John Greenfield
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes the transportation column for the Chicago Reader weekly paper. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Recent Posts
Lakefront Trail has reopened after 24+ hour closure following blizzard
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Let's chalk this up as a rare exception to the CPD's normally excellent trail maintenance protocols.
GoFundMe launched for bike crash survivor Alex Betzel, image of SUV released
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"It is beyond frustrating that a young, healthy woman with health coverage will be indebted for a crash that she was completely innocent in," wrote Betzel's girlfriend.
Better Streets calls on the city to develop a plan for municipal sidewalk snow removal
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The group has launched a new campaign and petition, with almost 1,250 signatures, to exhort the city of Chicago to take charge of winter sidewalk clearance.
The Tribune is right: One Central transit hub doesn’t yet deserve a $6.5B subsidy
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More likely the transit hub is something that Landmark added to the project as an excuse to have Illinois pay for capping the Metra tracks to provide a platform for the development.
CTA: Actually our new batch of “clean-diesel” buses will improve air quality
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The agency says the new buses will meet 2021 EPA emissions requirements and are more fuel efficient than older models.
Hit-and-run driver critically injured Alexandra Betzel on her bike in Avondale
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While this stretch of Kimball is a popular north-south bike route, and was previously highlighted on the city of Chicago's bike map as a recommended route, it currently has no bikeway treatment.
Ald. Martin kyboshes autocentric supermarket planned for a transit-friendly site
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The area needs a land use that supports local businesses and makes the area more pedestrian- and bike-friendly, rather than an "anti-transit-oriented development" that undermine those goals.
CTA electrification won’t happen until 2040, but more “clean-diesel” buses are coming
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The CTA doesn't plan to fully electrify its fleet until 2040. On the bright side, the new buses include new safety features and perks for passengers.
Alderman Martin approves 48-unit equitable TOD at Zia’s restaurant site in Lakeview
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This project seems like a good template for equitable transit-oriented development that should be emulated elsewhere on the North Side.
Chicago traffic deaths were up 45% last year as speeding increased during COVID
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Most of the increase was due to motorist deaths, but bicycle fatalities also spiked.
CDOT voiced support for honoring DuSable, but officials privately oppose renaming LSD
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While transportation chief Gia Biagi publicly said renaming the drive would be challenging but doable, emails reveal that the department is actually opposed to the change.
February transportation advocacy happenings: Suburban Action Week and Bike Film Fest
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Things are heating up on the transportation advocacy front this month as the Active Transportation Alliance is hosting a couple of promising-sounding online events.