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• Sen. Curran, whose SW-suburban district has many transit-dependent voters, says $1.50 retail/resto delivery fee to fund transit would be an unfair (Tribune)

Yesterday, family members, friends, and supporters gathered to install a "ghost bike" memorial to fallen cyclist Yader "Yak" Casteneda, 18 at Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue in the Loop. In speeches during the vigil, his loved ones remembered him as an ambitious, hard-working person, and a supportive brother and friend, who lit up a room with his presence. 

• Springfield politics blog Capitolfax mentioned our interview with Senate President Don Harmon on what's going on with transit funding negotiations

"We're eager to hear constructive criticism [of HB 3438] and counter-proposals, and to-date we haven't heard many," Senate President Harmon said.

• Ex-"The Straight Dope" guy and Red Line Extension naysayer Ed Zotti criticizes the transit reform governance in the bill that passed IL Senate (Crain's)

Yesterday there was an eventful meeting of City Council's Committee on Transportation and the Public Way. The committee passed a resolution by Ald. Bill Conway (34th) pushing the CTA to increase its enforcement of no smoking rules by coordinating with law enforcement and releasing ticketing numbers. The measure will go before the full Council for a final vote.

• "[Transportation] committee urges CTA to crack down on smoking on trains and buses" (CBS)

On a recent Friday, I stopped by the CTA's 95th/Dan Ryan terminal to check out a couple of things: the system’s only in-station DJ booth, and riders' viewpoints on the upcoming $5.7 billion Red Line Extension to 130th Street.The DJ booth project, called "An Extended Song of Our People (AESOP)" is a public art installation brainstormed by Chicago artist Theaster Gates. The CTA believes it’s the first-ever artist-designed and built DJ and broadcast facility in a transit stop – anywhere.

• "Milwaukee Avenue In Wicker Park Will Go Car-Free Once A Month This Fall" (Block Club)