Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
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 […]
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Every year, as part of our suburban advocacy program Bike Walk Every Town, the Active Transportation Alliance offers multiple mini-stipends to individuals and groups working to improve walking and biking in the Chicagoland suburbs. This past year, grassroots leaders from Cycle Brookfield in the western suburbs were awarded a stipend to expand their efforts to build greater community support and […]
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Starting January 6, the fee on solo Uber and Lyft trips citywide increased from 72 cents to $1.25 and the fee on shared trips decreased from 72 cents to 65 cents. Trips that start or end in a new “downtown congestion zone” are charged an additional surcharge ($1.75 for solo trips and 65 cents for shared trips). A portion of […]
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Today the Chicago City Council took bold action in helping families stay in our communities. This important step forward occurred when city council voted to pass an ordinance to freeze housing demolitions along the 606 Trail, an area where swiftly increasing housing prices have been pushing families from the neighborhood. On Tuesday, I testified in support of the ordinance alongside […]
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The 78 and Lincoln Yards are two megadevelopments that are being built in Chicago that undoubtedly will have major impacts on the city at large and neighboring communities. Unfortunately, both projects currently lack a good vision for transit, biking, and walking access. Without a coherent plan for good transportation options, these developments inevitably will be a hindrance to building livable, […]
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There were plenty of attention-grabbing developments among the top active transportation stories of 2019. Some of these developments helped make our streets safer and more inviting for people using active transportation, while others were intended to give more people access to better transportation options. Here they are. If we missed an important story, please let us know. 1. State dedicates […]
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When Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle spoke at the Active Trans annual member meeting on December 4, her message was clear: More equitable transportation will help eliminate the health, wealth, and education disparities that exist in communities of color versus White communities in Cook County. “Within Cook County, transportation services and the opportunities they afford are not equally distributed,” […]
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In our recent Fair Fares Chicagoland report, we lay out our policy recommendations for more equitable transit in our region. One of our recommendations is fare-capping. During our research, we interviewed transit riders about their experiences riding transit. A frequent comment we heard from riders was that the $105 fee for 30-day CTA pass is too expensive. For many people, […]
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The Chicago River gained an awe-inspiring addition with the recent opening of the Riverview Bridge on the North Branch, now the longest pedestrian and bike bridge in the city. The Riverview Bridge runs for roughly a thousand feet north and south of Addison Street and crosses over the river connecting Clark and California Parks, providing a safe off-street connection with […]
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Nationwide, there’s been a growing interest in allowing youth to ride public transit for free. Following the approach of cities like Sacramento and San Francisco, a movement has been building in Chicago for free transit for youth. One of the sources of momentum for the local movement is Back of the Yards College Prep, whose students wrote an open letter […]
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