Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Federal Policy

Some Bus Service Will Be Better In 2016, But Better Funding Needed

By Steven Vance | Dec 29, 2015 | 18 Comments

2016 just might be the year of the Chicago bus. The Chicago Transit Authority is restoring express service and speeding up local service on Ashland and Western avenues, running six bus routes on dedicated bus lanes downtown with the new “Loop Link” corridor, and piloting restored service on the #11-Lincoln and #31-31st Street bus routes. Pace will also […]

Federal Funds Shifting To More Active Transportation Projects This Year

By Steven Vance | Oct 20, 2015 | 13 Comments

The next group of transportation projects that aim to improve air quality or reduce congestion and should receive federal funding has been approved by Chicagoland’s regional planning organization. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning evaluates requests for the funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program. CMAQ has ensured for nearly two […]

The Illiana’s Latest Death Blow: Feds Dropping Their Appeal of Court Ruling

By Steven Vance | Sep 23, 2015 | 3 Comments

A new legal development may represent the final nail in the coffin for the wasteful, destructive Illiana Tollway project. Yesterday, the Federal Highway Administration dropped its appeal of the court ruling that invalidated the Illiana’s key supporting document. Back in June, U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Alonso invalidated the tollway’s Environmental Impact Statement, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.” […]

Gettin’ Quigley With It: The Congressman Talks Transportation Funding

By John Greenfield | Jul 3, 2015 | 7 Comments

[This piece originally ran in Checkerboard City, John’s transportation column in Newcity magazine, which hits the streets on Wednesday evenings.] If you’re not a transportation geek like myself, you may be most familiar with Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL 5th) from his hilarious segment on “The Colbert Report.” His North Side district includes Boystown, and he’s […]

Why Rolling on the River Is No Easy Task

By John Greenfield | Jun 26, 2015 | 15 Comments

[This piece also ran in Checkerboard City, John’s transportation column in Newcity magazine, which hits the streets on Wednesday evenings.] Earlier this month, the Bloomingdale Trail, aka The 606, grabbed the spotlight as our city’s latest fabulous public space. However, the Chicago Riverwalk extension, which partially opened on May 23, is another strong contender. The […]

Getting Closer to the End: Judge Nullifies Federal Approval of Illiana Tollway

By Steven Vance | Jun 17, 2015 | 3 Comments

It’s looking like the nightmarish vision of a totally unnecessary, 47-mile highway cutting through prime Illinois farmland is not going to become a reality. A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Illinois Department of Transportation failed to provide a proper Environmental Impact Statement for the Illiana Tollway. U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Alonso wrote that the […]

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