Chuy Garcia

Some of the nine Chicago mayoral candidates have released transportation platforms. But if their platforms were literally CTA station platforms, which ones would they be?

During today's mayoral candidate forum held by WCPT 820 AM at Morningstar Auditorium, transit was a major topic of conversation.

What if we focused on getting the CTA workforce up to full strength as a strategy to increase reliability, ridership, and safety, by having more eyes in the 'L' cars to deter crime and bad behavior?

"Highway expansion fails to achieve long-term congestion relief but instead increases pollution and further isolates people who can’t afford or aren’t physically able to drive."

The reps noted that in addition to preventing crashes, separating rail crossings can also improve passenger and freight rail service by allowing for higher speeds and more frequent service.

Advocates acknowledged the goals is ambitious and achieving parity is unlikely this year, but a strategy of aiming high could significantly move the funding needle during this window of opportunity.

The panel also discussed how improving transit access in Black and Brown communities can help fight segregation and reduce violence.

The Active Transportation Alliance gathered seven leaders in transportation advocacy, legislation, management, and labor to discuss the financial crisis facing transit systems nationwide as the pandemic rages on.

Recently my Chicago Reader colleague, political commentator Ben Joravsky, had an interesting conversation with Dave “Mr. Bike” Glowacz, author of the excellent guide “Urban Bikers’ Tips and Tricks,” on Joravsky’s WCPT-AM radio show. Joravsky, who said that he often bikes himself, argued that “so many” local cyclists have slavishly supported mayors Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel simply because they built bike infrastructure and have claimed to be avid cyclists. The pundit said this is “one of my pet peeves about bicyclists.”