Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Around the Block

Why Is Transit Ridership Falling?

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 20, 2017 | No Comments

Transit ridership took a turn for the worse in 2016. In all but a handful of cities, fewer people rode trains and buses, and it's not just a one-year blip, either. In many American cities, the drop in transit ridership is an established trend. The big question is why.

The Red Line bus rapid transit project in Indianapolis, which voters approved as part of a package in November, is one of dozens of projects threatened by Donald Trump's budget proposal. Image: IndyGo

Think of Trump’s Budget as an Attack on Cities

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 17, 2017 | No Comments

Yesterday Donald Trump released a budget outline that calls for severe cuts to transit, and the reaction was swift and scathing. The National Association of City Transportation Officials called it "a disaster" for cities. Transportation for America said it was a "slap in the face" for local communities that have raised funds to expand transit.

Trump’s Budget Takes an Axe to Transit

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 16, 2017 | No Comments

The Trump administration has released its budget blueprint, and it's a bloodbath for everything that's not defense spending. In keeping with the budget's general hostility to cities, transit would be hit especially hard.

If You Want to Know Trump’s Infrastructure Priorities, Focus on His Budget

By John Greenfield | Mar 15, 2017 | No Comments

Donald Trump's big infrastructure plan is still more of a rumor than an actual plan, leading to widespread speculation about his transportation priorities. But we don't have to wait for major new legislation to get a clear sense of what the White House thinks is important.

For three weeks, parking lots along Miami's Biscayne Boulevard were transformed into public space. Photo via Modern Cities

Reimagining Miami’s Waterfront Speedway as a Street for People

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 14, 2017 | No Comments

Miami's Biscayne Boulevard is eight roaring lanes of traffic cutting off downtown from the waterfront. But maybe not for long. In what could be a transformative project, the city is looking to convert this surface speedway into a walkable boulevard.

Downtown workers in Columbus may be able to ride the bus for free starting next year. Photo: Sam Howzit/Flickr

Columbus May Offer Free Transit Passes to All Downtown Workers

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 13, 2017 | No Comments

For the last year and a half, Columbus's Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District has been piloting a free transit pass program for 844 downtown workers. The share of workers in the program who commute via transit increased from 6 percent to 12 percent, and now it might be expanded to all 40,000 workers downtown.

Scenes like this are becoming rarer. Photo: MoBikeFed

As Fewer Kids Attend Neighborhood Schools, Transportation Challenges Intensify

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 10, 2017 | No Comments

The more kids get driven to school instead of walking, the more chaotic the drop-offs and pick-ups become. Greater Greater Washington's Matthew Kohler notes that the rise of school choice policies adds a whole new wrinkle, as students shift from neighborhood schools within walking distance to schools farther away.

Instead of giving owners of expensive cars a tax windfall, Rhode Island lawmakers should be using car tax revenues to fund better bus service. Photo: Adam Moreira via Creative Commons

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 9, 2017 | No Comments

The "regressive" label often gets trotted out by proponents of cheap motoring, whether they're opposing a gas tax, tolls, or car fees. The problem with this argument is that many poor people don't own cars and are harmed by a transportation system that prioritizes driving instead of transit.

The First Street NE protected bike lane accounts for 0.6 miles of the 16-mile protected bike lane network taking shape in DC. Photo: Jonathan Maus/Bike Portland

Street by Street, DC Builds Out a Center-City Protected Bikeway Network

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 8, 2017 | No Comments

There are now nearly 16 miles of protected bike lanes in Washington, DC.

Someone tell the Seattle Times that bike lanes and bus lanes add capacity to city streets. Graphic: NACTO

Truck Crash on Freeway Paralyzes Traffic. Seattle Times: Ditch the Bike Lanes!

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 7, 2017 | No Comments

Last month, a truck crashed on a major Seattle freeway, paralyzing traffic for miles. The whole episode demonstrated the fragility of the freeway system, and the need for more resilient transportation networks. But the Seattle Times had a hotter hot take. The real culprit, according to the paper's editorial board? Bike lanes.

Public agencies will spend more than $100 million to to add 2,100 parking spaces to this parking crater. Image: Google Maps

Coming Soon to Boston’s Massive Parking Crater: More Subsidized Parking

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 6, 2017 | No Comments

Quick -- what should a city do to improve access to a rapidly developing area near a BRT station? In Boston, officials have settled on an expensive plan to subsidize driving and traffic.

Earl Blumenauer Introduces Vision Zero Bill in House

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 2, 2017 | No Comments

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer has introduced legislation in the House that would help cities establish Vision Zero policies aimed at eliminating traffic deaths, reports Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland. “Something has to change," Blumenauer said. "We have to do better and finally treat this public health crisis."

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