Pace Board Replaced Ten Directors Following Transit Act
The Pace board downsized to 11 members as part of a restructuring mandated by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in People
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The Pace transit agency replaced 10 outgoing board directors as the board size decreased from 13 to 11 members. The restructuring follows the implementation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act.
Why it matters
The board overhaul stems from new state legislation that shifts road fund revenues to public transit and increases regional sales taxes to support operations. These changes reflect a significant shift in the governance and funding structure for Illinois transit services.
The agency saw a 75% turnover rate among its board members following the departure of 10 directors. This includes the retirement of Rick Kwasneski, who served on the board for 24 years.
The players
John Noak
He is the current mayor of Romeoville and serves as the newly selected board chair for the Pace transit agency.
Rick Kwasneski
He is a former board member who recently concluded 24 years of service with the agency.
Pace
It is the primary suburban bus and transit agency providing public transportation services across the Chicago metropolitan area.
The details
Following the mandate of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, incumbent members Terry Wells, Erin Smith, and John Noak remain on the board. John Noak was officially selected as the new board chair on Sept. 16.
Timeline
Rick Kwasneski retired from the board in August 2026.
John Noak was selected as Pace board chair on Sept. 16, 2026.
Pace will release a draft of the ReVision plan in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This board overhaul signals a transition in regional transit governance driven by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act. The move aligns the agency with new state fiscal priorities that prioritize expanded bus and train funding over road projects.
Commuters should monitor how the new board and upcoming ReVision plan affect suburban bus service availability and routes. Changes to state transit funding mechanisms under the new act may influence regional transportation taxes and service priorities.
The takeaway
The recent board restructuring reflects a state-wide legislative effort to modernize transit funding and governance. Residents should anticipate significant updates to service models when the agency reveals its new long-term planning strategy this fall.
What happens next
Pace is scheduled to release a draft of its ReVision plan in October 2026.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, visit the Illinois People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Herald.
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