Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Lori Lightfoot

3-cent gas tax hike wouldn’t impact drivers much, but taking $16M from CTA is wrong

By Steven Vance | Nov 20, 2020 | No Comments

Included in Mayor Lightfoot's proposed budget are two transportation-related tax changes, one that would make driving a little more expensive, but another that would reduce funding for transit.

Will the earmark for bikeway upgrades include physical protection, like the new plastic curbs on Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square? Photo: John Greenfield

Lightfoot’s capital spending proposal includes earmarks for sidewalks and bikeways

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 18, 2020 | No Comments

$112 million will go towards sidewalk repairs and $49 million for “improvements to bike lanes, priority bus routes, and pavement markings.”

A dining tent on Southport Avenue in Lakeview. While residents are urged to never host non-household members, even in their backyards, it's still legal to drink at bars, many of which feature poorly ventilated shelters. Photo: John Greenfield

Here’s a smarter approach to Lightfoot’s self-contradictory Stay at Home advisory

By John Greenfield | Nov 12, 2020 | No Comments

Instead of telling residents to stay home except for essential trips and never hang out with friends, while keeping gyms, bars and restaurants open, the city should educate people about safe socializing and make outdoor dining and drinking safer.

Free mask dispensers on the CTA? Lightfoot: “We’ve done a tremendous amount already”

By John Greenfield | Nov 5, 2020 | No Comments

The mayor seems to be taking an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. But feedback from straphangers suggests there's still room for improvement when it comes to mask compliance.

Lightfoot says she wants to repair Chicago's many crumbling viaducts. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

Lightfoot says her new infrastructure spending plan will focus on equity

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 4, 2020 | No Comments

Lightfoot is finalizing a multi-billion dollar capital spending plan that will reportedly help aldermen stretch their $1.32 million discretionary "menu" funds and create jobs for residents.

Opened drawbridges limiting entrance and egress to and from the Loop during the George Floyd protests. Photo: John Greenfield

Advocates blast mayor’s refusal to rule out a CTA shutdown if there’s election unrest

By John Greenfield | Oct 30, 2020 | No Comments

"I'm not going to hesitate" to shut down transit and Divvy again in the event of civil unrest Lightfoot told Streetsblog this morning.

A Metra Electric train pulls in to the South Shore station on the South Chicago branch. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

What’s going on with the South Cook Fair Transit pilot?

By John Greenfield | Oct 28, 2020 | No Comments

Reduced Metra Electric and Rock Island fares and increased service are set to launch in January, but Lightfoot and the CTA are still not completely on board with the plan.

Illustration, Rachel Duggan, Chicago Reader

COVID-19 isn’t a good time to start ticketing drivers for going 6 MPH over the speed limit

By John Greenfield | Oct 27, 2020 | No Comments

While doing so might be a win for traffic safety in the short term, the strategy raises some economic and racial equity concerns, and would surely lead to renewed calls to abolish the cams.

The retro-futurist BP station at Clark and LaSalle in River North. Image: Google Maps

Raising city gas tax isn’t a perfect solution, but it could help prevent COVID carmaggedon

By John Greenfield | Oct 22, 2020 | No Comments

Raising the city gas tax a few cents a gallon would help deter unnecessary car trips while addressing the budget shortfall, without causing undue fiscal pain for residents.

Sad Trombone: Lightfoot says the Lakefront Trail is still closed

By John Greenfield | Jun 4, 2020 | No Comments

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but despite thousands of signatures in support of reopening the trail, Mayor Lightfoot confirmed it's still off-limits.

Lightfoot says crimes committed on CTA and Divvy motivated shutdowns

By John Greenfield | Jun 2, 2020 | No Comments

Lightfoot: "I can't ignore the circumstances on the ground, and how these seemingly benign resources are being used to further criminal conduct."

The 35th Street bike/ped bridge to the lakefront as it appeared last month. Photo: John Greenfield

Lightfoot: I’m open to hiring Social Distancing Ambassadors when lakefront reopens

By John Greenfield | May 8, 2020 | No Comments

The mayor said the "tough" ushers at Wrigley Field might a good model for future Social Distancing Ambassadors in Chicago parks.

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