Illinois lawmakers pass public transit funding bill to address RTA budget gap

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill Friday morning to fill a budget gap for public transit.

The The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act comes as the RTA faced a budget gap of more than $200 million.

State lawmakers approved new funding for public transportation agencies without large statewide tax increases previously proposed.

Instead, the measure would be fueled by revenue sources that currently feed the state's Road Fund and an increased sales tax targeted to the Chicago area.

The bill frustrated some lawmakers outside the Chicago area because of provisions that reroute money from the broader funding source of infrastructure projects.

The House voted 72-33 to pass Senate bill 2111 around 2:15 a.m. on Friday with only Democrats supporti