Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Pace

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.

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.

Pace’s new Plainfield garage will enable expansion of I-55 Bus on Shoulder service

By John Greenfield | Jan 8, 2021 | No Comments

This facility will make room for more vehicles needed to to take commuters from various south-suburban park-n-ride lots to downtown Chicago.

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.

Boarding a #157 Streeterville/Taylor bus this month on Michigan Avenue. Photo: John Greenfield

What will the new COVID stimulus bill mean for Chicagoland transit?

By John Greenfield | Dec 21, 2020 | No Comments

Chicago-area transit agencies and advocates are generally taking a glass-half-full view of the news, noting that in the short term the subsidy will prevent a "beyond-doomsday" scenario.

The Fair Transit South Cook service area. Image: Cook County

Take a survey in advance of Fair Transit South Cook, and the county will buy you coffee

By John Greenfield | Dec 7, 2020 | No Comments

The county is seeking input from residents about their travel needs and how the COVID-19 crisis has affected their riding habits.

The RTA board meeting was just like this, if you replace Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis & Liv Tyler with Dorval Carter, Jim Derwinski, and Rocky Donahue.

Transit agencies discuss plans for possible “Armageddon” funding scenario

By Igor Studenkov | Nov 25, 2020 | No Comments

“In the previous [2008] doomsday budget, our deficit was in the neighborhood of $100 million,” CTA president Dorval Carter said. “This is Armageddon-type stuff."

Waiting beneath overhead heaters on the Wilson platform. Photo: John Greenfield

How can CTA riders stay warm while maintaining social distance?

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 22, 2020 | No Comments

Rather than crowding below outdoor platform heaters, tCTA recommends waiting in stationhouses, and using online tools to track arrivals. The agency also discussed the issue of homeless people sheltering on transit.

Pace bus and Metra train at the Highland Park Metra station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Regional Transportation Authority prepares for funding doomsday scenario, recovery

By Igor Studenkov | Nov 2, 2020 | No Comments

The Regional Transportation Authority is starting to prepare for what will happen if the federal government fails to provide additional aid for transit, and what will happen when the pandemic is over.

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.

The bus turnaround at the Metra Milwaukee District North line's Lake Cook Road station would normally be full of "shuttle bug" buses arriving to drop off commuters, but since the pandemic started it's been down to one route. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Pace 2021 budget reflects the pandemic’s new normal

By Igor Studenkov | Oct 20, 2020 | No Comments

If there are three words that can best sum up Pace’s plans for the upcoming year, they are “pandemic status quo.”

Union Pacific Northwest Metra line riders disembark at the currently car-centric Pingree Road station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Crystal Lake, RTA seek community feedback for transit-orientated development plan

By Igor Studenkov | Sep 8, 2020 | No Comments

Crystal Lake is working with the Regional Transportation Authority to create a Strategic Action Plan, which would guide community development and transportation planning around the suburb's two Metra stations.

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