Bi-State Development Board Changes Upset St. Louis County Executive

The balance of power on the region’s transportation authority board has shifted toward St. Clair County in Illinois — and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page isn’t happy about it.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a new state law this week that gives St. Clair County another permanent seat on the Bi-State Development Corporation board. The change effectively gives St. Clair veto power over operations that include local light rail and bus service.

Page said that’s unfair, since St. Louis County contributes far more money to Bi-State than St. Clair. St. Louis County provides about half of the transit system’s money. St. Clair is responsible for less than a fifth of it, he said.

Page said St. Louis County was caught off guard by the change in the makeup of the Bi-State board. Upon learning of the bill, Page’s office contacted Pritzker’s staff on Friday to discourage him from signing it into law.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/bi-state-development-board-changes-upset-st-louis-county-executive