John Greenfield

The October 23 Regional Transit Authority board meeting, in the midst of Springfield's fall veto session on the brink of the transit fiscal cliff, was a contentious affair. It was basically a Spiderman Pointing Circle of people blaming each other for the dire straits Chicagoland transit was facing.

• More coverage of City's plan to buy Greyhound stop, inspired by the Philly station crisis that made Johnson say "I can't go for that" (Block Club, Tribune)

In September 2024, the future of Chicago intercity bus service wasn't looking particularly bright. Greyhound owner FlixBus barely escaped being evicted from its station, 630 W. Harrison St. in the West Loop, by getting a month-to-month lease. It was good that the facility didn't immediately close, which would have kicked riders to the curb, literally, but its future was in limbo.

• Here are RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace statements on the transit bill passing, including RTA becoming the Northern Illinois Transit Authority

On Halloween, a Crain's editorial did a fine job of summing up the stressful, but ultimately successful, legislative process that led to the Illinois General Assembly passing a robust transit reform/funding bill earlier that morning. "A long night yields long-overdue action on transit" is definitely the best op-ed I've seen on the topic in the mainstream press since last Friday.

• "IL Speaker Welch [read our interview with him] talks immigration, transit bills on way to Gov. Pritzker" (ABC)

On Friday morning, October 31, Streetsblog interviewed Illinois House Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado. She was operating on minimal sleep after staying up until 5 a.m. for the passage of the $1.5 billion transit reform/funding bill at the state capitol. But she was also in a celebratory mood. The legislation she co-sponsored with Rep. Kam Buckner had finally crossed the finish line, not only saving Chicagoland transit, but also paving the way for first-class regional and Downstate bus and train service.

• Crain's: "Editorial: A long night yields long-overdue action on transit"

• "Illinois celebrates a historic win for public transit" (Active Trans)

"If I get home before daylightI just might get some sleep tonight"