New CFO and Transit Agencies’ Appointments Approved

Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting
July 15, 2026

The Committee approved, subject to final approval at the Board meeting on July 16:

• Angela Hardiman as the new Chief Financial Officer.  No questions were asked at the meeting, though several Commissioners said they had met with her individually prior to the meeting;

and the following appointments proposed by the Cook County President to the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), Metra, PACE, and the CTA Boards, all to be effective September 1, 2026:

• Tom Kotarek – 3-year appointments to NITA and CTA Boards.  He has a transit and planning background.
• Ann Kalayil – 5-year appointment to the CTA Board. She has a planning background and previously worked for Cook County as head of Asset Management.
• Diane Williams – 3-year appointments to NITA and Metra boards.  She is the former President of Safer Foundation, and had served on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) board at one time.  Her focus is on safety issues.
• Romayne Brown – 5-year appointment to Metra and NITA boards.  Unable to be at the meeting
• Joe Szabo – 3-year appointment to the Metra Board.  Has a background in railroad and government and was also on CMAP board previously.
• Rory Hoskins – 5-year appointments to PACE and NITA boards.  He is the Mayor of Village of Forest Park and has suburban transportation expertise.
• Luis Montgomery – 3-year appointments to PACE and NITA boards.  He is a civil engineer and a long-time user of public transportation.
• Terry Wells – 5-year appointment to PACE board.  He has been on the PACE board for 20 years as well as mayor of Phoenix, Illinois for 34 years.  He also has 37 years of teaching experience.

These appointments to the transit agencies reflect the 2025 state legislation changing the oversight of the various public transportation services in metropolitan Chicago.  As explained to the Commissioners by the County’s Transportation Department:

• The restructuring eliminated the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) and created NITA. 
• NITA will have a 20-member appointed board, with members appointed by the Governor, the Chicago mayor (with approval of the City Council), the Cook County president (with approval of the Board), and the collar counties. 
• Metra, PACE and CTA will also still have their own appointed boards, with Cook County having appointments to each.
• A transition report is expected from the NITA Board in July 2027 that will outline a coordinated service plan, establish service standards, and outline a 6-year funding transition. 
• There is to be a renewed focus on safety throughout the system. 
• The State is expected to provide $1.2B in annual operating funds. 
• Cook County conducted a competitive application process and had about 40 applicants. 

Commissioner questions focused on their issues of concern and letting the candidates for appointment know what issues will need to be addressed by the transit boards going forward. Main issues raised included:

• Need for connectivity between the various systems and planning around how to achieve both increased connections and increased service.
• Developing a single card use for all systems with a plan for fare distribution between the systems
• Red Line CTA extension should focus on more connectivity and not just the extension - can adjustments still be made to the plan?
• Communication with the public:  there should be a plan to include the public in discussions about changes and other concerns. 
• Changing demographics in Cook County and how an already established system can be changed to meet the transportation needs of the future. 
• How will the boards work together and how will they communicate back to the Cook County Board?
• Transportation between suburbs - not only directed at “into the city”
• Environmental concerns - switching to electric vehicles. 

​Observer - Cynthia Schilsky