Steven Vance
Transportation planner and advocate. Steven also created Chicago Cityscape, a site that tracks neighborhood developments across the city.
Recent Posts
Database documents cities that are repurposing car space during the pandemic
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During the global pandemic, cities around the world are recognizing it makes sense to take road space that is usually used for moving and storing cars and instead give it to people. They’re reallocating the right-of-way from travel lanes and parking to create emergency bikeways for essential workers, and open space where residents can safely […]
Building a Metra infill station in Humboldt Park would create job, housing opportunities
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New infill stations in Chicago neighborhoods like Humboldt could take advantage of the Metra's regional reach, and fill in gaps in CTA service.
The folly of the Jane Byrne Interchange spaghetti bowl expansion keeps getting worse
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The cost of the project has ballooned to a quarter-billion dollars more than the initial cost estimates, and it's almost 4.5 years behind schedule.
What’s your Metra railcar redesign wish list?
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Metra wants to know what amenities, like tray tables, dimmable lights, and USB chargers, are most important to customers. But Streetsblog's Steven Vance says bolder design changes are needed.
Logan affordable TOD got key approvals, flack from NIMBYs, at Plan Commission hearing
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While opponents said the land would be more valuable as a parking lot or a market-rate development, proponents stressed the value of keeping Logan Square economiclly diverse.
Don’t let competition between agencies and politicians block better South Side transit
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Chicago mayor Lightfoot said she's against a proposal by Cook County, backed by her old rival Toni Preckwinkle, that would lower Metra fares and increase service, on the grounds that it would hurt the CTA.
The Most Common Chicago Ride-Hailing Trip Is a 1-Mile Hop From River North to the Loop
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The most common types of ride-hailing trips are short, downtown jaunts, many of which could easily be done by more sustainable modes.
Here’s Some of the Nitty-Gritty From the Proposed Divvy/Lyft Contract Amendment
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Here are some details about the build-out deadlines, advertising rules, profit-sharing, and more.
CDOT Is Trying to Convince CMAP to Add the O’Hare Express to ON TO 2050
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Adding Elon Musk's pipe dream to the regional plan would make the project potentially eligible to receive federal funds and approvals.
Drivers Struck 296 People in Reilly’s Ward in the Last Year, No Reported Riverwalk Crashes
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The car-pedestrian crashes included 48 cases with incapacitating injuries, but there have been no media reports of serious bike/ped crashes in the ward. So why is Alderman Reilly focused on banning bikes on the riverwalk?
City Should Raise Priority of Using Damen Green Line Station to Prime Good Land Use
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When I first saw the design for the new Green Line station at Damen Avenue on the Lake Street branch, I became worried that the station didn’t have an entrance providing access to the westbound platform. Several of the other stations on the branch to city’s West Side and Oak Park have entrances on both […]
Advocate For Adding Bus Lanes to North Lake Shore Drive Without Widening the Highway
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The most sustainable option, converting existing traffic lanes to bus-only, is still on the table. But it's not going to happen unless residents voice support for it.