By law, NITA, formerly the RTA, developed an Ethics Policy for all employees to follow, as well as a Whistleblower and Complaint Hotline for NITA employees and the general public to use to report instances of fraud, waste, and abuse. Scroll down for information about each of these topics.
Effective July 1, 2011, the provisions of Articles 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 75 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS/430 et seq.) apply to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (“NITA”), the Suburban Bus Division (Pace), the Commuter Rail Division (Metra) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). These entities are referred to collectively as the Regional Transit Boards. For purposes of the above-mentioned articles of the Ethics Act, the terms “employees” and “state employees” include the employees of and appointees to the governing boards of the Regional Transit Boards. The Ethics Act and other ethics-related laws, rules, and policies, are intended to ensure that the functions of public entities, including NITA, are conducted with fairness, honesty, and integrity. Read the Ethics Act.
NITA has designated an ethics officer who acts as a liaison between NITA and the Executive Inspector General and the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission and provides guidance to NITA employees in the interpretation and implementation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.
Mario Basurto
Ethics Officer
175 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 1550
(312) 913-3213
Mario.basurto@nita.illinois.gov
The Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) is an independent executive branch state agency that functions to ensure accountability in state government and the four regional transit boards. The OEIG's primary role is to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and violations of the Ethics Act and other laws, rules, and policies in the Transit Boards and other governmental entities. The OEIG investigates allegations of misconduct by Transit Board employees, appointees, and those doing business with the Service Boards.
Reports of fraud, waste, and abuse within NITA, CTA, Metra, and Pace, or any of their vendors, may be made directly with the Office of Executive Inspector General via the toll-free Hotline (866-814-1113) or TDD (888-261-2734), online at www.inspectorgeneral.illinois.gov, by mail or in-person at either of the OEIG's two offices (69 W. Washington, Suite 3400, Chicago, IL 60602 or 607 E. Adams, 14th floor, Springfield, IL 62701). All complaints are confidential and you may remain anonymous if you wish.
NITA has a strong commitment to conduct its business in a lawful and ethical manner. NITA's policy is designed to be in compliance with the Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act (740 ILCS 174), and this policy shall be interpreted subject to the standards in the Act. The Act protects every citizen, including state and local government employees, when they blow the whistle on government corruption. It is the practice of NITA not to allow retaliation for reports of wrongdoing, fraud, corruption and/or waste made in good faith and it is the duty of every NITA employee to report suspect improprieties. It is, at the same time, unacceptable to file a report knowing it is false. Any employee who violates this prohibition will be subject to discipline in accordance with NITA policy up to and including termination.
Learn more about NITA's Whistleblower Policy.
To report any wrongdoing, fraud, corruption or waste within NITA, CTA, Metra or Pace, call (312) 913-3213.
