David Zegeye

Recent Posts

Rendering of the One Central megadevelopment.

With new details emerging, state funding for One Central makes even less sense

By David Zegeye | Jul 13, 2021 | No Comments

Given the city’s history of using public funds for private developments, One Central has not provided the confidence that Illinois has made a good deal with our money.

Rendering of the east view of the station.

Why has the Damen Green Line station project been delayed by two years?

By David Zegeye | Mar 9, 2021 | No Comments

While the city isn't saying exactly what the holdup was, hopefully city planners will learn from this experience in order to prevent other underserved communities from experiencing delayed transit access.

New Sat/Sun pass, capital projects, and South Cook pilot part of Metra’s 2021 Budget

By David Zegeye | Oct 9, 2020 | No Comments

Fortunately Mayor Lightfoot and CTA now seem to be onboard with South Cook pilot. An intergovernmental agreement is drafted and will hopefully be approved at the November board meeting.

The all-affordable TOD planned next to the Logan Square stop.

Spotlight on equitable transit oriented development at Elevated Chicago symposium

By David Zegeye | Aug 14, 2020 | No Comments

The virtual symposium focused on equitable approaches to transit-oriented development.

Black Lives Matter protesters in the Loop this weekend. Photo: Maria Shaughnessy, U-High Midway

Police have always limited Black people’s mobility and freedom in public spaces

By David Zegeye | Jun 3, 2020 | No Comments

This moment is an opportunity to redefine the role of police and center Black lives, our freedom, and our movement through spaces.

Rendering of the proposed 103rd Street Red Line station. Image: CTA

Why not both? South Red Line project would complement, not compete with, rapid Metra service

By David Zegeye | Feb 17, 2020 | No Comments

When two out-of-towners on the payroll of an often-anti-transit organization exhort Chicagoans to "cancel" a rail project in an underserved neighborhood, skepticism is warranted.

A liquor store in the Altgeld Gardens housing project in Riverdale, one of three Chicago community areas that has gained more than 1,000 Black residents in recent years. The area has poor access to transportation amenities, job centers, and retail. Photo: Jeff Zoline

How Chicago’s legacy of segregation has pushed Black people into transit, job deserts

By David Zegeye | Jan 21, 2020 | No Comments

Reversing this harm will require policies that make transportation more convenient and affordable, and promote population and retail density.

Rendering of the Auburn Park Metra Station Rendering. Image: Metra, edited by David Zegeye

Auburn Gresham Metra stop, which broke ground yesterday, could spur South Side retail

By David Zegeye | Oct 1, 2019 | 7 Comments

While the current station design is too car-oriented, it does include a pedestrian plaza and plentiful bike parking.

71st Street with Metra Electric Line in the foreground. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

Frequent and affordable Metra service would improve quality of life on the South Side

By David Zegeye | Sep 23, 2019 | 7 Comments

Fighting between transit agencies will continue to hurt Black and low-income South Siders the most.

Within a quarter mile of these bus route segments, the usual parking requirements for new developments would essentially be waived. Map: Steven Vance

How Chicago’s New Bus TOD Ordinance Could Help Underserved Communities

By David Zegeye | Dec 17, 2018 | 6 Comments

By expanding the areas that are eligible for TOD to include zones around busy bus corridors, the city could help spur investment in low-income neighborhoods.