Revamped Metra Board Picks Romayne Brown as Chair

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Metra’s newly reconstituted board has unanimously elected Romayne Brown of Dolton as chair, reinstating her leadership role amid ongoing regional representation disputes following the expanded oversight granted by the 2025 NITA Act. Brown’s return signals a shift away from the previous rotating chair policy and sets the stage for increased collaboration between Chicago, Cook County, and surrounding suburbs to address governance and transit service challenges.

The reconstituted board of Metra, the Chicago-area commuter rail system, has selected Romayne Brown of Dolton as its new chair, marking her return to the position she held from 2020 to 2024. Brown’s unanimous election by incoming board members came amid tensions over regional representation and governance following recent legislative changes.

Joe McMahon, the outgoing chair and Kane County director, nominated Brown and highlighted her previous leadership during the pandemic. McMahon’s term ended on Sept. 1 pursuant to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, passed in 2025, which significantly expanded NITA’s oversight over Metra, as well as Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The act also introduced new appointments to the board by the Illinois governor, Cook County Board president, Chicago mayor, and leaders from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.

In her acceptance remarks, Brown emphasized a commitment to regional collaboration, stating she would work with state officials, Chicago, Cook County, and the collar counties to build a transit system that is accessible, affordable, reliable, and safe for all riders. Brown, a former Chicago Transit Authority executive, also pledged to ensure the collar counties maintain a strong voice in Metra’s decision-making.

A key issue preceding Brown’s election was an unusual board division over Metra’s longstanding practice of rotating the board chair every four years between representatives from Cook County and the five collar counties. Instituted in 2012 to maintain regional balance, the rotation policy faced legal scrutiny after the passage of the NITA Act, with board attorneys recommending its elimination to comply with the new law.

Joe Szabo, board director from Chicago and former Federal Railroad Administration chief, supported maintaining a collaborative approach to chairmanship but expressed reservations about the automatic rotation policy. Meanwhile, Kane County’s McMahon and former Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager defended the rotation as fair and representative of regional interests. A motion to preserve the rotation was ultimately defeated following an 8-3 vote to end the practice and instead allow the chair to be elected by a simple majority rather than an eight-member supermajority.

Underlying the policy debate were concerns among suburban representatives regarding diminished influence in transit governance under the revised NITA structure. Some local Republican officials suggested that political dynamics played a role in the leadership changes, noting that McMahon, a Republican, was no longer reappointed chair by a board predominantly appointed by Democratic officials.

State Senator Don DeWitte of St. Charles criticized the board’s realignment as a “Chicago Democratic takeover” that risks diverting suburban transit funding to support the CTA. McMahon expressed respect for the process and affirmed his intention to continue contributing leadership and guidance. He also highlighted achievements during his tenure, including improved ridership, safety enhancements, and the settlement of major union contracts.

In addition to Brown’s appointment, the board elected Brian Shanahan of Mokena, a former Metra employee and union railroad coordinator, as vice chair. Brown’s leadership marks a new chapter for Metra as it navigates the complexities of regional governance following recent legislative reforms.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.