Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Rail Transit

Emanuel test rides a Divvy bike at Chicago's Daley Plaza. Photo: John Greenfield

Free advice to Biden: Do yourself a favor and don’t hire Rahm Emanuel as USDOT chief

By John Greenfield | Nov 30, 2020 | No Comments

Announcing Emanuel as your choice would almost certainly fill the streets of Chicago with hundreds or thousands of justifiably angry protesters. You really don't want to kick off your administration that way.

The RTA board meeting was just like this, if you replace Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis & Liv Tyler with Dorval Carter, Jim Derwinski, and Rocky Donahue.

Transit agencies discuss plans for possible “Armageddon” funding scenario

By Igor Studenkov | Nov 25, 2020 | No Comments

“In the previous [2008] doomsday budget, our deficit was in the neighborhood of $100 million,” CTA president Dorval Carter said. “This is Armageddon-type stuff."

Lightfoot’s budget narrowly passes, with downsides for transit riders and motorists alike

By John Greenfield | Nov 24, 2020 | No Comments

The budget diverts $16 million in operations funding from the CTA. It also raises the city gas tax by three cents and drops the speed camera ticket threshold to 6 mph.

Study: Uber and Lyft likely aren’t being used much to address Chicago transit deserts

By John Greenfield | Nov 23, 2020 | No Comments

Most ride-hail trips are being taken in majority-white and/or more affluent neighborhoods downtown and on the North and Northwest sides.

Waiting beneath overhead heaters on the Wilson platform. Photo: John Greenfield

How can CTA riders stay warm while maintaining social distance?

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 22, 2020 | No Comments

Rather than crowding below outdoor platform heaters, tCTA recommends waiting in stationhouses, and using online tools to track arrivals. The agency also discussed the issue of homeless people sheltering on transit.

3-cent gas tax hike wouldn’t impact drivers much, but taking $16M from CTA is wrong

By Steven Vance | Nov 20, 2020 | No Comments

Included in Mayor Lightfoot's proposed budget are two transportation-related tax changes, one that would make driving a little more expensive, but another that would reduce funding for transit.

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