Toggle main menu visibility| July 16, 2020 1:36 pmThe CTA’s ambitious Red and Purple Line modernization program will impact service for riders on the North Side for a four-week period starting Friday, the transit agency said. And approval for another piece of that train system overhaul — relocating a historic Lakeview building — took a step forward this week.Planned disruptions at the Granville, Thorndale and Bryn Mawr stations are as follows:— 10 p.m. Friday, July 17 until 1 a.m. Sunday, July 19: The stations will be closed. A free shuttle bus will be available between the Loyola and...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 16, 2020 1:36 pmThe CTA’s ambitious Red and Purple Line modernization program will impact service for riders on the North Side for a four-week period starting Friday, the transit agency said. And approval for another piece of that train system overhaul — relocating a historic Lakeview building — took a step forward this week.Planned disruptions at the Granville, Thorndale and Bryn Mawr stations are as follows:— 10 p.m. Friday, July 17 until 1 a.m. Sunday, July 19: The stations will be closed. A free shuttle bus will be available between the Loyola and...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 22, 2020 5:58 pmThe Chicago Transit Authority will pay a $3 million settlement in the case of a man whose left leg was amputated above the knee after he was struck by a CTA bus.A Cook County judge on Wednesday approved the deal between the CTA and the family of Raymond Baroud, who was hit by a bus while crossing the street near the intersection of Madison Street and Pulaski Road in November 2018. According to his attorneys, Baroud was pinned under the front right tire of the bus for several minutes, resulting in fractures to his hip and elbow that...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 22, 2020 5:58 pmThe Chicago Transit Authority will pay a $3 million settlement in the case of a man whose left leg was amputated above the knee after he was struck by a CTA bus.A Cook County judge on Wednesday approved the deal between the CTA and the family of Raymond Baroud, who was hit by a bus while crossing the street near the intersection of Madison Street and Pulaski Road in November 2018. According to his attorneys, Baroud was pinned under the front right tire of the bus for several minutes, resulting in fractures to his hip and elbow that...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 15, 2020 1:39 pmThe federal bailout money  probably won’t be enough to cover Metra’s budget shortfall this year and next. That was the message from the commuter rail agency during a virtual meeting of the board on Wednesday.“We have just been crushed” by the coronavirus, said Metra CFO Tom Farmer. The agency has seen ridership drop as much as 97% during the pandemic. that show a $331 million drop in sales tax funding and revenue from passenger fares in 2020 and a $204 million drop in 2021. Since Metra expects to get about $400 million in...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 15, 2020 1:39 pmThe federal bailout money  probably won’t be enough to cover Metra’s budget shortfall this year and next. That was the message from the commuter rail agency during a virtual meeting of the board on Wednesday.“We have just been crushed” by the coronavirus, said Metra CFO Tom Farmer. The agency has seen ridership drop as much as 97% during the pandemic. that show a $331 million drop in sales tax funding and revenue from passenger fares in 2020 and a $204 million drop in 2021. Since Metra expects to get about $400 million in...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 20, 2020 9:33 amMore people died in traffic crashes in Illinois during the first quarter of this year than last year, according to , which tracked a “very, very disturbing” 11% increase compared to the first three months of 2019.Nationwide, the fatality rate from traffic crashes jumped 14% in March, despite the huge decrease in number of miles Americans drove as coronavirus restrictions went into effect. While the overall number of traffic deaths dropped around the U.S., Illinois was one of 11 states NSC clocked as seeing a significant spike in first...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 20, 2020 9:33 amMore people died in traffic crashes in Illinois during the first quarter of this year than last year, according to , which tracked a “very, very disturbing” 11% increase compared to the first three months of 2019.Nationwide, the fatality rate from traffic crashes jumped 14% in March, despite the huge decrease in number of miles Americans drove as coronavirus restrictions went into effect. While the overall number of traffic deaths dropped around the U.S., Illinois was one of 11 states NSC clocked as seeing a significant spike in first...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 19, 2021 8:36 pmPeople who have stayed away from public transit because of the coronavirus pandemic—so-called lapsed riders—expect to return to buses and trains, but the shift toward working from home is likely to change when, why and how often people ride. That’s according to by the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace.Among people who weren’t taking transit at the time of the survey, only 80% said they expect to “fully” return after COVID-19 health concerns are no longer dominant. The RTA report says the...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 19, 2021 8:36 pmPeople who have stayed away from public transit because of the coronavirus pandemic—so-called lapsed riders—expect to return to buses and trains, but the shift toward working from home is likely to change when, why and how often people ride. That’s according to by the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace.Among people who weren’t taking transit at the time of the survey, only 80% said they expect to “fully” return after COVID-19 health concerns are no longer dominant. The RTA report says the...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| February 8, 2021 3:49 pmThe Chicago area saw dangerously cold weather over the weekend, with wind chills as low as 30 below zero – and the week ahead doesn’t appear to offer much relief.But it takes more than a cold snap to bring the city to a standstill.When dangerously cold polar vortex air gripped Chicago two years ago, the city got worldwide attention, and it wasn’t just the frigid temps that drew interest.“Chicago is so ridiculously cold that in order to keep trains running, they had to deliberately set the train tracks on fire,” . “That’s called...…Toggle main menu visibility| February 8, 2021 3:49 pmThe Chicago area saw dangerously cold weather over the weekend, with wind chills as low as 30 below zero – and the week ahead doesn’t appear to offer much relief.But it takes more than a cold snap to bring the city to a standstill.When dangerously cold polar vortex air gripped Chicago two years ago, the city got worldwide attention, and it wasn’t just the frigid temps that drew interest.“Chicago is so ridiculously cold that in order to keep trains running, they had to deliberately set the train tracks on fire,” . “That’s called...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| December 8, 2020 2:44 pmThe COVID-19 pandemic has driven a huge increase in bicycling, with more people turning to two wheels for exercise, recreation and a way to get around without taking transit.While the late fall weather this year has been relatively mild, riding a bicycle through a Chicago winter likely sounds daunting to many first-timers. But with a bit of preparation and the right attitude, it’s a manageable feat. If you’re looking to bike your way through the winter, here’s some advice from avid cyclists on how to proceed as safely and enjoyably...…Toggle main menu visibility| December 8, 2020 2:44 pmThe COVID-19 pandemic has driven a huge increase in bicycling, with more people turning to two wheels for exercise, recreation and a way to get around without taking transit.While the late fall weather this year has been relatively mild, riding a bicycle through a Chicago winter likely sounds daunting to many first-timers. But with a bit of preparation and the right attitude, it’s a manageable feat. If you’re looking to bike your way through the winter, here’s some advice from avid cyclists on how to proceed as safely and enjoyably...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| November 23, 2020 2:09 pmA newly released five-year plan to invest in Chicago’s roads, bridges, bikeways and other infrastructure needs is a welcome shift away from short-term, less comprehensive projects, some analysts and city officials say.Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office last week released  that outlined 10 categories of infrastructure and equipment needs, which it says will be assessed citywide on a set of needs-based, data-driven and equity-focused criteria. The city says the plan will create thousands of jobs and address a decadeslong backlog of...…Toggle main menu visibility| November 23, 2020 2:09 pmA newly released five-year plan to invest in Chicago’s roads, bridges, bikeways and other infrastructure needs is a welcome shift away from short-term, less comprehensive projects, some analysts and city officials say.Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office last week released  that outlined 10 categories of infrastructure and equipment needs, which it says will be assessed citywide on a set of needs-based, data-driven and equity-focused criteria. The city says the plan will create thousands of jobs and address a decadeslong backlog of...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| October 27, 2020 3:57 pmThe coronavirus pandemic has given rise to a cycling boom in Chicago as residents look for an alternative to public transportation for getting around the city.But many city riders have likely discovered that cycling comes with a frustrating — and sometimes dangerous — feature: on-street bike lanes that are blocked or in disrepair. The cycling advocacy organization wants to combat the problem with its new mobile app, which officially launched Tuesday.“We’re seeing that there’s been an increase in cycling in the city of Chicago and other...…Toggle main menu visibility| October 27, 2020 3:57 pmThe coronavirus pandemic has given rise to a cycling boom in Chicago as residents look for an alternative to public transportation for getting around the city.But many city riders have likely discovered that cycling comes with a frustrating — and sometimes dangerous — feature: on-street bike lanes that are blocked or in disrepair. The cycling advocacy organization wants to combat the problem with its new mobile app, which officially launched Tuesday.“We’re seeing that there’s been an increase in cycling in the city of Chicago and other...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| October 14, 2020 4:35 pmAs massive demonstrations gripped downtown and spread into neighborhoods around the city this spring and summer, officials took unprecedented steps to limit the movement of people around Chicago – including shutting down the CTA and the Divvy bike-sharing system with little notice, leaving many who rely on transit stranded. With a heated election drawing to a close and concerns about possible post-election unrest, transportation advocates are calling on the Lightfoot administration and Chicago-area transit systems .“Black and...…Toggle main menu visibility| October 14, 2020 4:35 pmAs massive demonstrations gripped downtown and spread into neighborhoods around the city this spring and summer, officials took unprecedented steps to limit the movement of people around Chicago – including shutting down the CTA and the Divvy bike-sharing system with little notice, leaving many who rely on transit stranded. With a heated election drawing to a close and concerns about possible post-election unrest, transportation advocates are calling on the Lightfoot administration and Chicago-area transit systems .“Black and...WW…