Author Archives: Kyle Whitehead

Join us for a vigil honoring Kevin Clark’s life and legacy

| Jun 3, 2021

The family of Kevin Clark is hosting a vigil and press conference on Saturday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at the Logan Square Monument. Kevin was tragically hit and killed in May while riding his bike near Logan Boulevard and Western Avenue.

Speakers will remember Kevin’s life and legacy and call for improving bicycling safety in Logan Square and neighborhoods throughout Chicago. We will also install a ghost bike memorial for Kevin near the crash site.

Victory! Illinois legislators eliminate local match for walk/bike infrastructure

| Jun 1, 2021

Update (8/30/21): Illinois House Bill 270 is now law. Effective August 30th, the state will cover 100 percent of the cost of walking and biking infrastructure on state roads.

After many months of effort from advocates and legislators, the Illinois House and Senate passed a bill mandating that the state cover 100 percent of the cost of walking and biking infrastructure on state roads, just like they do for cars and trucks. 

Take action now for more sidewalks and bike lanes on state roads

| May 17, 2021

After passing in the Illinois House of Representatives last month, our bill — HB 270 — to eliminate the local cost share for walking and biking infrastructure on state roads has now passed out of committee in the Illinois Senate.

But there’s only two weeks left in the legislative session and we need to make sure it’s called to the floor for a vote.
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Please ask your senator to co-sponsor HB 270 and vote for it when it’s called on the floor. 

Rep. Buckner files bill to stop public financing of One Central development

| May 10, 2021

The proposed One Central tower and transit hub on Chicago’s South Side is poorly conceived and wouldn’t increase transit access for the city’s highest need residents.

Thankfully, State Rep. Kam Buckner has introduced a bill (House Bill 4075) to ensure the project doesn’t receive $6.5 billion in public funds.

Buckner, whose district includes the site, says he’s heard from constituents opposed to the project and he’s angry that it was “rammed through without real conversations” with people who represent the area.

Suburban Chicagoland transit leaders prepare to change 

| Apr 16, 2021

The heads of Metra commuter rail and Pace Suburban Bus agree the pandemic has changed suburban transit forever.  

Now they’re preparing to adapt how they deliver service to the meet the new reality. 

Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and Pace Executive Director Rocky Donahue spoke with Active Trans Executive Director Amy Rynell in our Transit Justice Forum on the Future of Suburban Transit. Leanne Redden, head of the Regional Transportation Authority that oversees Metra and Pace,

Action alert: File a witness slip to make state roads safer for walking and biking

| Apr 9, 2021

The Illinois Senate is advancing Active Trans’ bill to eliminate the local share of the costs for walking and biking infrastructure on state roads.

Now we need your help to make sure it passes out of committee.

Senate Bill 1768 is scheduled to be presented in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m. Will you file a witness slip as a proponent before Tuesday’s hearing to show your support?

Action alert: More senators needed to co-sponsor bill to make state roads safer

| Mar 26, 2021

The Illinois House is advancing Active Trans’ bill to eliminate the local share of the costs for walking and biking infrastructure on state roads, but the state senate has yet to take action on it.

We need your help to make sure the senate takes action. One way to show broad support is to recruit more co-sponsors of the legislation.

Under current law, when the state of Illinois is rebuilding a road,

Action Alert: Help make state roads safer for people walking and biking

| Feb 25, 2021

The transportation committee in the Illinois State House is considering a bill that would make roads safer for vulnerable users, and we need your help to make sure it passes.

House Bill 270 eliminates the 20 percent local cost share for walking and biking infrastructure on state roads. The bill is scheduled to be called in committee on Monday, March 3, at noon.

Under current law, when the state is rebuilding a road,

Report shows mayor, police drove decisions to shut down transit, raise bridges

| Feb 24, 2021

A new report from Chicago’s Inspector General (IG) finds police and emergency management personnel had outsize influence on decisions to shut down transit and raise bridges during last summer’s protests following George Floyd’s murder.

These decisions had major transportation impacts on thousands of city residents, particularly our most vulnerable neighbors such as people with disabilities and low-income essential workers.

Yet the report finds the city’s transit leaders who know their systems best often weren’t at the table when these calls were made. 

Progress on transit equity starts with changing funding formulas

| Jan 25, 2021

Update (11/5/21): Unfortunately, the RTA has since abandoned this data-driven approach that considers racial equity and returned to a more standard formula process for allocating federal funds. This decision has sparked ire and consternation among the transit agencies, highlighting our region’s inability to plan and coordinate transit service effectively.
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To achieve greater equity in the Chicago region, we must fundamentally rethink how we’re spending our limited transportation dollars.