Amid conflicting messages about regional unity and divides, a revamped Metra board has chosen a familiar face as its leader.
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Incoming board directors unanimously picked Romayne Brown of Dolton as chair. She previously served in that position from 2020 to 2024 during the pandemic.
Kane County Director Joe McMahon, whose term as chair ended Sept. 1 under provisions of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, nominated Brown and praised her “proven track record.”
“It’s challenging, but I have a great team behind me,” said Brown. “As chair, I will work collaboratively with the state, Cook, the city of Chicago and the Collar Counties to be sure we build a transportation system that is accessible, affordable, reliable and safe for everyone.”
Earlier, board directors had an unusual split vote on whether to continue Metra’s practice of rotating board chairs every four years between residents of Cook County and the five Collar Counties.
The policy enacted in 2012 was intended to keep a regional balance at the commuter railroad. Metra serves riders in the city of Chicago, suburban Cook County and a large population in the collar counties, McMahon said.
“That has been a good practice to alternate board leadership,” McMahon said.
Director Brian Sager, former Woodstock mayor, called it “a fair and appropriate representation of interests.”
But “I think it is really important that we, right here from the get-go, align ourselves with the goals, the purposes and the legislative intent of NITA,” said Director Joseph Szabo of Chicago, former Federal Railroad Administration chief.
He added, “I would continue to endorse an approach where we’re collaborative and over time sharing the chairmanship.”
Metra attorneys recommended eliminating the rotation to align with the NITA Act, transit reform legislation passed in 2025. The law gave NITA greater authority over Metra, Pace and the CTA and resulted in an influx of new board members appointed by the Illinois governor, Cook County Board president, Chicago mayor and chairs of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
An amendment by McMahon to keep the rotation intact was tied after Metra Director Christian Diaz abstained, collar county board members voted in favor, and Chicago and Cook members voted against.
The tie meant the motion failed. Directors subsequently voted 8-3 to end the rotation and to allow the chair to be elected by a simple majority instead of a vote of eight out of the 11 board members.
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McMahon, a former Kane County state’s attorney and Republican, said he would have served as chair if asked.
Underlying the discussions were concerns by some local leaders about the suburbs losing clout to Chicago and Cook County with the new NITA structure.
Several GOP officials said the fact McMahon is a Republican impinged on his reappointment as chair. The majority of appointing authorities to the Metra board are Democrats.
“This is a fait accompli of the Chicago Democratic takeover of the mass transit system and its significant revenue stream contributed to equally by suburbanites and city residents in their efforts to divert funds to bail out the CTA,” GOP state Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles said.
“I respect the process,” McMahon said. “And I’ll continue to look for ways to provide my leadership, my thoughts and my guidance to Metra.”
McMahon said he was proud of gains in ridership, safety upgrades and settling of major union contracts under his tenure.
Brown, a former CTA executive, promised the collar counties “will have a voice at the table. We cannot strengthen public transit by working in a silo.
“As chair … my responsibility will be to serve the entire region. Not just one community or one constituent. When our transportation system works better for every part of the region, our region is stronger.”
The board also elected director Brian Shanahan of Mokena, a railroad coordinator for the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers and former Metra employee, as vice chair.