Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
Over the past five years, the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways has soared. Speed is typically a major culprit. If you want to see motorists traveling at safer speeds, please consider taking action by contacting your alderperson. Chicago City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will hold a hearing on lowering the Chicago default speed […]
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The Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted an unforgettable evening that not only celebrated the strides we’ve made towards a more sustainable and accessible city but also set the stage for the transformative work ahead. The Movers and Shakers Ball — a gala event that brought together the city’s most passionate advocates for walking, biking, and public transit — was a […]
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State Senator Mike Simmons understands that improving transportation is about more than just getting from point A to point B; it’s about transforming our communities into better places to live and work. By championing biking, walking, and public transit, Sen. Simmons is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and save lives. It’s this commitment to enhancing our […]
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As our region’s transit system faces unprecedented funding and service challenges, a powerful movement is underway, driven by the collective voices of those who know we deserve better service from our trains and buses. Our recent gathering at the Transit is Essential Town Hall, held at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in the Douglas neighborhood, showed the transformative power of […]
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The Weber Spur Trail on Chicago’s Northwest Side has been subject to a series of starts and stops over the last decade, resulting in slow, sporadic progress for the rails-to-trails project. But the trail may finally be making some progress as the North Branch Trail Alliance re-engages local communities and stakeholders and works to ensure the project is top of […]
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The DuPage County Department of Transportation recently completed a survey that will help inform a trails plan that is expected to be approved this year. The new trails plan, which has been in development for several years, will focus on the maintenance and operations of nearly 100 miles of trails, including the Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail and Southern […]
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Rail service at the CTA, unfortunately, continues to be plagued by issues surrounding hiring and training. The persistent problems with the agency’s employment pipeline means riders continue to be frustrated with unreliable, infrequent transit service, and CTA workers continue to be frustrated by lack of adequate job growth opportunities. In late December, we mobilized nearly 900 transit supporters in response […]
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Walking and biking trails are dotted throughout Evanston. While many of Evanston’s residents take advantage of those trails, they also find them frustrating. Many of the trails don’t connect to other local and regional trails, forcing people to walk and bike along dangerous and stressful roadways if they want to move from one trail to another. But that may change […]
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It was an early holiday surprise in mid-December when the residents of Baldwin-Green apartment complex in Palatine acquired six bike racks valued at $3,000. The bike racks, which were being discarded by the Chicago Botanic Garden, initially didn’t have a new home. Then the Chicago Botanic Garden reached out to the Chicago Tool Library to offer the racks as a […]
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Towards the end of 2023, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) released its 2023 Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment for the state. As mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the assessment identifies safety trends, policies, and strategies to enhance the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users. The following are highlights from the report: SAFETY TRENDS […]
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