Transportation

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority shall establish the CTA Transit Police Department composed solely of sworn law-enforcement officers. Provides that all security functions shall be performed exclusively by officers of the CTA Transit Police Department. Provides that the CTA Transit Police Department shall deploy 3-officer safety teams moving continuously through trains, stations, and buses, with priority given to high-crime locations. Provides that the Authority shall implement a pilot program deploying AI-based weapon-detection scanners in at least 5 and not more than 10 high-crime stations and major bus hubs. Provides that the Authority shall implement a limited facial recognition pilot program restricted to identifying individuals (i) with active violent-felony warrants or (ii) who the Authority has prohibited from accessing services provided by the Authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. With regard to automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, provides that "safety zone" does not include any roadway in which the 30 mile per hour speed limit is decreased by local ordinance without an engineering or traffic investigation. Provides that a local authority or park district shall determine and declare by ordinance a reasonable and safe absolute maximum speed which: decreases the limit within an urban district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour, but not less than 20 miles per hour and a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour in an alley; increases the limit within an urban district, but not to more than 55 miles per hour, if after increasing the limit within an urban district an engineering or traffic investigation is required to decrease the limit; or decreases the limit within a residence district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 20 (rather than not to less than 25) miles per hour. Requires a park district, city, village, incorporated town, or county board to post a sign designating the new speed limit. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of green oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights on motor vehicles or equipment used by contractors, engineering or survey crews, or union representatives engaged in work on a highway. Provides that such lights shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a highway.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who is less than 16 years of age may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers if the operator is 18 years of age or older.

Declares April 2026 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the State of Illinois. Urges the citizens and businesses of the State of Illinois to observe Distracted Driving Awareness Month by practicing safe driving behaviors and pledging to drive distraction-free.

Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act. Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031 to eligible students for engineering-related study at a public university who agree to work as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years. Allows the Commission to award scholarships to pay the tuition and fees of a student enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment. Provides for an additional stipend in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Establishes the total amount of scholarship assistance, the application process, eligibility requirements, and payments and repayments. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to require the Board of Higher Education to establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Transportation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: Other State Funds $5,760,285,739; Federal Funds $14,911,796; Total $5,775,197,535.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to create an expedited process for municipalities or counties to submit a request for an expedited review for intersections on State roads.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to accept a request for proposal for a quick-build infrastructure as an alternative for an infrastructure project. Provides that an accepted quick-build infrastructure may include a cycle lane segregator or other temporary infrastructure solution. Sets forth cycle lane segregator specifications.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more to use an automated traffic law enforcement system to record and enforce violations related to traffic obstruction. Provides that for each violation recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system, the municipality having jurisdiction shall issue a written notice of violation to the registered owner by mail within 30 days after the Secretary of State identifies the owner, but no later than 90 days after the violation. Sets forth defenses for a violation. Provides that unless the driver received a Uniform Traffic Citation from a police officer at the time of the violation, the motor vehicle owner is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $100, or the completion of a traffic education program, or both, plus an additional penalty of not more than $100 for failure to pay the original penalty or complete a required program in a timely manner. Requires each intersection monitored by an automated traffic law enforcement system to have a posted sign visible to approaching traffic indicating that automated enforcement is in use. Provides that compensation paid for an automated traffic law enforcement system must be based on the value of the equipment or services provided and may not be based on the number of citations issued or the revenue generated. Prohibits a member of the General Assembly and officer or employee of a municipality or county from knowingly accepting employment or receiving compensation or fees for services from a vendor that provides automated traffic law enforcement system equipment or services to municipalities or counties. Allows the Secretary to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Makes other changes.