Blog

Lessons learned engaging residents and students in Aurora

Feb 14, 2020 | by Active Trans

When trying to spread the word about the need for better transportation options, local advocates often put their energy into public events.

Indeed, engaging community members person-to-person is an excellent way to build public visibility and grow more community support.

By building community support, elected officials are more likely to invest in infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for people walking and biking.

Unfortunately, however, things don’t always pan out the way you had hoped.

Chicago is falling behind on sustainable transportation

Feb 13, 2020 | by Maggie Melin

According to our new report, Chicago is falling behind in the number of people choosing to commute on foot, on bike, or on public transit.

This was just one of the findings of our regularly published Regional Mode Share Report, which compiles and analyzes mode share and travel data for the Chicagoland region.

Here are a few highlights from our 2020 report:

Compared to our peer cities,

Support funding for walking and biking projects in low-income communities

Feb 12, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

Last year, Active Trans and hundreds of supporters made our voices heard to ensure that dedicated funding for walking and biking projects would be included in the state’s capital bill.

As a result, for the first time ever, Illinois’ long-term capital plan includes dedicated funding for walking and bicycling projects.

Now we need your help to make sure the program is successful.

As the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) began moving ahead with the program,

Metra Electric Coalition picks up speed

Feb 6, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

The Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric was founded about five years ago with the core question, “What would it take to get more Chicagoans riding Metra?”

Comprised of nine initial organizations, the coalition was founded with the vision of the Metra Electric line serving as a high-speed rail line, better connecting South Side communities to hubs like downtown and O’Hare Airport.

Next month Active Trans will be honoring this plucky organization for its efforts to improve many people’s lives on Chicago’s South Side.

Paving the way to safer streets

Feb 5, 2020 | by Maya Norris

Murphysboro, Illinois, is on its way to creating safer streets for its residents.

The city collaborated with the Jackson County Health Department and Active Trans to conduct a sidewalk audit as a first step toward enhancing the city’s sidewalks and promoting physical activity.

In the summer of 2019, 31 community residents volunteered to assess the condition of all 125 miles of sidewalks in Murphysboro, which is located about 300 miles south of Chicago.

Become a better advocate in 2020

Feb 5, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

Not to brag, but Active Trans is involved in some exciting projects around the region.

If we have the capacity to help and it looks like we can make a difference, we wade into the waters and do what we can.

Whether it’s shepherding legislation through the state assembly or asking suburban municipalities to improve their walking infrastructure, we want to help out by sharing our expertise and resources.

Often,

Will you help make Chicago’s streets safer?

Feb 4, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Do you want to see better streets for biking in your Chicago neighborhood and throughout the city?

Would you like to learn how to be an effective advocate?

Well, here’s your chance to get directly involved in making a difference.

Here’s your chance to help create better walking and biking infrastructure in Chicago and help to hold Mayor Lightfoot accountable to her campaign promise to build 100 miles of new bikeways by 2023.

Support bus lanes on South Halsted

Jan 31, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Transit agencies are considering major upgrades to a busy bus route on Chicago’s Far South Side and in the South Suburbs. As part of the project, they’re looking for public input — but you must act by February 9.  

Pace and CTA started the South Halsted Bus Corridor Enhancement Project in 2018 with the goal of improving transit along 11 miles of South Halsted Street, between the Pace Harvey Transportation Center and 79th Street.

Let’s re-envision Route 53 extension

Jan 31, 2020 | by Maggie Melin

After nearly six decades of debate over the highly controversial Route 53 highway expansion project, victory was finally declared for walking, biking, and transit in Lake County last summer.

Recognizing the $3 billion project would not relieve congestion problems, in July of 2019, the Lake County Board unanimously voted to remove support for the Route 53 highway extension from its strategic plan.

A day later, the Illinois Tollway announced that it would cease work on a multi-million dollar environmental impact study of the extension.

Want to learn more about the Metra Electric pilot project?

Jan 27, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

The Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric is hosting a community meeting to discuss the South Cook Fair Transit Pilot Project, which would reduce fares and boost service on a couple of Southland Metra lines.

The pilot project will allow Metra to lower tickets prices to CTA-levels on the Electric and Rock Island lines and it would offer low cost transfers between the Metra Electric and Rock Island,