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Blurred lines: At three meetings this week at downtown terminals, Metra asks riders for input on renaming commuter rail routes
The Metra commuter rail system is considering renaming lines to make the system easier to understand for new and occasional riders. To get feedback on the idea from customers, the agency is conducting an online survey and scheduled three public meetings at downtown terminals this week. On Tuesday, an open house was held at Chicago Union Station, on Wednesday, it was at Ogilvie Transportation Center, and today they're at Millennium Station and La Salle Street Station from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. All Metra routes
March 13, 2025
At State Senate committee meeting on MMA, transit advocates voiced support, but collar counties opposed simple-majority voting proposal
Representatives of Kane and McHenry counties argued that if MMA board decisions didn't require a supermajority vote, their districts would be disempowered.
March 12, 2025
Not like us? A Toronto transit advocate says value of Red Line Extension is dubious. A South Side worker argues they missed the point.
Let's discuss the latest dispute between someone from Toronto, and an American who has many things in common with them.
March 11, 2025
If parking relief is granted to just about every development, why require parking in the first place?
This article also appears in Streetsblog Chicago cofounder Steven Vance's personal blog Steven Can Plan. He also runs the local development data website Chicago Cityscape.
March 10, 2025
The RTA’s new Transit-Friendly Communities Guide offers encouragement for building equitable TOD in the ‘burbs
Recently the Regional Transportation Authority, the agency that oversees the CTA, Metra, and Pace, released a Transit-Friendly Communities Guide to encourage development that's accessible to public transportation. Earlier this week, the RTA held a webinar about the guide for municipal officials, urban planning professionals, and the public. It included success stories of creating equitable transit-oriented developments, and tips on how to use best practices from the handbook to foster ETOD in other communities.
March 7, 2025
A better way to run a railroad: The transit reform opportunity
A combination of governance and operational reforms could deliver the transit system riders deserve
March 7, 2025
The rise of a Midwest intercity bus network: GOGO Charters is rolling out two new routes from Chicago this summer
Update 12/13/25, 11:40 PM: GOGO Charters spokesperson Jonathan Schneider recently provided the following statement. "GOGO Charters is still planning to launch intercity bus services. We're working towards a launch in late 2026 and are currently building our operations and fleet to meet the heightened daily demand. To achieve this, we've just made a purchase announcement of 30 new motorcoaches."
March 6, 2025
10 minute version: CTA promises shorter headways on 20 bus routes. There are a *bunch* of reasons riders hope the plan will work out.
The CTA recently announced it's launching a "Frequent Network" with ten-minute or shorter headways all day, seven days a week. The initiative includes 20 high-ridership bus lines citywide dubbed "Frequent Routes," starting with eight lines mostly located on the South Side. Some transit advocates say they're excited about the new initiatives, and have their fingers crossed that the increased service will be dependable, and free from the much-loathed "bus bunching" phenomenon.
March 5, 2025
As City expands speed camera program, Tribune claims there’s no “legitimate proof that it’s improving safety.” Nope, here’s the data.
And here's how to make the program more equitable. Bring back 50 percent fine discounts for lower-income drivers, and a 11 mph ticketing threshold – with a 25 speed limit.
March 4, 2025
Metra paid a firm nearly $1.57M to investigate complaints about its police, but won’t make report public. Rep. Kam Buckner wants answers.
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."
March 3, 2025
