Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Federal Policy

An inbound Union Pacific North train at the Rogers Park Metra station. If this line had been shut down, the CTA Purple and Red lines would have been a fall-back for some riders. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Yay, Metra service is spared! What were options for riders in the event of a strike shutdown?

By Igor Studenkov | Sep 15, 2022 | No Comments

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?

A Gillig low-floor electric bus, the kind Pace has been testing.

Pace buys another e-bus, inks contract with ride-hail company to supplement paratransit

By John Greenfield | Aug 23, 2022 | No Comments

Director Melinda Metzger also highlighted a $20 million grant for the rehab of the Harvey Transportation Center, and Pace was offering free rides to students on the first day of CPS classes.

Charging a bus a Navy Pier. Photo: Mia Park

CTA, 4 other Illinois transit systems get federal funding for bus electrification

By John Greenfield | Aug 17, 2022 | No Comments

There was good news on Tuesday for the CTA, as well as four other public transportation systems across Illinois, as the FTA announced $1.66 billion in grants to help electrify bus fleets nationwide.

Cycling on a raised bike lane in Copenhagen. In countries with lots of biking, almost no one wears a helmet, and yet the bike fatality rate is much lower than in nations like the U.S. where helmet use is common. Why? Photo: John Greenfield

Education, infrastructure, and holding drivers accountable > bike helmets for cyclist safety

By John Greenfield | Jul 26, 2022 | No Comments

Stopping drivers from killing cyclists shouldn't be a matter of good fortune and a couple inches of Styrofoam and plastic. We need education, infrastructure, and laws to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.

Mayor Lightfoot speaks at a lectern in Chicago Union Station

Mayor Lightfoot, state officials, and federal electeds advocate for Union Station upgrades

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 15, 2022 | No Comments

On Thursday, July 8, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined federal elected officials Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-4) alongside state transportation officials in asking for federal funds for improvements to Chicago’s Union Station and nearby tracks that would make the station a more comfortable and spacious place for passengers and reduce delays on […]

Looking west down Highland Park's Central Avenue from a UP-N train yesterday afternoon in the wake of the shooting. The shooter was standing on the roof of the Ross Cosmetics Building at Central and 2nd Avenue, about a block west of the tracks. Photo: Igor Studenkov

What it was like riding Metra the day the U.S. gun violence epidemic reached Highland Park

By Igor Studenkov | Jul 5, 2022 | No Comments

Even amid death and trauma, people still have places to get, and public transit will, hopefully, still be there to serve them.

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