Promoted

As previously reported by the Daily Herald's Marni Pike, it's come to light that Metra hired a team of outside lawyers to conduct an internal investigation of its Police Department that cost almost $1.57 million. The investigation took place due to anonymous complaints made to the commuter railroad about "disparate treatment" of employees at the force. According to a follow-up article by the Chicago Tribune's Sarah Freishtat, these allegations included "workplace sexual relationships, harassment of female officers, racism, special treatment of some officers and inconsistency in police policies."

Streetsblog Chicago is a sustainable transportation news and advocacy website, not a publication that typically covers finance. So it's not really my role to opine on whether it was a smart fiscal decision for the City Council to approve an $830 million bond deal to pay for transportation infrastructure. But let's look at how the narrow 26-23 vote went down last Wednesday; some arguments against and for the financing by alders; and reactions from walk/bike/transit boosters.

Last month, the grassroots transit advocacy group Commuters Take Action held a retirement party for controversial CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. While he did go out on a high note by securing $1.9 billion from the feds for the $5.7 Red Line Extension, he was highly unpopular with many riders due to the system's issues with unreliable service, crime, and sanitation. So the celebration was a tongue-in-cheek affair, and needless to say, the guest of honor was a no-show.

This week, the CTA released the final design concepts for a pedestrian path and other new amenities on a 1.3-mile segment under Red and Purple tracks, between the Lawrence and Bryn Mawr stations in Uptown and Edgewater. At the second of two community meeting this week, held last night at Truman College, 1945 W. Wilson, attendees seemed generally satisfied with the design.

The day after the giant pierogi dropped in Whiting, Indiana, I wrapped up Streetsblog Chicago's Bike Lane Fest 2024, a quest to visit every new or upgraded bikeway the Chicago Department of Transportation completed last year.

When everyone is accountable, nobody is.

There was also discussion of ATA volunteering opportunities for National Bike Month and the Week Without Driving.

Podgers discussed the history of BSC, and the things the grassroots group has accomplished that he's most proud of.

Update 2/25/25, 9:45 AM: Here's the final City Clerk tally of who voted for/against a 25 mph speed limit. I've updated our map accordingly. Previously unknown:Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd): 👎 (opposed)Ald. Lamont Robinson (4th) 👍 (in favor)Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) 👎Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) ❓ (didn't vote)