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In case you didn’t feel like showing up: Trib reporter Jake Sheridan names and shames the absentee alders who sank today’s CTA hearing at City Hall
"Somebody once told me the [CTA] is gonna roll meI ain't the sharpest tool in the shedShe was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumbIn the shape of an 'L' [train] on her forehead"
March 27, 2026
Instead of discussing what Chicago can do to protect vulnerable road users like Violet Harris from reckless drivers, the Tribune lays blame on e-scooters
The death of Violet Harris, 15, is the story of a hit-and-run, probably wrong-way, driver fatally striking a vulnerable road user on an e-scooter, and failing to render aid.
March 26, 2026
“Trib-splaining”: Lawmakers, CTAction clap back against yet another naysaying Tribune editorial about the transit reform/funding bill
On Halloween, a Crain's editorial did a fine job of summing up the stressful, but ultimately successful, legislative process that led to the Illinois General Assembly passing a robust transit reform/funding bill earlier that morning. "A long night yields long-overdue action on transit" is definitely the best op-ed I've seen on the topic in the mainstream press since last Friday.
November 4, 2025
The Tribune Editorial Board has a come-to-Jesus moment about what they previously called “the so-called fiscal cliff”
This post is sponsored by The Bike Lane.
June 4, 2025
Nik Hunder, whose research on the $5.7B cost inspired recent Red Line Extension-critical commentary, says we shouldn’t, can’t nix the project
This has been a hectic week for Illinois lawmakers and Chicagoland transit professionals and advocates as we try to avert the prophesied $771 budget cliff. As I type this, we're only about 33 hours away from the end of the spring legislative session, Saturday at midnight. If bills aren't passed to fund and/or reform public transportation in our region, the result will be apocalyptic service cuts and layoffs next year. Therefore, Springfield had better step up soon or, as last week's Soldier Field performers AC/DC would say, we're on the "Highway to Hell"
May 30, 2025
Transit advocates Rep. Buckner and Nik Hunder: It’s not just a “so-called” fiscal cliff. But Trib had a point that governance changes are needed.
I'm confident that the generally car-centric folks on the Chicago Tribune editorial board deserved the spanking I gave them on Friday for their rather arrogant editorial about our region's looming $770 million total transit budget gap. "Chicago’s transit agencies want you to panic," the headline stated. "They don’t explain the whole truth."
May 5, 2025
Transit agencies, expert clap back at Tribune editorial calling the looming budget crisis a “so-called fiscal cliff”
Read the Tribune editorial here.
May 2, 2025
As City expands speed camera program, Tribune claims there’s no “legitimate proof that it’s improving safety.” Nope, here’s the data.
And here's how to make the program more equitable. Bring back 50 percent fine discounts for lower-income drivers, and a 11 mph ticketing threshold – with a 25 speed limit.
March 4, 2025
Never mind the naysayers: NYC-style congestion pricing would be great for Chicago
By practically all accounts, New York City's congestion pricing initiative, which launched on January 5, is doing precisely what it's supposed to: easing traffic congestion. You can get up to speed on exactly how the program is designed, from this explainer by Streetblog NYC's Dave Colon.
February 12, 2025
Pink station club: Tribune asks if redevelopment near United Center could lead to another new ‘L’ stop, which I proposed back in 2014
The Chicago Tribune editorial board members are probably not my biggest fans right now, since I recently pointed out questionable statements about bike lanes and Metra fares in their editorials.
February 10, 2025
