HB3597eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3597 Engrossed LRB097 06493 RLJ 46576 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3605/30) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 330)

Sec. 30. The Board shall make all rules and regulations governing the operation of the transportation system, shall determine all routings and change the same whenever it is deemed advisable by the Board, subject to the provisions of any ordinance granting rights to the Authority. Except as provided in Sections 2.04 and Section 4.11(b)(5) of the "Regional Transportation Authority Act", the Board shall fix rates, fares and charges for transportation, provided that they shall be at all times sufficient in the aggregate to provide revenues (a) for the payment of the interest on and principal of all bonds, certificates and other obligations payable from said revenues and to meet all other charges upon such revenues as provided by any trust agreement executed by the Authority in connection with the issuance of bonds or certificates under this Act, (b) for the payment of all operating costs including all charges which may be incurred pursuant to Sections 29 and 39 of this Act and all other costs and charges incidental to the operation of the transportation system, (c) for the payment of all costs and charges incurred pursuant to Sections 37 and 38 of this Act and any other costs and charges for acquisition, installation, construction or for replacement or reconstruction of equipment, structures or rights of way not financed through issuance of bonds or certificates under Section 12 of this Act, and (d) for any compensation required to be paid to any municipality for the use of streets, subways and other public ways. The Board may provide free transportation within any municipality in and by which they are employed for firemen and public health nurses, when in uniform, and policemen when in uniform or, when not in uniform, upon presentation of identification as policemen, and shall provide free transportation to sworn law enforcement personnel of the Cook County Sheriff's Department when in uniform or, when not in uniform, upon presentation of identification as sworn law enforcement personnel of the Cook County Sheriff's Department, and may provide free transportation for employees of the Authority when in uniform or upon presentation of identification as such employees, and may enter into agreements with the United States Post Office Department for the transportation of mail, and the payment of compensation to the Authority in lieu of fares for the transportation of letter carriers, when in uniform at all times.

The Board may also provide free transportation, or transportation at reduced fares, to all or designated classes of pupils in attendance at public schools of school districts within or partly within the territorial limits of the Authority, or in attendance at private schools offering grades of instruction comparable to those offered in public schools, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board, and, if otherwise authorized by law, the Board may contract with public school boards and representatives of private schools, for reimbursement of pupil transportation costs from public funds.

(Source: P.A. 83-886.)

Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is amended by changing Section 2.04 and adding Sections 2.35, 2.37, 3B.20, and 3B.25 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3615/2.04) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 702.04)

Sec. 2.04. Fares and Nature of Service.

(a) Whenever a Service Board provides any public transportation by operating public transportation facilities, the Service Board shall provide for the level and nature of fares or charges to be made for such services, and the nature and standards of public transportation to be so provided that meet the goals and objectives adopted by the Authority in the Strategic Plan. Provided, however that if the Board adopts a budget and financial plan for a Service Board in accordance with the provisions in Section 4.11(b)(5), the Board may consistent with the terms of any purchase of service contract provide for the level and nature of fares to be made for such services under the jurisdiction of that Service Board, and the nature and standards of public transportation to be so provided.

(b) Whenever a Service Board provides any public transportation pursuant to grants made after June 30, 1975, to transportation agencies for operating expenses (other than with regard to experimental programs) or pursuant to any purchase of service agreement, the purchase of service agreement or grant contract shall provide for the level and nature of fares or charges to be made for such services, and the nature and standards of public transportation to be so provided. A Service Board shall require all transportation agencies with which it contracts, or from which it purchases transportation services or to which it makes grants to provide half fare transportation for their student riders if any of such agencies provide for half fare transportation to their student riders.

(c) In so providing for the fares or charges and the nature and standards of public transportation, any purchase of service agreements or grant contracts shall provide, among other matters, for the terms or cost of transfers or interconnections between different modes of transportation and different public transportation agencies, schedules or routes of such service, changes which may be made in such service, the nature and condition of the facilities used in providing service, the manner of collection and disposition of fares or charges, the records and reports to be kept and made concerning such service, for interchangeable tickets or other coordinated or uniform methods of collection of charges, and shall further require that the transportation agency comply with any determination made by the Board of the Authority under and subject to the provisions of Section 2.12b of this Act. In regard to any such service, the Authority and the Service Boards shall give attention to and may undertake programs to promote use of public transportation and to provide coordinated ticket sales and passenger information. In the case of a grant to a transportation agency which remains subject to Illinois Commerce Commission supervision and regulation, the Service Boards shall exercise the powers set forth in this Section in a manner consistent with such supervision and regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

(d) By January 1, 2013, the Authority, in consultation with the Service Boards and the general public, must develop a policy regarding transfer fares on all fixed-route public transportation services provided by the Service Boards. The policy shall also set forth the fare sharing agreements between the Service Boards that apply to interagency fare passes and tickets. The policy established by the Authority shall be submitted to each of the Service Boards for its approval or comments and objection. After receiving the policy, the Service Boards have 90 days to approve or take other action regarding the policy. If all of the Service Boards agree to the policy, then a regional agreement shall be created and signed by each of the Service Boards. The terms of the agreement may be changed upon petition by any of the Service Boards and by agreement of the other Service Boards.

(e) By January 1, 2015, the Authority must develop and implement a regional fare payment system. The regional fare payment system must use and conform with established information security industry standards and requirements of the financial industry. The system must allow consumers to use contactless credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards to pay for all fixed-route public transportation services. Beginning in 2012 and each year thereafter until 2015, the Authority must submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly describing the progress of the Authority and each of the Service Boards in implementing the regional fare payment system. The Authority must adopt rules to implement the requirements set forth in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

(70 ILCS 3615/2.35 new)

Sec. 2.35. Vehicle arrival information. By July 1, 2012, all Service Boards must make available web-based, real-time vehicle arrival information for use by riders for all fixed-route public transportation services. The Authority shall have access to all universally acceptable data feeds for vehicle arrival information.

(70 ILCS 3615/2.37 new)

Sec. 2.37. Wireless Internet study. By January 1, 2012, the Authority must prepare and submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the feasibility of providing wireless Internet services on all fixed-route public transportation services.

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.20 new)

Sec. 3B.20. Wireless Internet. The Commuter Rail Board must provide wireless Internet service on all passenger trains it owns or operates by January 1, 2012, but only if the service can be provided with no cost to the Commuter Rail Division.

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.25 new)

Sec. 3B.25. Automated external defibrillators. The Commuter Rail Board must conduct a study concerning the installation and use of automated external defibrillators on passenger trains operated by the Commuter Rail Board. No later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Commuter Rail Board must report to the Governor and the General Assembly the results of the study. For the purposes of this Section, "automated external defibrillator" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 10 of the Automated External Defibrillator Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.