Streetsblog Chicago

Prospects are looking very good for the proposed $3.6 CTA Red Line Extension proposal on Chicago's Far South Side. Last December the Chicago City Council approved the controversial transit tax-increment financing district for the project, which is projected to raise $959 million for the extension. In March, President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2024 discretionary funding budget earmarked another $350 million for the project.

This week, the Chicago Transit Authority announced that the final stage of the Red and Purple Modernization Phase One Project will begin this summer. Specifically, the transit agency is wrapping up the reconstruction of the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr stations to upgraded, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and the CTA will start reconstructing southbound Red and  Purple tracks. Community meetings about the project will happen on June 21 and 22 – see the bottom of this post for details.

Last week, Cook County released its first ever Bike Plan, charting a path for safer and more plentiful bicycle infrastructure across the county. The plan calls for hundreds of miles of new low-stress bike paths: 90 miles of new off-street paved trails, 150 miles of new side paths and 230 miles of new low-stress on-street routes, including quiet residential streets and protected lanes. According to the plan, this upgrade would place 96 percent of Cook County residents less than a mile from a low-stress bike route. 

Hit-and-run driver killed Angela R. Mcknight, 49, crossing street in Lawndale on Memorial Day

As Chicago traffic increases, more commuters turn to Metra trains (CBS) Letter: The CTA seems lost, and that’s devastating for Chicago (Crain’s) Trial continues of CPD sergeant accused of pinning Park Ridge teen wrongly accused of bike theft (ABC) Community mourns Maureen Wener, 49, mother killed in Highland Park hit-and-run while biking (ABC) 31-year-old female SUV … Continued

One popular soon-to-be returning program from the Chicago Department of Transportation is "Learn to Ride," which offers adults and children info on how to safely get around by bicycle.

Streetsblog Chicago will resume publication on Tuesday

Editor's note: After being seriously injured on his bicycle in southern Illinois on April 21, Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield is in the process of recovering. He has returned to running SBC on a low-key basis this week, including publishing Today's Headlines and occasionally putting out original articles. We appreciate all who have been supportive during this time. Thanks for reading!

A recent ride through the nation’s capital brought advocates and politicos together to experience life behind a set of handlebars — and rally support for new policies that could make that experience less deadly.