COVID-19
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Metra looks back at 2020 ridership, ticket sales as it plans for the future
Essential workers, transit-dependent residents, and bicyclists have made up a higher percentage of riders during the pandemic.
February 25, 2021
Metra is unhappy about the RTA focusing stimulus funds on transit-dependent areas
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.
February 22, 2021
Latest Loop Alliance report shows continued uncertainty and preference for personal cars
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.
February 22, 2021
Chicago traffic deaths were up 45% last year as speeding increased during COVID
Most of the increase was due to motorist deaths, but bicycle fatalities also spiked.
February 9, 2021
Local transit agencies: CDC mask mandate will give our existing rules more teeth
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.
February 2, 2021
Is the Metra-Union Pacific feud impacting onboard safety and quality of life?
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.
January 28, 2021
Could a network of Slow Streets circuits speed pandemic recovery?
Streetsblog reader Nate Hutcheson brainstormed a system of Slow Streets designed as a community and economic development strategy.
January 27, 2021
RTA plans to focus federal COVID stimulus funding to transit-dependent areas
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.
January 25, 2021
Loop Alliance report shows increased foot traffic and decreased driving in December
Predictably, overall Loop activity was inversely proportionate to the COVID positivity rate.
January 15, 2021
Before stimulus, advocates pushed for transparency on cuts. That’s still important.
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.
December 22, 2020
