Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Lori Lightfoot

Lightfoot says she wants to repair Chicago's many crumbling viaducts. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

Lightfoot says her new infrastructure spending plan will focus on equity

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 4, 2020 | No Comments

Lightfoot is finalizing a multi-billion dollar capital spending plan that will reportedly help aldermen stretch their $1.32 million discretionary "menu" funds and create jobs for residents.

Opened drawbridges limiting entrance and egress to and from the Loop during the George Floyd protests. Photo: John Greenfield

Advocates blast mayor’s refusal to rule out a CTA shutdown if there’s election unrest

By John Greenfield | Oct 30, 2020 | No Comments

"I'm not going to hesitate" to shut down transit and Divvy again in the event of civil unrest Lightfoot told Streetsblog this morning.

A Metra Electric train pulls in to the South Shore station on the South Chicago branch. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

What’s going on with the South Cook Fair Transit pilot?

By John Greenfield | Oct 28, 2020 | No Comments

Reduced Metra Electric and Rock Island fares and increased service are set to launch in January, but Lightfoot and the CTA are still not completely on board with the plan.

Illustration, Rachel Duggan, Chicago Reader

COVID-19 isn’t a good time to start ticketing drivers for going 6 MPH over the speed limit

By John Greenfield | Oct 27, 2020 | No Comments

While doing so might be a win for traffic safety in the short term, the strategy raises some economic and racial equity concerns, and would surely lead to renewed calls to abolish the cams.

The retro-futurist BP station at Clark and LaSalle in River North. Image: Google Maps

Raising city gas tax isn’t a perfect solution, but it could help prevent COVID carmaggedon

By John Greenfield | Oct 22, 2020 | No Comments

Raising the city gas tax a few cents a gallon would help deter unnecessary car trips while addressing the budget shortfall, without causing undue fiscal pain for residents.

Sad Trombone: Lightfoot says the Lakefront Trail is still closed

By John Greenfield | Jun 4, 2020 | No Comments

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but despite thousands of signatures in support of reopening the trail, Mayor Lightfoot confirmed it's still off-limits.

Lightfoot says crimes committed on CTA and Divvy motivated shutdowns

By John Greenfield | Jun 2, 2020 | No Comments

Lightfoot: "I can't ignore the circumstances on the ground, and how these seemingly benign resources are being used to further criminal conduct."

The 35th Street bike/ped bridge to the lakefront as it appeared last month. Photo: John Greenfield

Lightfoot: I’m open to hiring Social Distancing Ambassadors when lakefront reopens

By John Greenfield | May 8, 2020 | No Comments

The mayor said the "tough" ushers at Wrigley Field might a good model for future Social Distancing Ambassadors in Chicago parks.

All the squad cars and security guard vehicles I saw on Saturday when I visited just about every major street entrance to the Lakefront Trail. Image: John Greenfield

Just how many cops are enforcing Mayor Lightfoot’s Lakefront Trail ban?

By John Greenfield | Apr 20, 2020 | No Comments

It turns out there are fewer cops on the lakefront than one might have expected, but almost all of them are concentrated on the North Side.

Lightfoot: Nope, I’m not reopening the Lakefront Trail for bike commuting anytime soon

By John Greenfield | Apr 11, 2020 | No Comments

The mayor indicated that the idea of reopening the shoreline path solely to bike commuters during the pandemic is a nonstarter, and didn't even address the topic of open streets.

Active Trans discusses why it’s not pushing to reopen the Lakefront Trail during pandemic

By Sharon Hoyer | Apr 7, 2020 | No Comments

"We understand the mayor’s decision to close the Lakefront Trail and The 606, and it’s obviously a terrible situation."

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