Montgomery Democratic State Rep. Matt Hanson says the recently signed transit bill provides significant benefits beyond the Chicago transit system. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 into law last week, which will create $1.5 billion in annual revenue to help fund key infrastructure for Chicago area transit and provide about $169 million in additional funding for downstate transit programs.

"I think about the out-of-RTA area first and municipalities and other entities have had to grab money wherever they could to fund their respective public transit and especially their ride on demand that many of those that are seniors are in the disabled community rely on. So it’s absolutely a lifeline for them."

Hanson says that necessary road infrastructure projects throughout the state will not be impacted by the redirection of funds from motor fuel sales taxes and interest accrued in the state’s road fund to transit funding as Republican lawmakers have claimed would happen. He also says the appointment of representatives to oversight boards through the newly established Northern Illinois Transit Authority will be made appropriately with qualified candidates.

With his experience in transit as an engineer, Hanson was added as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 2111, which was approved during the fall veto session and takes effect on June 1, 2026.