3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Sauganash Ballroom

Speakers:

• Audrey Wennink, Senior Director, Metropolitan Planning Council

• Maulik Vaishnav, NITA Implementation Lead, Office of the Governor - Illinois

• Tom Kotarac, Senior Vice President, Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago

• Bria Scudder, Deputy Governor for Infrastructure, Public Safety, Environment & Energy, State of Illinois

• Jonathan Garcia, Assistant for Special Projects, Office of the Secretary, IDOT

Transformative transit legislation has recently passed in Illinois, and the success of the new Northeastern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) will depend on how effectively it is implemented. Formally established on June 1, 2026, just weeks before the Transport Chicago Conference, NITA will take on major new responsibilities including regional transit planning, service standards, fare integration, rider safety, and accessibility planning. This panel will explore the early steps being taken to guide the transition, key milestones established in the legislation, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Panelists will also discuss the role of the Illinois Department of Transportation in advancing transit integration and coordination across the region.

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | LaSalle

Speakers:

• Sidney Kenyon, Transportation Director, Village of Schaumburg

• Brian Budny, Deputy Chief of Police, Village of Deerfield

• Rudy Faust, Board Member, Ride Illinois

• Eric Czarnota, Program Manager for Transportation, Northwest Municipal Conference (moderator)

Join a local official, a public safety officer, and an advocate as they tell the story of the local response to e-mobility and the state-level effort to regulate micromobility in a way that safely provides access to the widest range of residents.

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Western Stage House

Speakers:

• Jesse Altman, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

• Tim Farquer, Bus2Grid

• Tim Milburn, Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation

• Cristina Botero, ComEd

As vehicle electrification accelerates, the connection between transportation systems and the electric grid is becoming one of the most important infrastructure challenges of the next decade. How can the Chicago region prepare for growing EV adoption while maintaining grid reliability, managing costs, and ensuring access? This panel will explore the evolving transportation-energy nexus and highlight how the Chicago region is preparing for increased interaction between the transportation sector and ComEd’s electric grid.

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Steamboat Hotel

Presentation 1: The Multi-Organizational Push to have the City of Chicago Acquire, Improve & Operate the Chicago Intercity Bus ("Greyhound") Terminal

Speakers:

• Joseph P. Schwieterman, Professor in the School for Public Service and Director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University

• Nathale Nicoletti, graduate student at DePaul University

This presentation discusses the significant role of the Chicago Intercity Bus (“Greyhound”) Station at 625 W. Harrison and reviews the efforts underway to bring the facility under public ownership. It will review the services by the station’s four bus lines and explore why the facility is critical to our region, and update on the municipal acquisition effort.

Presentation 2: Delivering Electrification Faster: Pace’s Progressive Design-Build Garage Modernization

Speakers:

• Chris Martel, Senior Vice President, CDM Smith

• Charlotte Obodzinski, Department Manager of the Priority Project Management Office, Pace Suburban Bus

Phase I of the Pace North Division Garage modernization established the critical infrastructure required to support the initial deployment of battery electric buses (BEBs) while maintaining uninterrupted operations at an active transit facility. The work focused on outdoor charging infrastructure, utility expansion, and major civil/site improvements that would support both immediate operations and future facility expansion. Improvements included installation of two 540 kW mast-mounted pantograph chargers and ten 100 kW plug-in chargers supported by new ComEd transformers and medium-voltage switchgear, along with a new 12.47 kV electrical service and underground ductbank system sized for both the initial 3 MW charging demand and future expansion to 10 MW. Additional upgrades included a charging canopy with an integrated 100 kW photovoltaic system, parking lot expansion, storm sewer reconfiguration, and a 45,000-cubic-foot underground stormwater detention system with lift station. The progressive design-build delivery model was instrumental in keeping the project on schedule, as early collaboration between Pace, CDM Smith, F.H. Paschen, and ComEd enabled rapid decision-making, early utility coordination, and pre-purchase of long-lead electrical equipment. Concurrent design and construction activities allowed utility work and ductbank installation to advance while charger layouts and structural details continued to evolve, minimizing redesign and maintaining operational continuity throughout construction.