Joe Schwieterman
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Hoosier new train route? Railfans flock to NW Indiana for maiden voyage on South Shore Line’s Monon Corridor. As John Mellencamp sang, “Check it out!”
All photos are by John Greenfield.
March 31, 2026
“Streetsblog Chicago versus smoking on the CTA,” part two: A sociology student, a lung health advocate, and a transportation expert share their POVs
Welcome to the second installment of "Streetsblog Chicago versus smoking on the CTA," our unconventional effort to find holistic solutions (not just more policing) to the vexing problem of smoking inside 'L' cars. Read part one to get up to speed on my perspective and approach to this topic. As many people are aware, burning tobacco or cannabis, or vaping, in an enclosed space is a serious danger for people with respiratory issues, seniors, and young kids. For the rest of us, it's also unhealthy, and a major annoyance and deterrent to using transit.
February 13, 2026
Extreme Makeover: Bus Station Edition. As the City greases the wheels to buy the terminal, Chaddick Institute proposes an affordable facelift
In September 2024, Greyhound owner FlixBus narrowly escaped eviction from its station, 630 W. Harrison St. in the West Loop.
February 5, 2026
Ride e-scooters, do crime? U. of I. report blames the devices for spikes in illegal activity, but raises “correlation vs. causation” concerns.
"I suspect there are confounding factors that make the link from e-scooters to crime spurious," responded DePaul University transportation expert Joe Schwieterman.
December 15, 2025
Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting covers Better Streets for Buses, Divvy electrification and Cook County Safe Streets for All program
Last Thursday's Chicago Mobility Collaborative gathering, hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation, focused on the topic "Investing in Major Capital Projects." These quarterly events replaced the sometimes-dramatic pre-COVID Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council meetings. The current format allows City officials and representatives of other organizations to give presentations on walk/bike/transit issues and initiatives, followed by breakout sessions where attendees can provide input.
June 30, 2025
What’s going on? Politicians, agencies, experts, and advocates weigh in on the transit funding cliffhanger
If you're a frequent Streetsblog Chicago, when it comes to the current public transportation fiscal crisis, this ain't your first bus rodeo. Otherwise, here's our coverage of the issue since last Saturday, May 31, aka "The Night Transit Funding Didn't Go Down In Springfield":
June 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
Chaddick Institute report on intercity bus service suggests Chicago and Illinois need to catch up with other cities and states
The last time Chicago intercity bus service was making headlines was last fall, when the local Greyhound station, 630 W. Harrison St., was in danger of permanent closure. That would have made this the largest metropolis in the Northern Hemisphere without an intercity bus facility. That embarrassment was temporarily avoided when Greyhound owner FlixBus worked out a month-to-month lease deal with the station's landlord.
February 11, 2025
Wake them up *before* September ends: New statements from Amtrak, Ald. Conway, Mayor’s Office on Greyhound terminal negotiations
If action isn't taken by October 1, Chicago will become the world's largest northern hemisphere city with no intercity bus station.
August 30, 2024
Mobility leaders assess 5 years of e-scooters, and draw insights from the Chicago pilots
Read the article citations here.
November 30, 2021
