Sen. Ram Villivalam
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A signature achievement: With Pritzker’s Hancock, Illinois’ groundbreaking transit reform/funding bill is a done deal.
Like many Prairie State politicians and transit officials, workers, riders, and advocates, I was overjoyed after state public transportation legislation surprisingly passed in the wee hours of October 31, aka The Halloween Miracle.
December 16, 2025
NITA celebrate? Hailing a historic win: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and $1.5B in funding to save and upgrade service
New York City dominated the headlines today after electing Zohran Mamdani as mayor. But it wasn't the only big U.S. city that's made history in the past week.
November 5, 2025
“Trib-splaining”: Lawmakers, CTAction clap back against yet another naysaying Tribune editorial about the transit reform/funding bill
On Halloween, a Crain's editorial did a fine job of summing up the stressful, but ultimately successful, legislative process that led to the Illinois General Assembly passing a robust transit reform/funding bill earlier that morning. "A long night yields long-overdue action on transit" is definitely the best op-ed I've seen on the topic in the mainstream press since last Friday.
November 4, 2025
State Sen. Ram Villivalam, sponsor of the Senate transit bill, discusses the “Halloween Miracle” that allowed robust reform and funding to pass
On Friday morning, October 31, Streetsblog interviewed Illinois House Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado. She was operating on minimal sleep after staying up until 5 a.m. for the passage of the $1.5 billion transit reform/funding bill at the state capitol. But she was also in a celebratory mood. The legislation she co-sponsored with Rep. Kam Buckner had finally crossed the finish line, not only saving Chicagoland transit, but also paving the way for first-class regional and Downstate bus and train service.
November 3, 2025
Illinois State Sen. Ram Villivilam provides an update on efforts to get a transit reform/funding bill to the finish line
It's getting down to the wire as Illinois legislators try to pass a transit reform and funding bill during their fall veto session, which wraps up next week from Tuesday through Thursday. If they don't approve such legislation soon, the result could be major service cuts and layoffs for the CTA, Metra, and Pace.
October 24, 2025
A transit fiscal cliff town hall double-header: Wicker Park and Uptown
At the Truman College event, Sen. Mike Simmons and Sen Ram Villivalam disputed claims about the transit bill from Republican senators.
September 24, 2025
Illinois House Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado thinks Springfield can solve the transit fiscal crisis during six days in October
Read Streetsblog recent interview with Rep. Kam Buckner about efforts avert the transit fiscal cliff here.
August 20, 2025
Should we bet on Welch? House Speaker Chris Welch: My team will present a transit funding plan by fall veto session and “get it done right”
"I can tell you, my love for you will still be strongAfter the boys of summer have gone"
August 6, 2025
No harm in asking: Illinois Senate President Harmon answers questions about the likelihood of a summer vote on a transit funding bill
"We're eager to hear constructive criticism [of HB 3438] and counter-proposals, and to-date we haven't heard many," Senate President Harmon said.
August 1, 2025
State Sen. Ram Villivalam: Here’s how we can stop Chicagoland transit from falling off the fiscal cliff
While some might argue it's risky for the senator and his colleagues to hold out for a full $1.5B to upgrade the system, he says that failure to do so would be a missed opportunity.
July 24, 2025
