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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
CTA: “9% increase in Blue, Yellow service started on 4/20.” Commuters Take Action: “That’s a pipe dream.”
By now you know the drill. The CTA announces that it's significantly increasing scheduled bus and/or train service in an effort to restore or surpass 2019 pre-COVID service levels. Streetsblog later asks the transit data whizzes at the grassroots transit advocacy group Commuters Take Action (CTAction) for their POV on the claim.
April 26, 2025
A trio of Red Line Extension hearings are allowing the public to “Meet the Contractor”
The $5.7 billion Red Line Extension is moving closer to becoming a reality, more than half a century after it was first promised to Far South Siders. The CTA is holding three "Meet the Contractor" sessions this month to provide updates and answer questions about the project.
April 10, 2025
CTA board approves expansion of contract for gun-detecting security cams, amends contract for universal one-day transit pass
CTA Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan said that the artificial intelligence-assisted security cameras the transit agency started to pilot last August led to six arrests, including for a robbery in progress.
April 10, 2025
Dystopia or Utopia? Chicagoland transit officials discuss worst and best possible outcomes as we approach state funding deadline
Want to urge state legislators to properly fund Chicago-area transit during their spring 2025 session, so as to prevent drastic service cuts in 2026? The Active Transportation Alliance recommends going to the webpage "Support the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act!" to send letters to your state reps.
March 27, 2025
Turning (wheels) 54: Spending my birthday checking out the new 10-minute scheduled headways on the CTA’s #54 Cicero bus route
Earlier this month, the CTA announced it was launching a "Frequent Network for Buses," with runs scheduled to show up every 10 minutes or less, all day, seven days a week. The plan called for providing shorter headways (waits between runs) on 20 high-ridership bus lines by the end of 2025, with upgrades to four more routes each quarter.
March 26, 2025
ATA’s Advocacy Connect session discussed Sunday’s CTA Frequent Routes bus launch, state legislation efforts, and 25 mph speed limit push
The Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted one of its monthly Advocacy Connect online lunchtime talks. This time the focus was on the CTA's Frequent Bus Network plan, several State transit- and biking-related bills, and the campaign for a 25 mph speed limit.
March 21, 2025
No more Blue Line blues? Advocates weigh in on CTA’s promise of increased service on Forest Park and O’Hare branches this spring
Last Monday, St. Patrick's Day, it appeared there may be a bit of good luck for Chicagoland straphangers.
March 20, 2025
At CTA board meeting, talk of funding doomsday scenario, bus lane enforcement contract, new concessions / newsletter / podcast
As Streetsblog readers are well aware, the CTA, Metra, and Pace currently face a combined $770 million budget gap next year as federal COVID-era subsidies run out, but ridership is currently still only around 65 percent of 2019 levels.
March 14, 2025
