Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed a slate of nominees to serve on the reconstituted Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) board, as mandated by Illinois’ new transit funding and reform legislation that took effect in June. The legislation, which aims to generate more than $1 billion annually for public transit, also requires an overhaul of the governing boards of the CTA, Metra, and Pace, as well as the creation of a new regional transit oversight entity, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA).

Johnson’s nominees include two current CTA board members, including the board’s chair, Lester Barclay, an attorney first appointed under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. If confirmed by the City Council, Barclay would hold positions on both the CTA and NITA boards. Barclay has publicly criticized aspects of the new law, particularly the expanded authority granted to NITA, which he argues could undermine local control and accountability of Chicago’s transit system. In a previous op-ed, Barclay acknowledged support for the increased funding and regional cooperation but warned that final decision-making power shifting to NITA represents a loss of the city’s transit autonomy.

Joining Barclay on the proposed CTA board are Michael Eaddy, a pastor with theological and business degrees who Johnson appointed in 2024 and would serve solely on the CTA board, and Oswaldo Alvarez, executive director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation and a current Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board member. Alvarez, nominated last year by Johnson to the RTA, would hold seats on both the CTA and NITA boards if approved.

On the NITA board, Johnson’s picks include existing RTA board members Dennis Mondero and Natasha Jenkins. Mondero, a former CTA chief administrative officer, is also expected to serve on the Metra board. Jenkins, a labor and employment attorney, would additionally join the Pace board, the suburban bus agency responsible for paratransit services. Dee Atkins, chief of community engagement and equity at Thresholds—a healthcare and housing provider—rounds out Johnson’s NITA nominations.

For the Metra board, Johnson is reappointing Christian Mariano Díaz López, an affordable housing developer and co-chair of the transit-oriented development group Elevated Chicago, while Karen Tamley, CEO of the disability rights organization Access Living, is nominated for the Pace board. Pace manages regional paratransit services for people with disabilities, including in Chicago.

The new transit legislation reduces the mayor’s influence over executive appointments at CTA. The law limits Johnson’s authority to appoint members to the CTA board and requires NITA approval for a permanent CTA president. Since early 2025, CTA has been led by acting president Nora Leerhsen; attempts by Johnson to install a permanent CTA leader, including a 2025 push to appoint former chief operating officer John Roberson, did not advance amid opposition from board members and public criticism over Roberson’s lack of transit experience.

Among those omitted from Johnson’s proposed roster are Roberto Requejo, a former Elevated Chicago executive director and current CTA board member known for opposing Roberson’s appointment, and Lily Diego-Johnson, a social worker and disability advocate appointed to the board this spring who has served only briefly.

In a statement, Mayor Johnson emphasized the need for leaders who understand the communities depending on transit, saying, “Building a stronger regional transit system begins with appointing leaders who know our communities and understand the experiences of the people who rely on transit.” The City Council’s transportation committee plans to meet Wednesday and again next week, though the mayor’s nominations are not currently scheduled for discussion.