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Join Transit Days of Action: May 8 & 13

By Maggie Melin Czerwinski | May 2, 2025

Every day, over one million people in our region rely on public transit to get to work, school, and home. But right now, that lifeline is in jeopardy. Without urgent action from state lawmakers by the end of May, riders like you face real, immediate threats: Suspension of service on all or part of four CTA rail lines Elimination of over half […]

On the line: Why transit investment can’t wait

By W. Robert Schultz III | May 1, 2025

May 31 marks a crossroads for Chicagoland’s transit future. As the 104th session of the Illinois General Assembly concludes, lawmakers face a clear choice: invest in a world-class public transportation system or allow our region’s transit agencies to slide into a crisis of deep service cuts and missed opportunities. The Active Transportation Alliance, together with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition […]

Reimagining Chicago’s transportation future on May 2

By Ted Villaire | April 16, 2025

Chicago has always been a city of bold ideas — from the 1893 World’s Fair to the invention of the skyscraper. This spirit of innovation extends to transportation, where Chicago has made a name for itself for more than a century. When faced with the challenge of moving goods efficiently, Chicago responded by building the I&M Canal. A short time […]

State lawmakers must fully fund transit operations before it’s too late

By Ted Villaire | April 10, 2025

The alarm bells are ringing loudly, and the stakes could not be higher. Without immediate action, the Chicago region’s transit system faces a catastrophic breakdown that will ripple through communities, businesses, and the economy. If the Illinois legislature fails to pass a transit funding bill by the end of May, the consequences will be devastating. Tens of thousands of residents […]

We won safer intersections for Illinois!

By Ted Villaire | April 1, 2025

The long-awaited moment has arrived! After years of dedicated advocacy and collaboration, communities across Illinois soon will have the power to design intersections that are safer for people walking and biking. The governor has officially signed the bill, which will become law on Jan. 1, 2026. A SAFER FUTURE FOR ALL For too long, oversized intersections designed to accommodate massive […]

Beyond the bike lane: A high school senior’s approach to cycling safety

By Ted Villaire | March 21, 2025

Rohan Uppalapati, a high school senior at Walter Payton College Prep, is driven by a deep interest in computer engineering and urban planning. This passion extends to creating safer, more inclusive biking infrastructure that would encourage more people to take up cycling for transportation. For an independent school project, Rohan has taken on the ambitious task of analyzing Chicago’s streets. […]

Act now for a regionally-focused, rider-centered transit system

By Ted Villaire | March 7, 2025

The fight for a clean and reliable transportation system is ramping up in Springfield, and we need your help! If you want to see a game-changing solution to our transit challenges, promising not just survival but a thriving future for public transportation in the region, we need you to act now. Please consider filling out a witness slip on behalf […]

Get active around our 2025 State Legislative Agenda

By Active Transportation Alliance | March 4, 2025

Things are heating up in this session of the Illinois General Assembly as legislators begin to advance a number of bills that would improve walking, biking, and transit in Illinois. From a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform our regional transit system to bold action for safer streets, this legislative session has the potential to bring about transformational change and help us […]

Bridging communities with the Old Plank Road Trail Extension

By Ted Villaire | February 6, 2025

The Old Plank Road Trail (OPRT) extension project will bring a much-needed trail connection to the Chicago Southland, connecting Illinois and Indiana through a vibrant new recreational pathway. This initiative aims to convert an inactive rail line into a multi-use trail, linking the existing OPRT in Chicago Heights, Illinois, with the Pennsy Greenway in Schererville, Indiana. The Old Plank Road […]

Revolutionizing the Chicago region’s public transit

By Ted Villaire | February 4, 2025

Transit Equity Day, February 4, is the day we honor Rosa Parks and reaffirm that transit is a fundamental human and civil right. As we face unprecedented challenges in Chicago’s regional transit system, we must act now to prevent devastating service cuts that would impact millions and hinder our climate change efforts. The Metropolitan Mobility Authority (MMA) proposal offers a […]

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