Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about COVID-19

A CTA bus driver on Sheridan Road early in the pandemic. Photo: John Greenfield

How COVID-19 impacted has Chicagoland public transportation workers

By Igor Studenkov | Mar 2, 2021 | No Comments

During the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 1,874 Chicago area transit workers tested positive for the disease, at least 14 had to be hospitalized and at least 14 passed away.

A Union Pacific North train pulls into the Ravenswood station. Photo: John Greenfield

Metra looks back at 2020 ridership, ticket sales as it plans for the future

By Igor Studenkov | Feb 25, 2021 | No Comments

Essential workers, transit-dependent residents, and bicyclists have made up a higher percentage of riders during the pandemic.

A Metra train pulls into the Palatine station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Metra is unhappy about the RTA focusing stimulus funds on transit-dependent areas

By Igor Studenkov | Feb 22, 2021 | No Comments

The CTA would get $361 million, while Metra would get only $83 million, and Pace would get $22 million for fixed-route bus service, plus $20 million for paratransit.

A #6 Jackson Park Express bus heads downtown. Commuting via CTA bus increased slightly last month, as winter weather made walking and biking more challenging. Photo: John Greenfield

Latest Loop Alliance report shows continued uncertainty and preference for personal cars

By Sharon Hoyer | Feb 22, 2021 | No Comments

Personal cars remained the most popular way survey respondents reported getting to work—over 55 percent of respondents have said they use a personal car to commute since September.

Mural honoring Issac Martinez, 13, killed on his bike by an allegedly intoxicated driver last June in Ashburn. Photo: John Greenfield

Chicago traffic deaths were up 45% last year as speeding increased during COVID

By John Greenfield | Feb 9, 2021 | No Comments

Most of the increase was due to motorist deaths, but bicycle fatalities also spiked.

Good mask compliance on a Red Line car in late December. Photo: John Greenfield

Local transit agencies: CDC mask mandate will give our existing rules more teeth

By John Greenfield | Feb 2, 2021 | No Comments

Hopefully now that the federal government is getting more serious about mask compliance, we'll see better behavior on this front from local transit riders.

Onboard a Union Pacific North line train today. Photo: John Greenfield

Is the Metra-Union Pacific feud impacting onboard safety and quality of life?

By John Greenfield | Jan 28, 2021 | No Comments

While's its way past time for Metra and Union Pacific to settle their differences, when it comes to safety and comfort on the UP-operated trains, things could be a lot worse.

A detail from Nate Hucheson's proposed Slow Street circuit map.

Could a network of Slow Streets circuits speed pandemic recovery?

By John Greenfield | Jan 27, 2021 | No Comments

Streetsblog reader Nate Hutcheson brainstormed a system of Slow Streets designed as a community and economic development strategy.

Chicago's 95th/Dan Ryan terminal is in a Critical Service Area. Photo: John Greenfield

RTA plans to focus federal COVID stimulus funding to transit-dependent areas

By Igor Studenkov | Jan 25, 2021 | No Comments

The Regional Transportation Authority is planning to use federal stimulus funding to support transit services to "to the places and people across the region who most need transit" during the pandemic.

Christmas Eve on State Street. Loop pedestrian counts increased during the holidays. Photo: John Greenfield

Loop Alliance report shows increased foot traffic and decreased driving in December

By Sharon Hoyer | Jan 15, 2021 | No Comments

Predictably, overall Loop activity was inversely proportionate to the COVID positivity rate.

Before stimulus, advocates pushed for transparency on cuts. That’s still important.

By John Greenfield | Dec 22, 2020 | No Comments

The possibility of transit cuts is now less of an immediate threat. But it's still important for local transit agencies to be transparent about what would be cut in the event that the federal funding runs out.

Load more stories