Pace Reorganized Board Following Transit Authority Act
The agency board downsized to 11 members, requiring operators to track new leadership and service planning shifts.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in People
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The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act led to the departure of 10 board directors, reducing the total membership of Pace from 13 to 11. Following these structural changes, John Noak was selected as the new board chair.
Why it matters
The legislation reflects a broader shift in state policy, specifically reallocating road fund revenues to public transit and increasing sales taxes. Operators should monitor how this new board composition influences transit infrastructure priorities and project timelines across Illinois.
The agency board reduced its total size from 13 to 11 members, marking a 75% turnover in director positions following the legislative change. Former board member Rick Kwasneski previously served on the board for 24 years before his August retirement.
The players
John Noak
The newly selected Pace board chair who maintains a base in Romeoville.
Rick Kwasneski
A long-serving board member who concluded his 24-year tenure in August.
Terry Wells
A remaining incumbent board member responsible for the recent leadership transition.
Erin Smith
An incumbent board member continuing through the agency transition.
The details
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act mandated these structural changes, triggering the departure of the majority of board directors. Remaining incumbents, including John Noak, Terry Wells, and Erin Smith, oversaw the selection of the new chair. This leadership transition precedes the release of the upcoming ReVision plan, which will dictate future operational strategy for the transit authority.
Timeline
August 2026: Rick Kwasneski retired from the board.
September 10, 2026: Noak nominated Kotarac as NITA chair.
September 16, 2026: John Noak was selected as Pace board chair.
October 2026: Pace will release a draft of the ReVision plan.
Market Landscape
The reorganization of the Pace board follows the implementation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, which significantly altered state transit funding. This shift in governance mirrors broader regional efforts to align transit infrastructure spending with updated revenue streams from road funds and sales taxes.
Businesses reliant on regional transit infrastructure should prepare for shifts in capital allocation as the new board finalizes its upcoming ReVision plan. Operators should monitor the October release to understand how potential service changes might affect workforce commuting or logistics requirements.
The takeaway
The major board turnover signals a shift toward new oversight priorities within Illinois transit management. Operators should monitor the October draft of the ReVision plan as a primary indicator of future service availability and potential regional infrastructure project timelines.
What happens next
Pace will release a draft of its ReVision plan in October 2026.
Further reading
For more on changes to regional leadership, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Herald.
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