Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about State Policy

Party Time, Excellent! Aurora, Illinois, Now Has a Curb-Protected Bike Lane

By John Greenfield | Feb 26, 2016 | 5 Comments

No, I haven’t been binge watching “Wayne’s World.” I’ve had Aurora, Illinois, on the brain lately because the western suburb has been doing some babelicious street makeovers. Last week we looked the totally awesome Downer Place streetscape project, included corner bump-outs to shorten pedestrian crossing distances, storm water-absorbing rain gardens, brick crosswalks, and attractive plantings. […]

Metra To Study Changes to Make its Fare Structure More “Creative”

By Steven Vance | Feb 25, 2016 | 47 Comments

Metra, the regional commuter train operator, is seeking a consultant to develop “creative recommendations” on how to change its fare structure. The consultant would be in charge of finding the pros and cons of the current fare structure, comparing it to Metra’s commuter rail peers around the country, and building a model that allows Metra to […]

Experts and Advocates Weigh in on Rauner’s Proposal to Widen the Stevenson

By John Greenfield | Feb 5, 2016 | 27 Comments

On Thursday, Governor Bruce Rauner announced a new proposal to address congestion on the Stevenson Expressway, aka I-55, by adding lanes. The construction would be financed via a public-private partnership, and the new lanes would be tolled. Revenue would go to the concessionaire, allowing them to recoup their investment. The so-called “managed lanes” would be […]

South Side Groups: Make the Metra Electric Run Like the CTA ‘L’

By Steven Vance | Jan 14, 2016 | 75 Comments

A dozen neighborhood organizations, along with the Active Transportation Alliance and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, are calling for the Metra Electric line, with its three branches that run through several South Side communities, to operate like a CTA ‘L’ line. The fourteen organizations signed a letter to the editor of the Chicago Maroon, the independent […]

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 […]

Why the North LSD Rehab Should Swap Mixed-Traffic Lanes for Transit Lanes

By John Greenfield | Dec 24, 2015 | 6 Comments

[The Chicago Reader recently launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership will allow Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We’ll be syndicating a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website […]

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