Article XIV. Local Transit Commissions  

    (220 ILCS 5/14-101) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-101)
    Sec. 14-101. Whenever the city council of any city in this state shall pass and there shall become operative and effective an ordinance granting consent, permission and authority for the establishment, maintenance and operation of a comprehensive unified local transportation system, the major portion of which is or is to be located within or the major portion of the service of which is or is to be supplied to the inhabitants of such city, and which system is used or to be used chiefly for the transportation of persons, there shall be created and established a local transit commission as and for the purposes hereinafter provided.
    Such local transit commission shall be designated "Transit Commission" preceded by the name of such city.
    The term "transit commission" as hereinafter used in this Article means the local transit commission created and established pursuant to the provisions of this Article.
    The term "city" as hereinafter used in this Article means any city establishing a local transit commission pursuant to the provisions of this Article.
    The term "comprehensive unified local transportation system" as used in this Article means a transportation system comprising all of the street railways and also all of the local railroads the major portions of which are within the city (provided there are such local railroads in such city) and may also comprise public utility motor vehicle lines and/or any other local public utility transportation facilities, the major portions of which are within the city.
    The term "local railroads" as herein used means railroads used chiefly for local passenger transportation and does not include a railroad constituting or used as part of a steam trunk line railroad system operated as a common carrier of freight and passengers.
    The transit commission shall consist of three members to be appointed by the mayor by and with the advice and consent of the city council of the city, one of which members shall be designated chairman of the commission.
    Immediately upon appointment the members of the commission shall respectively take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office. Each member of the commission shall before entering upon the duties of his office give bond with a surety or sureties approved by the city council of the city in the sum of $25,000.00 conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties as such member.
    Upon the qualification of the members of the commission as herein provided, the commission shall be deemed created and established for all of the purposes of this Article, and the fact of such creation and establishment shall by the Commission be certified to the Governor of the State of Illinois and to the Illinois Commerce Commission.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-102) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-102)
    Sec. 14-102. Terms of office, vacancies, restrictions and removals. Terms of office. The first members of the transit commission shall be appointed for two, three, and four year terms respectively. The term of office of each member thereafter appointed shall be four years.
    Vacancies. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission occurring by reason of the death, resignation, disqualification, removal, or inability or refusal to act of any of the members of such commission shall be filled by appointment by the mayor by and with the advice and consent of the city council of the city.
    Restrictions and removals. Each member of the transit commission shall devote all time necessary to perform properly and adequately the duties of his office, and shall hold no other office or position of profit, or engage in any other business, employment, or vocation to the detriment or neglect of such duties.
    No person holding stocks or bonds in any corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the transit commission, or who is in any other manner directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in any such corporation, shall be appointed as a member of the transit commission or shall be appointed or employed by the transit commission.
    No member of the transit commission or any officer or employe of the transit commission shall voluntarily become so interested and if he shall become so interested otherwise than voluntarily he shall within a reasonable time divest himself of such interest.
    No member of the transit commission or any officer or employe of the transit commission shall solicit or accept any gift, gratuity, emolument, or employment from any corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the transit commission or from any officer, agent, or employe thereof; nor solicit, request, or recommend directly or indirectly, to any such corporation or to any officer, agent, or employe thereof, the appointment or employment of any person by any such corporation to any office or position. And no such corporation or any officer, agent, or employe thereof, shall offer to any member of the transit commission or any officer or employe of the transit commission any gift, gratuity, emolument, or employment.
    Violation of any of the provisions of this paragraph by any member, officer, or employe of the transit commission shall be ground for his removal from the office or employment held by him.
    No member of the transit commission shall be removed from office during the term for which he shall be appointed except upon written charges made and sustained, as hereinafter provided for violation of any of the provisions of this paragraph, or for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in the discharge of the duties of his office.
    Such charges shall be preferred by the mayor in writing to the city council of the city, or by resolution of the city council of the city and shall be investigated by a committee designated by the city council, which shall afford full opportunity to the commissioner complained of to appear and be heard in his own defense and to be represented by counsel.
    The finding or decision of such committee shall be reported by it to the city council. In case such finding or decision shall sustain the charges and shall be approved by a vote of two thirds of all of the members of the city council, the mayor of the city shall issue a declaration removing such commissioner from office and the vacancy thus created shall be filled as in this section provided.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-103) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-103)
    Sec. 14-103. Offices, employes and supplies, salaries. Offices. The transit commission shall establish and maintain an office in the city hall of the city or at such other place as the city council of the city shall from time to time authorize or provide.
    Such office shall be open for business between the hours of nine o'clock A. M. and five o'clock P. M. of each week day except holidays, except on Saturdays the hours shall be from nine o'clock A. M. to twelve o'clock noon.
    Employes and supplies. The transit commission shall have power to appoint a secretary, and to employ such accountants, engineers, experts, inspectors, clerks and other employes and fix their compensation, and to purchase such furniture, stationery, and other supplies and materials, as are reasonably necessary to enable it properly to perform its duties and exercise its powers.
    The secretary and such other employes as the commission may require shall give bond in such amount and with such security as the commission may prescribe.
    Salaries and expenses. Each of the members of the transit commission shall receive such annual salary as shall be fixed by the city council of the city.
    The salary of any member shall not be reduced during his term of office.
    The city council of the city shall have power to provide for the payment of the salaries of all members and the expenses of the commission.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-104) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-104)
    Sec. 14-104. Rules and regulations, meetings, seal and authentication of records, etc.
    Rules and regulations. Consistent with the provisions of this Article, the transit commission may adopt such rules and regulations and may alter and amend the same as it shall deem advisable relative to the calling, holding and conduct of its meetings, the transaction of its business, the regulation and control of its agents and employes, the filing of complaints and petitions and the service of notices thereof and the conduct of hearings thereon, and the performance in general of its duties and powers hereunder.
    Meetings. For the purpose of receiving, considering and acting upon any complaints or applications which may be presented to it or for the purpose of conducting investigations or hearings on its own motion the transit commission shall hold a regular meeting at least once a week except in the months of July and August in each year. In addition to such other meetings of the commission as may be held, called or provided for by the rules and regulations of the commission, the Chairman shall call a meeting of the commission at any time upon the request of the mayor or city council of the city.
    Quorum and Majority Rule. Two members of the transit commission shall constitute a quorum to transact business and no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the commission; and every finding, order, decision, rule, regulation or requirement of the commission approved by at least two members thereof shall be deemed to be the finding, order, decision, rule, regulation or requirement of the commission.
    Seal, Authentication of records, etc. The transit commission may adopt, keep, and use a common seal, of which judicial notice shall be taken in all courts of this state. Any process, notice, or other instrument which the commission may be authorized by law to issue shall be deemed sufficient if signed by the secretary of the commission and authenticated by such seal. All acts, orders, decisions, rules, and records of the commission, and all reports, schedules, and documents filed with the commission may be proved in any court in this state by a copy thereof certified by the secretary under the seal of the commission.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-105) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-105)
    Sec. 14-105. Powers and duties. The jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the transit commission shall extend to:
    (a) the comprehensive unified local transportation system for which a permit is granted as mentioned in the foregoing Section 14-101 of this Article including any and every part of such system extending or which may be extended into adjacent or suburban territory within this state lying outside of the city not more than 30 miles distant from the nearest point marking the corporate limits of the city;
    (b) all other local public utility transportation facilities owned or operated or to be owned or operated mainly in the transportation of persons the major portion of which facilities are located or to be located within, or the major portion of the service of which is or is to be supplied to the inhabitants of the city, including such part or parts of any of said facilities extending or which may be extended into adjacent and suburban territory within this state lying outside of the city within 30 miles distant from the nearest point marking the corporate limits of the city; but not including any railroad located or to be located in the city constituting or used as part of a steam trunk line railroad system, operated as a common carrier of freight and passengers;
    (c) every corporation that now or hereafter may or may be authorized to own, control, operate, or manage the comprehensive unified local transportation system or any of the other local transportation facilities mentioned in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
    With respect to said comprehensive unified local transportation system and said other local transportation facilities and those owning and/or operating or authorized to own and/or operate the same as aforesaid, the transit commission shall have the same regulatory and supervisory powers and duties as are conferred and imposed upon the Illinois Commerce Commission by the provisions of this Act.
    Provided, however, that the initial acquisition, consolidation, unification, or merger of the properties for the establishment of and to comprise said comprehensive unified local transportation system and the issuance of bonds, stocks, or other securities therefor or in connection therewith, shall be within and subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Illinois Commerce Commission with respect to any consent, permission, approval, authority, or certificate for such acquisition, consolidation, or merger of said properties including any certificate of convenience and necessity, and the issuance of such securities required by the provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-106) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-106)
    Sec. 14-106. Proceedings before the Commission and in the courts. The provisions of Article X, Sections 4-201 through 4-205, Sections 5-201 through 5-203, and Section 9-252 of this Act, except as herein otherwise provided, shall apply to and govern the proceedings by or before the transit commission, appeals from the rules, regulations, orders, or decisions of the transit commission, and actions for the enforcement of rules, regulations, orders, or decisions of the transit commission or to recover penalties for violation thereof or of the provisions of this Article XIV.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-107) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-107)
    Sec. 14-107. Powers of supervision, etc. Except as otherwise provided in this Article the transit commission shall have general supervision of the corporations owning or operating the comprehensive unified local transportation system or any of the other local transportation facilities mentioned in the foregoing Section 14-105. It shall inquire into and keep itself informed as to the general condition of such corporations their franchises, capitalization, rates and charges, the manner in which their properties are managed and operated with respect to adequacy of service, and as to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Act, with the orders of the transit commission, and with the requirements, terms, and conditions of any ordinance grant, permit or franchise.
    The corporations subject to the jurisdiction of the transit commission shall furnish to the commission all information required by it to carry into effect the provisions of this Article.
    Whenever required by the transit commission such corporations shall deliver to the commission all maps, profiles, reports, documents, books, accounts, papers and records in their possession in any way relating to their property or affecting their business, and inventories of their property, in such form as the commission may direct, or verified copies of all or any of the same.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-108) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-108)
    Sec. 14-108. Transit Commission's powers to be regulatory. The powers and duties conferred and imposed upon the transit commission are to be taken and deemed powers and duties of reasonable and lawful public service regulation as distinguished from managerial powers or functions.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-109) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-109)
    Sec. 14-109. Transit Commission to supersede Illinois Commerce Commission. As concerns the comprehensive unified local transportation system and other local transportation facilities mentioned in the foregoing Section 14-105 and the corporations, owning and/or operating or authorized to own and/or operate the same, the transit commission shall supersede the Illinois Commerce Commission created by this Act and the Illinois Commerce Commission shall have no jurisdiction over such system, facilities or corporations, except as otherwise provided in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/14-110) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 14-110)
    Sec. 14-110. Saving provisions. The creation of a transit commission under this Article shall not affect pending actions or proceedings instituted in any court under the provisions of this Act by or against any public utility corporation owning or operating local transportation facilities which are subject to the jurisdiction of such transit commission as in this Article provided.
    Any investigation, hearing, or proceeding instituted or conducted by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the provisions of this Act against or concerning any such public utility corporation and pending and undetermined at the time of the creation of such transit commission shall be conducted and continued to final determination by such transit commission except as herein otherwise provided.
    All orders, decisions, rules, or regulations heretofore made, issued, or promulgated by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the provisions of this Act relating to or affecting any such public utility corporation, shall continue in force; but such transit commission shall have all powers with respect to such orders, decisions, rules, or regulations, the same as if made, issued, or promulgated by such transit commission under the provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 84-617.)