When Illinois passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act last fall, many credited former State Representative Elaine Nekritz as one of the main reasons the legislation made it across the finish line. Her political acumen, strategic thinking, and years of experience navigating the Capitol were indispensable. Without her, some say, the bill might have taken a far weaker form — or never passed at all.
FROM LAWMAKER TO TRANSIT ADVOCATE
Nekritz is no stranger to state politics. She served 14 years in the Illinois House representing the 57th District, which includes Northbrook, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, and surrounding areas. In 2017, she stepped down from elected office and launched a consulting and lobbying firm with her business partners.
Now, as she retires from that chapter of her career, Nekritz is ready to pause and reflect. To celebrate both her pivotal role in passing the NITA Act and her retirement, we sat down with her to talk about walking, biking, and transit advocacy in Illinois.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NITA ACT
Passing major legislation like the NITA (Northern Illinois Transit Authority) Act requires strategy, preparation, and collaboration. Nekritz emphasized that success starts with a deep exploration of what’s needed and why. “We did our homework,” she said. “We had solid arguments for why we were supporting the things we were supporting.”
Building a foundation of research made it harder for lawmakers to dismiss the bill. But it wasn’t just the data that mattered — it was the people behind it. “This built a lot of credibility and an understanding that we’re not wacky advocates,” she explained. “We are serious people who have good ideas.”
Nekritz also pointed to a cultural shift inside the Illinois General Assembly. Younger lawmakers, she noted, tend to be more receptive to public transit, biking, and walking as legitimate transportation priorities.
Ultimately, passing NITA followed the same pattern as any large, multifaceted policy effort: balancing interests and managing competing priorities. “Residents and constituents often think, why don’t the legislators just do the right thing?” Nekritz said. But it’s more complicated than many people think. She emphasized the need to understand and consider the positions of dozens of stakeholders who possess different priorities for various parts of the legislation.
THINKING BIGGER ABOUT THE FUTURE
Looking ahead, Nekritz believes the NITA fight has proven something powerful: “We can actually get big things done,” she said.
She praised the strong coalition that brought the legislation to life, one that united environmental groups, transportation advocates, disability advocates and many others around a shared mission. “The Sierra Club and the Illinois Environmental Council and other groups that viewed transportation as a separate question clearly no longer view it that way,” she said. “Groups that have always been allies are now strong allies. The environmental funder community is also awakening to that fact that we can’t reach climate goals — we can’t address pollution without also addressing transportation.”
Nekritz encourages advocates to deepen their relationships with lawmakers. “It’s helpful to be doing more than just send an e-mail once a year when you get the action alert,” she said. “Instead, visit with your lawmaker, and maybe gather up some of your neighbors to go in and have a meeting.”
She adds that cultivating trust is key: “Becoming a trusted voice is not hard to do with most legislators. Serve as a liaison with voters that maybe they don’t have direct access to.” Such trusted relationships, Nekritz noted, become vital when major legislation like NITA comes up for debate.
A LIFELONG PASSION FOR CYCLING AND ADVOCACY
Nekritz’s connection to transportation advocacy stretches back decades. She served on the board of directors of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation in the 1990s and was thrilled when the group evolved into the Active Transportation Alliance in 2008. “Cycling has been a big part of my life — I’m a true believer,” she said. “I’m very grateful for all the work that the Active Transportation Alliance does to make the world a better place.”
While she uses her bike mostly for running errands these days, there was a time when she was heavily involved in bike racing and would compete at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, the same community where she lives. “I still think about the first night I showed up for a track race,” she recalled. “I was terrified. I’d been on a fixed gear but never raced on a fixed gear before. And I had the time of my life, and I didn’t sleep that night because my adrenaline was running so strong. I just fell in love with track racing.”
Though she’s stepping back from her formal roles, Nekritz doesn’t plan to slow down completely. She hopes to continue helping with the implementation of the NITA Act and advising her former colleagues. “As hard as it is to pass legislation, implementation is infinitely harder,” she said. “I want to help recruit people for the [NITA] board, for the transition committees, because the people occupying those seats will matter a lot.”
THANK YOU, ELAINE
The Active Transportation Alliance extends heartfelt thanks to Elaine Nekritz for her decades of leadership, partnership, and dedication to building a safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation future for our region. Her tireless advocacy — both inside and outside the Capitol — has helped shape meaningful change and inspired countless others to get involved. We’re deeply grateful for her many contributions and wish her all the best in this next chapter.
Photos courtesy of Elaine Nekritz and John Amdor.