Riders on this bus will have access to new, to the region, features that make taking transit more convenient and pleasurable. Photo by Eric Pancer.

Governor Quinn’s office issued a press release last Thursday calling House Bill 3597 “major transit reform legislation.”

What he signed into law today was not reform, but a package of new, “cool” features that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace – collectively called the service boards – are now required by law to implement.

This post is a summary of the legislation he signed today. Analysis of the universal fare system will be published later on Grid.

First, what is a fixed-route service? You’ll see this term in many of the feature descriptions. It’s basically any route that’s not a shuttle bus, unscheduled service, or paratransit service. The 52/California bus is a fixed route service, as is the Pace 888 Tri-State Flyer, and Metra’s UP-West train 26 to Ogilvie Transportation Center.

New transit features

• Transfer fares
  The RTA and three service boards must develop a transfer fare policy (including how to share fares between agencies) for passengers who pass between fixed-route services amongst the agencies.
  Deadline: January 1, 2013
• Regional fare payment
  The RTA must develop a regional fare payment system (“universal fare” system) that allows passengers to pay with contactless credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards for all fixed-route services. Beginning in 2012, the RTA must report to the Governor the developmental progress of this program.
  Deadline: January 1, 2015.
• Transit trackers
  All service boards must provide transit trackers on the web (CTA already does this for its buses and now trains). Note that the legislation does not require them to make public APIs or data feeds for arrival information.
  Deadline: July 1, 2012.
• Wi-fi feasibility
  The RTA must investigate and report to the Governor and General Assembly the feasibility of providing wireless internet on all fixed-route services. The Act didn’t specify how the RTA and service boards would charge for this service.
  Deadline: January 1, 2012.
• Wi-fi on Metra
  Metra must provide wi-fi on all trains, if it can be provided at no cost to Metra. The Act didn’t specify how Metra would charge for this service.
  Deadline: January 1, 2012.
• AEDs on Metra
  Metra must study the installation and use of automated external defibrillators (AED) on its trains.
  Deadline: July 7, 2012.

If it can be done at no cost to Metra, all of these trains will soon offer their passengers wireless internet. Photo by Ron Zack.