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Metra paid a firm nearly $1.57M to investigate complaints about its police, but won’t make report public. Rep. Kam Buckner wants answers.
As previously reported by the Daily Herald's Marni Pike, it's come to light that Metra hired a team of outside lawyers to conduct an internal investigation of its Police Department that cost almost $1.57 million. The investigation took place due to anonymous complaints made to the commuter railroad about "disparate treatment" of employees at the force. According to a follow-up article by the Chicago Tribune's Sarah Freishtat, these allegations included "workplace sexual relationships, harassment of female officers, racism, special treatment of some officers and inconsistency in police policies."
March 3, 2025
A close, controversial Council vote to borrow $830M for infrastructure: Should safe streets advocates have a glass-half-full POV?
Streetsblog Chicago is a sustainable transportation news and advocacy website, not a publication that typically covers finance. So it's not really my role to opine on whether it was a smart fiscal decision for the City Council to approve an $830 million bond deal to pay for transportation infrastructure. But let's look at how the narrow 26-23 vote went down last Wednesday; some arguments against and for the financing by alders; and reactions from walk/bike/transit boosters.
March 3, 2025
Today’s Headlines for Monday, March 3
• FOIA around and find out? "Tribune files lawsuit against CTA for failing to turn over documents related to 2023 Yellow Line crash, among others"
March 3, 2025
At her joyful retirement party, the “Mayor” of the Armitage Brown Line station offers advice to live by for riders – and CTA brass
Last month, the grassroots transit advocacy group Commuters Take Action held a retirement party for controversial CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. While he did go out on a high note by securing $1.9 billion from the feds for the $5.7 Red Line Extension, he was highly unpopular with many riders due to the system's issues with unreliable service, crime, and sanitation. So the celebration was a tongue-in-cheek affair, and needless to say, the guest of honor was a no-show.
February 28, 2025
Today’s Headlines for Friday, February 28
• "Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Tapped As Next Park District Boss. Now, Logan Square Needs A New Alderman" (Block Club)
February 28, 2025
The CTA reveals the final plans for the path and public space under the new Red and Purple tracks. Will it have safe street crossings?
This week, the CTA released the final design concepts for a pedestrian path and other new amenities on a 1.3-mile segment under Red and Purple tracks, between the Lawrence and Bryn Mawr stations in Uptown and Edgewater. At the second of two community meeting this week, held last night at Truman College, 1945 W. Wilson, attendees seemed generally satisfied with the design.
February 27, 2025
Today’s Headlines for Thursday, February 27
• WTTW: "Chicago City Council Votes 26-23 to Borrow $830M to Repair Streets, Sidewalks, Bridges"
February 27, 2025
Something to look forward to: Here’s a map of where CDOT is planning to install new bikeways in 2025
The day after the giant pierogi dropped in Whiting, Indiana, I wrapped up Streetsblog Chicago's Bike Lane Fest 2024, a quest to visit every new or upgraded bikeway the Chicago Department of Transportation completed last year.
February 26, 2025
Today’s Headlines for Wednesday, February 26
• "Why a Plan to Borrow $830M to Repair Streets, Sidewalks, Bridges Touched Off a Political Firestorm" (WTTW)
February 26, 2025
No way to run a railroad: Governance is holding back transit in Chicagoland
When everyone is accountable, nobody is.
February 25, 2025