70 ILCS 3615/2.01

(70 ILCS 3615/2.01) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 702.01)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-457)

Sec. 2.01. General Allocation of Responsibility for Public Transportation.

(a) In order to accomplish the purposes as set forth in this Act, the responsibility for planning, operating, and funding public transportation in the metropolitan region shall be allocated as described in this Act. The Authority shall:

(i) adopt plans that implement the public policy of the State to provide adequate, efficient, geographically equitable and coordinated public transportation throughout the metropolitan region;

(ii) set goals, objectives, and standards for the Authority, the Service Boards, and transportation agencies;

(iii) develop performance measures to inform the public about the extent to which the provision of public transportation in the metropolitan region meets those goals, objectives, and standards;

(iv) allocate operating and capital funds made available to support public transportation in the metropolitan region;

(v) provide financial oversight of the Service Boards; and

(vi) coordinate the provision of public transportation and the investment in public transportation facilities to enhance the integration of public transportation throughout the metropolitan region, all as provided in this Act.

The Service Boards shall, on a continuing basis determine the level, nature and kind of public transportation which should be provided for the metropolitan region in order to meet the plans, goals, objectives, and standards adopted by the Authority. The Service Boards may provide public transportation by purchasing such service from transportation agencies through purchase of service agreements, by grants to such agencies or by operating such service, all pursuant to this Act and the "Metropolitan Transit Authority Act", as now or hereafter amended. Certain of its actions to implement the responsibilities allocated to the Authority in this subsection (a) shall be taken in 3 public documents adopted by the affirmative vote of at least 12 of its then Directors: A Strategic Plan; a Five-Year Capital Program; and an Annual Budget and Two-Year Financial Plan.

(b) The Authority shall subject the operating and capital plans and expenditures of the Service Boards in the metropolitan region with regard to public transportation to continuing review so that the Authority may budget and expend its funds with maximum effectiveness and efficiency. The Authority shall conduct audits of each of the Service Boards no less than every 5 years. Such audits may include management, performance, financial, and infrastructure condition audits. The Authority may conduct management, performance, financial, and infrastructure condition audits of transportation agencies that receive funds from the Authority. The Authority may direct a Service Board to conduct any such audit of a transportation agency that receives funds from such Service Board, and the Service Board shall comply with such request to the extent it has the right to do so. These audits of the Service Boards or transportation agencies may be project or service specific audits to evaluate their achievement of the goals and objectives of that project or service and their compliance with any applicable requirements.

(Source: P.A. 98-1027, eff. 1-1-15.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-457)

Sec. 2.01. General Allocation of Responsibility for Public Transportation.

(a) In order to accomplish the purposes as set forth in this Act, the responsibility for planning, operating, and funding public transportation in the metropolitan region shall be allocated as described in this Act. The Authority shall:

(i) create and adopt plans that implement the public policy of the State to provide adequate, efficient, geographically equitable and coordinated public transportation throughout the metropolitan region;

(ii) set goals, objectives, and standards for the Authority, the Service Boards, and Transportation Agencies;

(iii) develop and use service standards and performance standards to objectively and transparently determine the level, nature, and kinds of public transportation that should be provided throughout the metropolitan region;

(iv) budget and allocate operating and capital funds made available to support public transportation in the metropolitan region;

(v) provide financial oversight of the Service Boards;

(vi) coordinate the provision of public transportation and the investment in public transportation facilities to enhance the integration of public transportation throughout the metropolitan region, all as provided in this Act;

(vii) set fares and plan, procure, and operate an integrated fare collection system;

(viii) conduct operations, service, and capital planning;

(ix) provide design and construction oversight of capital projects;

(x) be responsible for ensuring that public transportation service in the metropolitan region complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and

(xi) subject to applicable land use laws, develop or participate in residential and commercial development on and in the vicinity of public transportation stations and routes as deemed necessary to facilitate transit-supportive land uses, increase public transportation ridership, generate revenue, and improve access to jobs and other opportunities in the metropolitan region by public transportation.

The Service Boards shall, on a continuing basis provide for the metropolitan region public transportation service of the level, nature, and kind determined by the Authority in order to meet the plans, goals, objectives, and standards adopted by the Authority. The Service Boards may provide public transportation by purchasing such service from Transportation Agencies through purchase of service agreements, by grants to such agencies or by operating such service, all pursuant to this Act and the Chicago Transit Authority Act. Certain of its actions to implement the responsibilities allocated to the Authority in this subsection (a) shall be taken in 3 public documents adopted by a supermajority vote: a Strategic Plan; a 5-Year Capital Program; and an Annual Budget and 2-Year Financial Plan.

The Authority has ultimate responsibility for providing the metropolitan region with a high-quality public transportation system and, subject to the requirements of this Act and applicable law and agreements, shall have the final responsibility for allocating duties among the Service Boards and between the Service Boards and the Authority itself. Nothing in this Act shall prevent the Authority from delegating to the Service Boards powers and duties in addition to those expressly assigned to the Service Boards under this Act.

(b) The Authority shall subject the operating and capital plans and expenditures of the Service Boards to continuing review so that the Authority may budget and expend its funds with maximum effectiveness and efficiency. The Authority shall conduct audits of each of the Service Boards no less than every 5 years. Such audits shall include management, performance, financial, and infrastructure condition audits. The Authority may conduct management, performance, financial, and infrastructure condition audits of Transportation Agencies that receive funds from the Authority. The Authority may direct a Service Board to conduct any such audit of a Transportation Agency that receives funds from such Service Board, and the Service Board shall comply with such request to the extent it has the right to do so. These audits of the Service Boards or Transportation Agencies may be project or service specific audits to evaluate their achievement of the goals and objectives of that project or service and their compliance with any applicable requirements.

The Authority shall have ready access at any time to information regarding Service Board operations and has the right to demand and receive information from a Service Board concerning any aspect of the Service Board's operations at any time.

(c) The Authority shall not (i) use any funds in its budget, or in reserves, allocated for operational expenses to fund capital projects or (ii) transfer moneys from any funds in its budget, or in reserves, allocated for operational expenses to an account primarily used to fund capital projects.

(Source: P.A. 104-457, eff. 6-1-26.)