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    AN ACT concerning local government.

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


 
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    Section 5. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is 
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amended  by changing Section 5.01 as follows:
 



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    (70 ILCS 3615/5.01)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 705.01)



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    Sec. 5.01. Hearings and Citizen Participation. 

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    (a) The Authority shall provide for and encourage 
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participation by the
public in the development and review of 
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public transportation policy, and
in the process by which major 
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decisions significantly affecting the
provision of public 
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transportation are made. The Authority shall coordinate such 
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public participation processes with the Chicago Metropolitan 
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Agency for Planning to the extent practicable.


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    (b) The Authority shall hold such public hearings as may be 
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required by
this Act or as the Authority may deem appropriate 
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to the performance of any
of its functions. The Authority shall 
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coordinate such public hearings with the Chicago Metropolitan 
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Agency for Planning to the extent practicable.


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    (c) Unless such items are specifically provided for either 
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in the
Five-Year Capital Program or in the annual budget 
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program which has been the
subject of public hearings as 
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provided in Sections 2.01 or 4.01 of this
Act, the Board shall 
 


 






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hold public hearings at which citizens may be heard
prior to:

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        (i) the construction or acquisition of any public 
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    transportation
facility, the aggregate cost of which 
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    exceeds $5 million; and

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        (ii) the extension of, or major addition to services 
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    provided by the
Authority or by any transportation agency 
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    pursuant to a purchase of service
agreement with the 
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    Authority.

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    (d) Unless such items are specifically provided for in the 
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annual budget
and program which has been the subject of public 
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hearing, as provided in
Section 4.01 of this Act, the Board 
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shall hold public hearings at which
citizens may be heard prior 
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to the providing for or allowing, by means of
any purchase of 
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service agreement or any grant pursuant to Section 2.02 of
this 
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Act, any general increase or series of increases in fares or 
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charges
for public transportation, whether by the Authority or 
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by any
 transportation agency, which increase or series of 
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increases within any
twelve months affects more than 25% of the 
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consumers of service of the
Authority or of the transportation 
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agency; or so providing for or allowing
any discontinuance of 
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any public transportation route, or major portion
thereof, 
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which has been in service for more than a year. 

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    (e) At least twenty days prior notice of any public 
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hearing, as required
in this Section, shall be given by public 
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advertisement in a newspaper of
general circulation in the 
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metropolitan region. 

 


 






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    (e-5) With respect to any increase in fares or charges
for 
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public transportation, whether by the Authority or by any
 
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Service Board or transportation agency, a public hearing must 
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be held in each county in which the fare increase takes effect.  
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Notice of the public hearing shall be given at least 20 days 
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prior to the hearing and at least 30 days prior to the 
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effective date of any fare increase.  Notice shall be given by 
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public advertisement in a newspaper of
general circulation in 
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the metropolitan region and must also be sent to the Governor 
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and to each member of the General Assembly whose district 
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overlaps in whole or in part with the area in which the 
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increase takes effect.  The notice must state the date, time, 
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and place of the hearing and must contain a description of the 
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proposed increase.  The notice must also specify how interested 
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persons may obtain copies of any reports, resolutions, or 
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certificates describing the basis upon which the increase was 
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calculated. 
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    (f) The Authority may designate one or more Directors or 
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may appoint one
or more hearing officers to preside over any 
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hearing pursuant to this Act.
The Authority shall have the 
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power in connection with any such hearing to
issue subpoenas to 
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require the attendance of witnesses and the production
of 
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documents, and the Authority may apply to any circuit court in 
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the State
to require compliance with such subpoenas.

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    (g) The Authority may require any Service Board to hold one 
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or more public hearings with respect to any item described in 
 


 






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paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5.01, notwithstanding 
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whether such item has been the subject of a public hearing 
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under this Section 5.01 or Section 2.01 or 4.01 of this Act.

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

 

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