Quinn signs bill putting restrictions on CTA, RTA

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation barring members of major transit agencies from holding other government offices.

The measure was sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo and Sen. Martin Sandoval of Cicero. It passed unanimously from both houses of the Legislature this spring.

The new law prohibits members of the Chicago Transit Agency's board, the Regional Transportation Authority Board and the Commuter Rail Board from holding any other state or local government job. It makes an exception for offices that do not pay officials more than $15,000 annually, as well as for positions in the National Guard or the military reserves.

The legislation follows the release of a transit task force report revealing records of patronage hiring at Metra.