Sosnowski's railway museum bill gains momentum

The Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation in April sponsored by State Representative Joe Sosnowski that would allow the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Service Boards (Metra, CTA, and Pace) to donate rolling stock, including locomotives and equipment, to museums in Illinois that are not-for-profit organizations. 

Under current law the RTA is not permitted to donate items before putting them up for private sale or auction.

The need to update the current law was brought to Sosnowski's attention by the Illinois Railway Museum in his district. The RTA was planning to donate a vintage Metra train to the museum when it learned it was prevented from doing so by law. 

Sosnowski's fix is similar to the mechanism currently in place for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to donate property the state no longer needs to local governments and not-for-profits. House Bill 1742 clarifies that public transit agencies are permitted to donate surplus equipment to not-for-profits.

 
Sosnowski’s measure benefits all Illinois railway museums and their visitors.

House Bill 1742 is now up for consideration in the Senate.