Peoria Standard

Li Arellano, a State Senator from Illinois, expressed concerns over a recently enacted transit law that he claims diverts funds from rural transportation to support Chicago, consequently increasing costs for working families. This statement was made on Facebook.

"Last Thursday (actually after 4am Friday morning!), while Illinois families were asleep, Democrats passed an awful public transit bill that sweeps rural road funds to bailout Chicago," said Liandro Gm Arellano, Illinois State Senator for 37th District, according to Facebook. "The new law diverts more than $500 million from critical rural road and infrastructure projects into Chicago to prop up their failing mass transit system. It also imposes a new toll surcharge that will hit working families and commuters even harder, especially in the 37th. Once again Democrats crush Illinoisans further, this time as citizens all across our state suffer new financial damage—all to bailout failed leadership and planning in Chicago."

In the 2025 fall veto session in Illinois, the legislature passed Senate Bill 2111 (SB 2111), a significant transit-funding and reform package. According to Governing, this bill allocates approximately $1.5 billion to the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace Suburban Bus by redirecting motor-fuel sales-tax revenue and interest from the state Road Fund to these Chicago-area transit systems. The legislation also establishes a new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) and reduces funding available for rural roads and bridges.

Smart Cities Dive reports that the transit package includes about $860 million from motor-fuel sales tax traditionally dedicated to the Road Fund and roughly $200 million in annual interest redirected toward Chicago-area transit operations. The new authority is expected to allocate around 85% of this new revenue to the Chicago region, resulting in downstate road and bridge programs receiving a smaller share.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s FY 2025-2030 Multi-Year Program summary shows that the state allocated approximately $29.65 billion for highways during this period, with only about $7.50 billion designated for transit and rail. This reflects a historic trend of nearly four times more investment in roads than in transit. However, as documented by IDOT, the new 2025 legislation significantly shifts revenue flows by prioritizing funding for Chicago‐area transit over rural infrastructure.

Arellano Jr., representing Illinois’ 37th Senate District since January 2025, covers many rural and small-city counties. His official General Assembly profile highlights his previous role as Mayor of Dixon, Illinois, his status as a U.S. Army veteran, his experience as a small-business owner, and his service on committees including Local Government and Veterans Affairs. His legislative focus includes fiscal restraint and rural infrastructure while opposing shifts in state tax or transportation funding away from downstate communities.