Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Loop Link

The Loop Link Bus Rapid Transit System Launches This Sunday

By John Greenfield | Dec 14, 2015 | 47 Comments

The long-awaited Loop Link bus rapid transit corridor, featuring dedicated bus lanes, limited stops, island stations, and other timesaving features, will begin operations this Sunday, December 20. Whether the new system is deemed to be a success or a failure by Chicagoans will be a crucial factor in whether the city moves forward with its […]

CDOT Pilots Bike Lane Treatment Inspired by Dutch Protected Intersections

By John Greenfield and Steven Vance | Dec 1, 2015 | 11 Comments

As part of the Loop Link bus rapid transit project, which includes the construction of protected bike lanes on Washington, Randolph, and Clinton downtown, the Chicago Department of Transportation is trying a kind of intersection treatment that’s new to our city. Inspired by Dutch-style “protected intersections,” they’re installing special concrete curbs and islands in an […]

Eyes on the Street: The Loop Link BRT Corridor Continues to Take Shape

By John Greenfield | Nov 4, 2015 | 28 Comments

The Loop Link bus rapid transit route, slated to be largely complete by New Year’s Day, seems to be moving along nicely. As I’ve discussed, some of the project’s features have been reduced, modified, or delayed. We’re not getting transit signal priority, truly level boarding, or enclosed bus stations, and the pilot of prepaid boarding […]

CDOT Promises the Miró-Obscuring BRT Station Won’t Be an Art Faux-Pas

By John Greenfield | Oct 30, 2015 | 3 Comments

Don’t worry art lovers, the city assures us that the project to bring faster, more efficient bus service to the Loop won’t permanently upstage one of Chicago’s most beloved public sculptures. The Chicago Department of Transportation says they have plans to use lighting and signs to highlight a statue by the famed Spanish artist Joan […]

Eyes on the Street: 2-Way Protected Lane Is Taking Shape on Clinton

By John Greenfield | Oct 13, 2015 | 13 Comments

About three years ago, the Chicago Department of Transportation blazed a new trail by repurposing a lane of Dearborn Street to create the city’s first two-way protected bike lane. Now they’re building a similar two-way lane on Clinton Street as part of the Loop Link bus rapid transit project. After a few years of new […]

More Before-and-After GIF Goodness: Bike Lanes, a Ped Scramble, and BRT

By John Greenfield | Oct 2, 2015 | 3 Comments

Inspired by a post from Streetsblog USA’s Angie Schmitt, I recently tried my hand at using a new-ish feature of Google Streetview to illustrate how Chicago street transformations have improved traffic safety and made neighborhoods more livable. Google now lets you access archived Street View images, so it’s easy to see how our roadways have changed […]

Despite Reduced Features, Loop Link Should Still Prove the Benefits of BRT

By John Greenfield | Sep 14, 2015 | 47 Comments

Last week’s update on the Loop Link bus rapid transit project by the Chicago Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch raised some valid questions about the ultimate value of the project. Hilkevitch noted that some of the planned features of the downtown express bus corridor have been reduced, modified, or delayed. However, it looks like Loop Link will […]

Chicago Gets First Curb-Protected Lanes; Many Other Bike Projects on Deck

By John Greenfield | May 18, 2015 | 36 Comments

In a surprise move, the Chicago Department of Transportation recently began building the city’s first curb-protected bike lanes on Sacramento Drive through Douglas Park. This morning, assistant director of transportation planning Mike Amsden provided an update on this game-changing facility, plus a slew of other bikeways projects slated for 2015. Four years ago, Mayor Rahm […]

Claypool’s Tenure at the CTA Has Been Action-Packed

By John Greenfield | Apr 28, 2015 | 4 Comments

Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool has worn many hats in local government. He twice served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s chief of staff. He was superintendent of the Chicago Park District. And he’s been a Cook County commissioner. But, arguably, he’s made his biggest mark as head of the transit agency during the last […]