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Committee hears update on "United We Move" transit governance bills; no formal county position taken
Summary
State transit governance and a proposed vehicle-use pilot were discussed. County representatives said the latest bill versions would preserve Will County seats on regional transit boards but include a pilot road-usage charge; the committee did not vote to take a formal position.
Will County Legislative Committee members heard an update on the "United We Move" transit governance bills (filed in both chambers as companion measures) and the related proposal for a road-use pilot to address declining gasoline-tax revenue.
Mike Mahoney briefed the committee, saying the current drafts aim to preserve Will County representation on regional transit boards including the RTA and Pace while reforming governance. "This bill keeps our seat at the RTA. It keeps our seat on Pace," Mahoney said, adding that the draft retains a supermajority safeguard to prevent a single region from dominating capital and funding decisions.
Mahoney and committee members also discussed the fiscal element in labor-backed versions of the bill: a pilot road-usage charge to generate revenue as vehicles electrify. Committee members raised concerns about how a road-use charge would interact with existing gasoline taxes and whether it would amount to double taxation. Mahoney described the current proposal as a limited pilot administered by IDOT with voluntary enrollment for up to about 1,000 participants; under the pilot description he gave, participants would not pay both gas tax and the pilot charge in the pilot context.
Members said they wanted more information before taking a formal position. Some members suggested the matter will be revisited when a more final bill text is available and when executive committee staff have time to review the financial mechanics. The committee did not vote on a resolution or take a formal position at this meeting.
