# Northern Illinois Transit Authority establishment > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/northern-illinois-transit-authority-establishment > Updated: 2026-09-10T10:00:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) has officially commenced operations, assuming regional oversight of public transit for Chicago and its surrounding six-county area. The agency replaces the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to manage the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace. NITA was established to address budget gaps caused by the expiration of federal COVID-19 support and changing commuting patterns, with legislative funding provided through motor fuel sales tax and a regional sales tax increase. Following its inaugural meeting, the NITA board elected Tom Kotarac as chair and named Jamie Rhee as interim executive director. The agency is tasked with implementing unified fares to allow seamless transfers between systems, coordinating schedules, and simplifying ticketing. Future mandates include deploying transit ambassadors by next July and determining whether to establish a new police department to patrol the three transit systems. The transition is described as a “complete reset” for the region’s transit infrastructure, supported by up to $1.5 billion in additional annual funding. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Northern Illinois Transit Authority holds first meeting to oversee Chicago transit The newly formed Northern Illinois Transit Authority held its first meeting, electing Tom Kotarac as chair to oversee the integration of CTA, Metra, and Pace transit systems in the Chicago region. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/northern-illinois-transit-authority-holds-first-meeting-to-oversee-chicago-transit ### 2026-09-01: Northern Illinois Transit Authority begins regional oversight The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) has launched to oversee Chicago's CTA, Metra, and Pace, aiming to improve regional coordination and address projected transit budget gaps. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/northern-illinois-transit-authority-begins-regional-oversight --- Cite as: Northern Illinois Transit Authority establishment. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/northern-illinois-transit-authority-establishment