Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Active Transportation Alliance

Does the Eisenhower Expressway really need to be widened even more? Photo: Jeff Zoline

Illinois’ highway expansion plans show our leaders aren’t serious about climate change

By John Greenfield | Nov 22, 2021 | No Comments

Adding more likes to the Eisenhower Expressway and other roads won't solve congestion, but it will encourage more driving and create more climate-killing emissions.

Chicago Police officers parked at North Avenue Beach. Photo: John Greenfield

Philly abolished traffic stops for minor infractions. Chicago should do the same.

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 19, 2021 | No Comments

Philadelphia enacted new legislation aimed towards reducing racial disparities in traffic stops and improving police-community relations.

Waiting for a bus at the Jefferson Park Transit Center. Photo: John Greenfield

Advocates, experts: Infra bill is more car-centric than hoped for, but will benefit Chicagoland

By John Greenfield | Nov 10, 2021 | No Comments

"We must not simply rebuild the transportation infrastructure of the last century when we now need to mitigate climate change."

Two out of the three buses clustered at Foster and Clark in Andersonville during a recent rush hour. Photo: John Greenfield

Confirmed: Current CTA unreliability is caused by staffing shortages. How do we fix that?

By John Greenfield | Nov 5, 2021 | No Comments

We've accurately diagnosed the cause of current CTA weirdness. Now we need to hold the agency accountable for keeping its promise of "actively recruiting workers to fill existing vacant positions."

2022 Chicago budget passes including income-based fines, mental health funds

By John Greenfield | Oct 28, 2021 | No Comments

Reforms to the city's traffic fine structure should make it less regressive, and increased funding for mental health services could be a step in the right direction for improving transit safety.

The intersection of Dee, Oakton, and Busse. IDOT says this complex intersection, located just north of Metra tracks, can't handle a road diet. Image: Google Maps

IDOT explains why it’s being fussy about the Busse Highway bike lane plan

By John Greenfield | Oct 24, 2021 | No Comments

Compromising with a short stretch of sharrows in order to allow for a road diet with bike lanes on the rest of the project area would be far safer than the status quo, for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike.

Rendering of the golf course rest area on the Lake Calumet Trail.

Lake Calumet Trail would be a game-changer for improving SE Side connectivity, bike equity

By John Greenfield | Sep 26, 2021 | No Comments

The project would not only make it easier to get around the Southeast Side by sustainable means, but also encourage residents to explore Lake Calumet itself.

The new protected bike lane on Damen between Fullerton and Diversey. Photo: CDOT

Map: Here’s where CDOT has installed, or is currently building, bikeways this year.

By John Greenfield | Sep 23, 2021 | No Comments

The Active Transportation Alliance has called out the lack of connectivity and the dearth of protected bike lanes in the city's plan.

Concrete curb-protected bike lane on Elston between Damen and Fullerton. Image: Google Maps

Who’s protecting and maintaining Chicago’s protected bike lanes?

By Courtney Cobbs | Sep 22, 2021 | No Comments

Sadly, it seems that many bike lane obstructions are still going unaddressed, which can put people on bikes in danger.

Cutting the ribbon on the new 119th Street protected bike lanes. Left to right: Randy Newfeld and Brandon Goodall from SRAM; Bobby Berry from Friends of the Major Taylor Trail; Biagi, Austen, Taylor; Paul Fitzgerald from Friends of Big Marsh; Rynell. Photo: John Greenfield

CDOT announces major bikeway push, still no plans for a cohesive protected network

By John Greenfield | Sep 22, 2021 | No Comments

Obstruction from aldermen, plus an emphasis on quantity over quality, means this plan isn't going to result in the cohesive, citywide protected bikeway network we need.

A Metra Electric District train on 71st Street in South Shore. Unlike the MED, most Metra lines are diesel-powered. Photo: John Greenfield

Civic and environmental groups call on Metra to get going on zero emissions fleet

By Courtney Cobbs | Sep 21, 2021 | No Comments

At Metra’s monthly board meeting, a coalition of twenty nine civic and environmental organizations urged Metra, Chicagoland’s commuter rail organization, to start testing zero-emissions technology.

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