Today’s Headlines

By John Greenfield
Jul 26, 2013

Coalition Pushes for a More Ped-, Bike- and Transit-Friendly LSD (Active Trans, CBS)
Ethics Panel to Investigate Madigan Patronage Allegations (Tribune)
Bill Daley Calls for Abolishing the RTA, a “Bureaucratic Frankenstein” (Journal-Register)
The RTA Ain’t Pretty But It Is Necessary (Sun-Times)
Who Gets to Appoint the Local Transit Board Members? (Sun-Times)
Driver, 89, Dies After Submerging SUV in Arlington Heights Pond (Tribune)
Woman Sues Metra, Claiming Faulty Crossing Gate Led to Husband’s Death (Tribune)
Michael Keating Named Chair of National Bicycle Litigation Committee (Keating)
Happy 50th Birthday to the Lakefront Trail (Trails for Illinois)
Sundresses and Step-Through Bikes: a Great Combo for Summer Commuting (Ding Ding)

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ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

RTA Downplays Effect of Service Cuts and Fare Hikes on Stagnant Ridership

By Steven Vance | Feb 28, 2014

In a new report [PDF], the Regional Transportation Authority blames weak ridership growth from 2008 to 2012 primarily on economic factors, glossing over the impact of fare hikes and service cuts. During the period covered by the report, CTA ridership grew 3.7 percent, while Metra ridership and Pace ridership each shrank by 6.3 percent. With every CTA […]

A Clearer, More Concise Regional Transit Proposal From Senator Biss

By Steven Vance | Mar 20, 2014

At least one Illinois legislator supports a unified transit agency, even though RTA board chairman John Gates and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have declared their opposition. Senator Daniel Biss (D-9th, Evanston, Glenview) published a proposal [PDF] back in November, saying “the CTA, Metra, and Pace should combine into a single new Regional Transit Authority.” That was […]

South suburbs team up with RTA to brainstorm ideas for improving transit access

By John Greenfield | Feb 7, 2020

Matteson, Park Forest, and Richton Park recently partnered with the RTA to launch a Transportation Alternatives Study to identify barriers to mobility, and ways to overcome them.

RTA is helping Cicero and Riverside update zoning to encourage walkability and TOD

By John Greenfield | Sep 15, 2020

The work is being done through the RTA’s Community Planning program, which offers technical assistance and funding to local municipalities and intergovernmental organizations.

STREETSBLOG USA

How the Federal TIGER Program Revived a Cleveland Neighborhood

By Angie Schmitt | May 15, 2014

Cleveland doesn’t look like a dying Rust Belt city these days in the Little Italy and University Circle neighborhoods. In fact, it looks like it’s thriving. At the corner of Euclid and Mayfield, a new mixed-use development — MRN’s “Uptown” — is filling out, hosting a bookstore, a bakery, bars, and new apartments. Just across […]

A Metra train pulls into the Palatine station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Metra is unhappy about the RTA focusing stimulus funds on transit-dependent areas

By Igor Studenkov | Feb 22, 2021

The CTA would get $361 million, while Metra would get only $83 million, and Pace would get $22 million for fixed-route bus service, plus $20 million for paratransit.