JUDY BAAR TOPINKA
DIRECTOR
Judy Baar Topinka was appointed to the RTA Board of Directors in 2007, representing suburban Cook County. She serves on the Board’s Audit, Finance, and Chairman's Coordinating committees and chairs the Board's Planning Committee.
More about the RTA Board of Directors
The corporate authority and governing body of the RTA is the 16-member RTA Board of Directors. Fifteen directors are appointed from within the six-county region: five directors by the Mayor of the City of Chicago; four directors by the suburban members of the Cook County Board; one director by the President of the Cook County Board (from Suburban Cook County); and one director each from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties who is appointed by the Chairman of their respective county board. The Chairman of the Board, its 16th member, is elected by at least 12 of the 16 appointed members.
Announcements
Board Meetings
As provided under the RTA Act, the RTA Board of Directors shall prescribe the times and places for meetings and the manner in which special meetings may be called.
The meetings of the RTA Board are subject to the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. All records, documents and papers of the Authority, other than those relating to matters concerning which closed sessions of the Board may be held, shall be available for public examination, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Board may adopt.
The following committees have been established by the RTA Board:
Administrative: This committee considers matters pertaining to the operation of the RTA.
Audit: This committee authorizes and supervises all audits or reviews conducted pursuant to law, agreement and practice.
Finance: This committee considers the revenues and expenses of the RTA system, specifically the operating budgets and capital programs of the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace.
Planning: This committee considers RTA system planning issues including the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace capital plans and programs and special planning studies.
Mobility Limited: This committee considers compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA paratransit eligibility certification and other issues.
Chairman’s Coordinating: This committee considers matter referred to it by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The committee is comprised of the Chairman and the Chairman of the Board’s standing committees.