97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3597

 

Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. William D. Burns

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 3605/30  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 330
70 ILCS 3605/55 new
70 ILCS 3615/2.35 new
70 ILCS 3615/2.37 new
70 ILCS 3615/3A.20 new
70 ILCS 3615/3B.20 new

    Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2012, the Regional Transportation Authority, in consultation with the Service Boards (Commuter Rail Division, Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority), must develop a policy for reducing the cost of transfers on all public transportation services provided by the Service Boards. Sets forth the requirements for the policy and the implementation of the policy by the Service Boards. Provides that, by January 1, 2015, the Authority must develop and make available for use by riders a universal fare card that may be used interchangeably on all bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, and paratransit services provided by the Service Boards. Effective immediately.


LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3597LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is
5amended by changing Section 30 and by adding Section 55 as
6follows:
 
7    (70 ILCS 3605/30)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 330)
8    Sec. 30. The Board shall make all rules and regulations
9governing the operation of the transportation system, shall
10determine all routings and change the same whenever it is
11deemed advisable by the Board, subject to the provisions of any
12ordinance granting rights to the Authority. Except as provided
13in Sections 2.35 and Section 4.11(b)(5) of the "Regional
14Transportation Authority Act", the Board shall fix rates, fares
15and charges for transportation, provided that they shall be at
16all times sufficient in the aggregate to provide revenues (a)
17for the payment of the interest on and principal of all bonds,
18certificates and other obligations payable from said revenues
19and to meet all other charges upon such revenues as provided by
20any trust agreement executed by the Authority in connection
21with the issuance of bonds or certificates under this Act, (b)
22for the payment of all operating costs including all charges
23which may be incurred pursuant to Sections 29 and 39 of this

 

 

HB3597- 2 -LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

1Act and all other costs and charges incidental to the operation
2of the transportation system, (c) for the payment of all costs
3and charges incurred pursuant to Sections 37 and 38 of this Act
4and any other costs and charges for acquisition, installation,
5construction or for replacement or reconstruction of
6equipment, structures or rights of way not financed through
7issuance of bonds or certificates under Section 12 of this Act,
8and (d) for any compensation required to be paid to any
9municipality for the use of streets, subways and other public
10ways. The Board may provide free transportation within any
11municipality in and by which they are employed for firemen and
12public health nurses, when in uniform, and policemen when in
13uniform or, when not in uniform, upon presentation of
14identification as policemen, and shall provide free
15transportation to sworn law enforcement personnel of the Cook
16County Sheriff's Department when in uniform or, when not in
17uniform, upon presentation of identification as sworn law
18enforcement personnel of the Cook County Sheriff's Department,
19and may provide free transportation for employees of the
20Authority when in uniform or upon presentation of
21identification as such employees, and may enter into agreements
22with the United States Post Office Department for the
23transportation of mail, and the payment of compensation to the
24Authority in lieu of fares for the transportation of letter
25carriers, when in uniform at all times.
26    The Board may also provide free transportation, or

 

 

HB3597- 3 -LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

1transportation at reduced fares, to all or designated classes
2of pupils in attendance at public schools of school districts
3within or partly within the territorial limits of the
4Authority, or in attendance at private schools offering grades
5of instruction comparable to those offered in public schools,
6under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board, and,
7if otherwise authorized by law, the Board may contract with
8public school boards and representatives of private schools,
9for reimbursement of pupil transportation costs from public
10funds.
11(Source: P.A. 83-886.)
 
12    (70 ILCS 3605/55 new)
13    Sec. 55. Transfers. By January 1, 2013, the Authority must
14implement the reduced-cost transfer policy adopted by the
15Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.35 of the
16Regional Transportation Authority Act.
 
17    Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
18amended by adding Sections 2.35, 2.37, 3A.20, and 3B.20 as
19follows:
 
20    (70 ILCS 3615/2.35 new)
21    Sec. 2.35. Reduced-cost transfers.
22    (a) By January 1, 2012, the Authority, in consultation with
23the Service Boards, must develop a policy for reducing the cost

 

 

HB3597- 4 -LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

1of transfers on all public transportation services provided by
2the Service Boards. The policy must allow riders to transfer
3from one public transportation service provided by a Service
4Board to another service provided by the same or a different
5Service Board within 2 hours for a combined fare that is no
6more than 60% of the sum of the individual cost of each ride.
7The reduced-cost transfer policy must also set forth the fare
8sharing agreements between the Service Boards and apply to
9monthly passes and single-ride tickets.
10    (b) By January 1, 2013, the reduced-cost transfer policy
11created under subsection (a) must be implemented by the Chicago
12Transit Authority and the Suburban Bus Board. The Commuter Rail
13Board must implement the reduced-cost transfer policy on at
14least the Metra Electric District Line by January 1, 2013 and
15all other rail lines by January 1, 2015.
16    (c) By January 1, 2015, the reduced-cost transfer policy
17must apply to the universal fare card developed by the
18Authority under Section 2.37.
19    (d) The Authority must adopt rules to implement the
20requirements set forth in this Section.
 
21    (70 ILCS 3615/2.37 new)
22    Sec. 2.37. Universal fare card. By January 1, 2015, the
23Authority must develop and make available for use by riders a
24universal fare card that may be used interchangeably on all
25bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, and paratransit services

 

 

HB3597- 5 -LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

1provided by the Service Boards. The Authority must adopt rules
2to implement the requirements set forth in this Section.
 
3    (70 ILCS 3615/3A.20 new)
4    Sec. 3A.20. Transfers. By January 1, 2013, the Suburban Bus
5Board must implement the reduced-cost transfer policy adopted
6by the Authority under Section 2.35.
 
7    (70 ILCS 3615/3B.20 new)
8    Sec. 3B.20. Transfers. By January 1, 2013, the Commuter
9Rail Board must implement the reduced-cost transfer policy
10adopted by the Authority under Section 2.35 on at least the
11Metra Electric District Line. The Commuter Rail Board must
12implement the policy on all other rail lines by January 1,
132015.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.