70 ILCS 3615/2.45

(70 ILCS 3615/2.45)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 2.45. Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Program.

(a) As used in this Section, "transit-supportive development" means commercial or residential development that is designed to expand the public transportation ridership base or to effectively connect public transportation users to such developments. "Transit-supportive development" includes, but is not limited to, laws and policies that further these objectives, capital improvements that foster communities with high per capita transit ridership, and public transportation operation improvements that support efforts to build communities with high per capita transit ridership.

(b) The Authority may establish a Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Program and authorize the deposit of Authority moneys into a Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Fund. Amounts on deposit in the Fund and interest and other earnings on those amounts may be used by the Authority, with the approval of its Directors and after a competitive application and scoring process that includes an opportunity for public participation, for operating or capital grants or loans to Service Boards, Transportation Agencies, or units of local government for the following purposes:

(1) investment in transit-supportive residential and commercial development, including developments on or in the vicinity of property owned by the Authority, a Service Board, or a Transportation Agency;

(2) grants to local governments to help cover the cost of drafting and implementing land use, parking, and other laws that are intended to encourage and shall reasonably have the effect of allowing or supporting transit-supportive residential or commercial development; and

(3) providing resources for increased public transportation service in and around transit-supportive residential and commercial developments, especially newly created transit-supportive developments.

(c) If the Authority establishes such a program, the Authority shall develop and publish scoring criteria that it shall use in making awards from the Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Fund. The scoring criteria shall prioritize high-density development in and in the near vicinity of public transportation stations and routes and shall prioritize projects that (i) are likely to increase per capita public transportation ridership, (ii) serve disadvantaged and transit-dependent populations, and (iii) are located in jurisdictions that have land use and other policies that encourage the level of residential density and concentration of businesses in walkable districts accessible by public transportation required to support financially viable public transportation service with substantial ridership.

(d) Any grantee that receives funds under this Section must (i) implement such programs within one year after receipt of the funds and (ii) determine, within 2 years following commencement of any program using such funds, whether it has resulted in increased use of public transportation by those residing in the area covered by the program or those accessing the area from outside the area. No additional funds under this Section may be distributed to a grantee for any individual program beyond 2 years unless the Board of the Authority waives this limitation. A waiver shall be with regard to an individual program and with regard to a one-year period, and any further waivers for an individual program require a subsequent vote of the Board.

(e) The Authority may reallocate unused funds deposited into the Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Fund to other Authority purposes and programs.

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