Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
Creating bicycle friendly infrastructure can often take years due to a lack of political will, scarcity of funding and frustrating government bureaucracy. But it doesn’t have to be that convoluted, according to Chicago, Bike Grid Now! The bicycle advocacy group is pushing for bicycle friendly, traffic-calmed streets that it says can be achieved sooner rather than later with minimal effort. […]
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This week, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) came to a new agreement that aims to streamline the building of safer streets and intersections across Chicago. The Active Transportation Alliance is hopeful about the potential this new agreement has for making our roadways safer and more hospitable to people walking, biking, and using transit. […]
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The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) recently released its draft strategic plan, Transit is the Answer, for public comment. The RTA coordinates the Chicago region’s transit system (CTA, Pace, and Metra), oversees its financing, and coordinates regional planning for public transportation in Northeastern Illinois. Active Transportation Alliance joined forces with a handful of local nonprofits to send a letter to the […]
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Last year, the Chicago Park District began developing its 2023 Grant Park Framework Plan. The plan seeks to define Grant Park’s role as a neighborhood park, a key destination, and as a public space, and it will outline next steps in the park’s development. The park district is hosting a series of public meetings to share updates on the design […]
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One fact weighs heavily on the mind while recounting the past year of walking, biking, and transit in Chicagoland. The lack of safe infrastructure for all road users resulted in the tragic loss of life in 2022. This summer alone, motorists struck and killed at least seven Chicagoland children on foot, scooters, and bikes. After two young children were killed […]
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This week a key hurdle has been cleared to bring high-quality rapid transit to Chicago’s far South Side. Chicago City Council’s approval was nearly unanimous for a “transit TIF” that leverages the property value realized from investments already made in places like the South Loop and Chinatown. This local TIF (tax increment financing) funding provides the match funding needed to […]
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Commuters Take Action has only been around since April 2022. But in that short period of time, the resident-led advocacy organization has made a name for itself, representing a movement of frustrated commuters fed up with the slow and unreliable service of the Chicago Transit Authority’s buses and trains. Micah Fiedler, Olivia Gahan and Fabio Göttlicher co-founded Commuters Take Action […]
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Bally’s Corporation, an international gambling company, is planning to build a $1.7 billion casino on the southeast corner of Chicago Ave. and Halsted St. The City of Chicago is currently in the process of gathering community feedback on this massive project that promises to dramatically increase vehicular traffic on two of the city’s busiest bus routes and along major bike […]
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Active Transportation Alliance members recently met to reflect on accomplishments in 2022, discuss what lies ahead, and elect a handful of people to the organization’s board of directors. The event, attended by 175 people, also provided an opportunity to recognize the outstanding advocates and volunteers in our midst. For our advocacy awards, we honored four different grassroots groups that are […]
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Inspired by the ghost bikes that honor those who were killed while biking on our streets, local artist Norma Rio-Sierra created a Day of the Dead altar dedicated to people who were killed while walking or biking. “It’s about creating a healing space and creating awareness of what happens when it’s not safe to walk and bike,” said Rio-Sierra. “It’s […]
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