Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
Community members in Cairo, Illinois, and a local planning agency are taking a close look at how conditions in the town are helping or hindering local walking habits. Recently, with help from Active Trans and the Southern Five Regional Planning District, a walkability evaluation was conducted in this far Southern Illinois town of about 1,700 people. During the event, planning […]
The U.S. Senate is currently deciding what stays and what gets dropped from the budget bill, and unfortunately, some important biking provisions are on the chopping block. We need your help to make sure our Senators fight to keep these critical bike components in the bill. Specifically, the latest draft includes a tax rebate for e-bikes and a bicycle commuter […]
Chicago announced what it’s calling the “biggest bike lane expansion in the city’s history” this week, saying the new lanes will improve resident health and safety and help build stronger, cleaner, and more resilient neighborhoods. The news comes thanks to $17 million in new funding in 2021 and 2022 from Mayor Lightfoot’s Chicago Works capital plan. This will fund 100 miles of […]
Our suburban transit system took an important step forward recently when Pace announced a commitment to zero emission vehicles by 2040 in its strategic plan. In making this commitment, Pace is joining CTA in planning to phase out diesel and compressed natural gas buses within 20 years. This transition will help improve the air quality and health in countless suburban […]
UPDATE (10/13/21): At their October board meeting the Metra board approved the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure the equipment needed to launch a zero emissions train set pilot. Active Transportation Alliance joined 28 other civic and environmental organizations in urging Metra to start testing zero emission technology. The coalition delivered a letter to the Metra board […]
The CTA and Metra’s lower priced daily passes have saved riders money while encouraging more people to ride transit. Now, as the agencies develop their budgets for 2022, these discounts should be made permanent to help our region’s transportation network be more equitable and sustainable. The CTA launched low-cost passes on Memorial Day this year and recently extended them through November 25. CTA 1-Day Pass: $5 (down from […]
Chicago’s Far South Side is an area rich in historical, cultural, and open space destinations. From Pullman National Monument to Big Marsh Park and the Ford Calumet Environmental Center, the area has no shortage of popular spots for Chicagoans to visit and enjoy. Unfortunately, a lack of safe walking and biking connections to these spots makes accessing them difficult for […]
The area where Kevin Clark and Tyler Fabeck were tragically killed while riding their bikes in recent years is slated to finally receive long overdue safety upgrades. Active Trans worked with Kevin Clark’s family and 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata to push for improvements at the intersection of W. Logan Blvd. and N. Western Ave. after 32-year-old Kevin was […]
Illinois law now requires the state to cover 100 percent of the cost of walking and biking infrastructure when it’s needed on state roads. Illinois House Bill 270 took effect on Tuesday, August 30, after it passed the legislature in May with strong bipartisan majorities. Active Transportation Alliance championed the legislation along with Ride Illinois and Metropolitan Planning Council. Until […]
The infrastructure bill that passed the U.S. Senate in August cut $10 billion that would have gone toward public transit — and that was $10 billion that was already agreed to by both parties. This is just one reason the bill is woefully inadequate in creating a cleaner and more equitable transportation network. We need the House to hold the […]