reduction in violent crime compared to last summer.

NITA will build on this to ensure all riders get the help they need, including by creating a new transit ambassador program next year. ​ ​

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