Congress poised to head off potential Metra-disrupting rail strike, impose contract terms
The U.S. Congress is poised to pass a law that would avert the railroad labor unions strike that would otherwise begin as soon as December 9.
November 29, 2022
Railroad strike threat resurfaces, could impact most Metra lines
The specter of a railroad strike shutting down much of the country’s freight railroad network and some of Metra’s busiest rail lines has risen once again.
November 22, 2022
Metra’s final 2023 budget sticks with fare status quo
It’s not often that Metra's board pushes back on a budget proposal, and it’s even less common for the final budget to be significantly different from what the staff originally presented, but both of those things happened this year.
November 15, 2022
Pace proposes pulling the plug on 69 suspended routes, making most transfers free
The budget calls for doing away with most transfer fees, making all current CTA-only passes valid on Pace, and permanently eliminating 69 routes suspended during COVID.
October 19, 2022
Metra board members object to budget proposal to end Super Saver Monthly Pass
Metra’s proposal to discontinue systemwide day passes, three-zone day passes, and a $100 systemwide Super Saver Monthly Pass in favor of zone-based single-day and monthly passes faced such as strong backslash during the October 12 meeting of the Metra Board of Directors that the press release announcing the proposed new budget framed it as just one of many possibilities.
October 14, 2022
At Mobility Collaborative meeting, advocates staff pushed CTA, CDOT to implement robust BRT
This post focuses on the Chicago Mobility Collective breakout session that focused on street design to improve bus service. Streetsblog may run coverage of other breakout sessions that focused on pedestrian and bike matters in the future. The meeting took place during the same time as the ghost bike installation for youth mentor Sam Bell, 44, in River West. To highlight Chicago's traffic violence epidemic, some people Zoomed in to the meeting from the memorial using a background with a white bicycle and the words "I'm currently at the ghost bike vigil for another cyclist killed on Chicago streets." Others posted a "Vision Zero Chicago 2022 Report Card" with crash fatality stats. About 140 people attended the meeting altogether. - Ed.
October 5, 2022
Yay, Metra service is spared! What were options for riders in the event of a strike shutdown?
There was good news today as the potential shutdown of four Metra lines due to a threatened freight rail worker strike was averted. But what would have happened if it wasn't?
September 15, 2022
The South Shore Line’s shuttle bus service is a bit of a mess
If you need to get to Beverly Shores or Michigan City's Uptown district, your transit trip may be completely screwed up.
September 7, 2022
IDOT’s multiyear plan supports intercity rail, bus-on-shoulder… and lots of driving projects
On August 12, Governor JB Pritzker announced the Illinois Department of Transportation's new multiyear plan, a blueprint for spending $34.6 billion on transportation infrastructure over the next six years.
August 29, 2022
Should we fund the $3.6B Red Line Extension with TIF money from other parts of town?
Detractors say its unfair to make residents of wealthier areas pay for a project that won't directly serve their neighborhoods. Proponents say the initiative will help all Chicagoans and advance equity.
August 16, 2022