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“SBC versus smoking on the CTA” part six: A software engineer turns to crowdsourcing to hold officials accountable for finding solutions
If you've been following Streetsblog Chicago's quest for holistic approaches (not just more policing) to encourage people not to smoke on CTA trains, you know why this is an important issue, and have read about my shenanigans on this front. If not, check out more links at the bottom of this post.
April 6, 2026
All we are saying is give bus rapid transit a chance: Train-like service at a price we can afford
April 2, 2026
A quick report from the Archer Avenue traffic safety project supporters on [checks notes] Round 17 of their dueling rallies with the opponents
If you're a regular SBC reader, you're probably familiar with the controversy over the Chicago Department of Transportation's project to make Archer Avenue in Brighton Park a safer, more efficient, and more pleasant street for all users. If not, check out one of our recent articles about the project, and the organized weekly protests against it near local Ald. Julia Ramirez's (12th) office, promoted by right-leaning politicians and lobbyists trying to defeat her in the next election.
April 1, 2026
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
The iceman leaveth: After a judge issued a restraining order, the Trump administration was forced to unfreeze funding for the RLE and RPM projects
Plus transit experts and advocates Yonah Freemark, Nik Hunder, and Oboi Reed respond to the good news.
March 30, 2026
High Speed Rail Alliance’s Rick Harnish on why the Chicago to St. Louis HSR route is the test America can’t afford to fail
A looming deadline could be the end of high speed rail in Illinois — or the beginning of an entire midwest network, a top advocate argues.
March 30, 2026
In case you didn’t feel like showing up: Trib reporter Jake Sheridan names and shames the absentee alders who sank today’s CTA hearing at City Hall
"Somebody once told me the [CTA] is gonna roll meI ain't the sharpest tool in the shedShe was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumbIn the shape of an 'L' [train] on her forehead"
March 27, 2026
Instead of discussing what Chicago can do to protect vulnerable road users like Violet Harris from reckless drivers, the Tribune lays blame on e-scooters
The death of Violet Harris, 15, is the story of a hit-and-run, probably wrong-way, driver fatally striking a vulnerable road user on an e-scooter, and failing to render aid.
March 26, 2026
Turning (wheels) 55: Riding the CTA’s entire #55 Garfield bus line from Midway to the MSI on my birthday
SBC readers may remember that a year ago I took a busman's holiday, or rather a transit writer's getaway, by checking out the promised Frequent Network 10-minutes-or-better bus intervals on the #54 Cicero bus, which debuted that day. Not coincidentally, the date was March 23, my 54th birthday.
March 25, 2026
Tragically, a hit-and-run driver fatally struck Violet Harris, 15 on a Lime e-scooter. The crash report provides details on what reportedly took place.
In a tragic hit-and-run case, last Saturday evening, a car driver struck and killed Violet Harris, 15, as she rode a Lime rental e-scooter in South Shore.
March 24, 2026