Bassi’s NIPC/CATS Consolidation Legislation Passes House Unanimously

Springfield, IL (May 23, 2005) - State Representative Suzie Bassi’s bill to consolidate two regional planning agencies to better address the development and transportation challenges of northeastern Illinois passed the House unanimously (110-0-0) today.

“This proposal has been in the works for a long time, and it truly has been a team effort among many agencies, municipalities, and commissions,” said Bassi. “I am very proud that this collaborative piece of legislation passed the House unanimously.”

The proposal establishes the Regional Planning Act to consolidate the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) and the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) Policy Committee into a Regional Planning Board (RPB) that would be responsible for developing plans that integrate land use and transportation for the region. 

“Planning for future transportation and land use requires the input of local governments, transportation organizations, and IDOT,” said Bassi. “By combining the two groups, NIPC and CATS, we can provide better coordination among all the groups to draft the most effective transportation plan for northeastern residents.”

Responsibilities of the RPB include:

• Coordination of regional transportation and land use planning;

• Identification and support for regional priorities and assistance in integrating various plans related to those priorities; and

• Preparation and adoption of a financial plan that addresses funding that adequately meets the needs and priorities of the region.

Under the amendment, the RPB would be a municipal corporation with 15 voting members appointed by local elected officials throughout the seven county region which includes Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will, Kane, and Kendall counties. Bassi said this arrangement allows local municipalities to still have a place at the planning table.

The plan also includes a hold harmless clause that allows the CATS Policy Committee to keep their federal designation as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which allows them to allocate federal transportation dollars to the Chicago metro region.

“The MPO designation is critical to providing CATS with needed federal transportation assistance,” said Bassi. “It is important for the commission to keep this designation to ensure they continue to receive these federal funds. The clause accomplishes this goal.”

The transition period must end no later than 36-months after the initial appointment of the Board. The RPB would be required to submit a funding and implementation strategy to the General Assembly by September of 2006.

“This merger is going to take some time and planning in order to develop a board that will effectively provide planning strategies that work for the betterment of the region,” said Bassi. “By providing this transition period, staff members of NIPC and CATS, related agencies, and municipalities will have time to adjust and develop needed changes.

Bassi said she is thankful for the efforts of all the representatives of organizations, agencies, and municipalities involved in crafting the bill including NIPC, CATS Council of Mayors, CATS Policy Committee, Metro Counties, IDOT, Metropolis 2020, and all the members of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “I could not have developed this very important piece of legislation without the help of these organizations,” Bassi said.

For more information, please contact Representative Bassi’s district office at 847-776-1880.