Transit meetings will stream online

Chicago-area transit boards will have to stream their meetings live online by at least next summer under legislation signed by Gov. Pat Quinn Tuesday.

The proposal, which takes effect in June, also requires that recordings of the meeting be posted online.

Lawmakers approved the plan this year as Metra in particular moves on from an ethics scandal that included a large severance package given to outgoing CEO Alex Clifford.

The law applies to the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority.

The plan was sponsored by state Rep. Al Riley, an Olympia Fields Democrat, and state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, a Chicago Heights Democrat.