Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about State Policy

The Wilson Red Line platform. Photo: John Greenfield

RTA’s new capital funding formula prioritizes existing assets, speed over innovation

By Igor Studenkov | Jul 23, 2021 | No Comments

The RTA board unanimously approved a new formula for splitting capital funding between the CTA, Metra, and Pace, emphasizing fixing and upgrading their existing assets and funding projects that promote equity.

Cyclists riding in dashed bike lanes on Damen Avenue in Lakeview near Liza Whitacre’s "ghost bike" memorial. Photo: John Greenfield

Unsurprisingly, People for Bikes gave Chicago a low scores for bike-friendliness

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 15, 2021 | No Comments

A recent People for Bikes assessment of Chicago's bike friendliness gave the city low scores. Read about the factors that lead to the low marks.

Proposed Pace strategic plan puts emphasis on express buses, ridership metrics

By Igor Studenkov | Jul 14, 2021 | No Comments

The vision of Pace’s future outlined in its proposed new strategic vision plan emphasizes express services along highways and Pulse Arterial Rapid Transit services along major corridors.

Rendering of the One Central megadevelopment.

With new details emerging, state funding for One Central makes even less sense

By David Zegeye | Jul 13, 2021 | No Comments

Given the city’s history of using public funds for private developments, One Central has not provided the confidence that Illinois has made a good deal with our money.

Proposed routes for the Crosstown Expressway. The image on the left was the layout protesters fought against. Images: Chicago Tribune via transportation historian Andrew Plummer

Remember the Crosstown? Here’s the story of Chicago’s successful 1970s freeway revolt

By Mary Wisniewski | Jul 12, 2021 | No Comments

The Crosstown plan threatened to ram a multi-lane highway through the heart of the city, but fired-up residents helped stop it.

San Francisco's Embarcadero was formerly occupied by a double-decker highway, but converted to a boulevard after the highway was damaged by an earthquake. Author Michael Podgers argues that this example suggests eight-lane DuSable Drive could be converted to a surface boulevard with four travel lanes with no negative effects on mobility.

Bus lanes aren’t enough: We must transform DuSable Drive into a multimodal boulevard

By Michael Podgers | Jul 7, 2021 | No Comments

We need to reclaim our lakefront and turn it into the truly spectacular green space we deserve. We need to remove the highway through our parks.

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