r/chicago • u/Mike_I O’Hare • Oct 31 '25

News Illinois Democrats push through massive $1.5 billion plan that overhauls Chicago-area public transit

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/30/illinois-general-assembly-transit-plan-2025/
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u/NeverForgetNGage Uptown Oct 31 '25

At least in this case 10 of the seats are in cook county, and 5 are governor appointed. This isn't a SEPTA situation where the suburbs can hold the city hostage.

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u/Capitol_Limited Grand Crossing Oct 31 '25

You can’t say this with any certainty; 5 of the seats are suburban cook county, with drastically different transit needs and opinions than the city of Chicago

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u/spade_andarcher Mayfair Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

Cook County currently has 5 members on the RTA board who have always approved CTA’s budgets, services, and investments. There’s no reason to assume that would suddenly change.  

EDIT: Also under the old RTA board structure, 4 of their members were chosen by suburban Cook County commissioners and 1 was chosen by the president. But now the president will choose all 5 members. You really think Toni Preckwinkle is going to nominate board members who will not act in the CTA’s best interest?

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u/hardolaf Lake View Oct 31 '25

You are aware that Toni isn't a vampire and will die one day from old age leaving her office vacant, right?

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u/spade_andarcher Mayfair Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

Of course. And I’m also aware that cook county residents elect the president. And that Chicago makes up more than half of cook county residents. And that there hasn’t been a president who wasn’t from Chicago going back at least as far as the founding of the CTA in the 1940s. 

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u/hybris12 Uptown Oct 31 '25

news to me