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Voices united: Rallying for better transit on NDLSD

Aug 19, 2024 | by Ted Villaire

Community spirit and collective determination took center stage as many dozens of people gathered recently to demand that city officials take their foot off the gas with the plan to rebuild DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The event brought together residents, advocates, and elected officials, all united in the belief that the current plans by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) for rebuilding NDLSD fall short of addressing the needs and desires of the community. The rally highlighted the agencies’ failure to adequately incorporate community interests into its plans for the roadway, and specifically their refusal to include dedicated lanes for transit, a desire that has been highlighted time and again in community feedback....

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Coalition calls for halting NDLSD redesign project

Jul 22, 2024 | by Active Trans

A coalition of organizations issued a strong statement today opposing the current plans for rebuilding North DuSable Lake Shore Drive (NDLSD) as proposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and its project team. The coalition -- comprised of organizations dedicated to sustainable transportation, regional planning, and environmental justice -- emphasizes that the project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the lakefront and address critical challenges facing the city and region. The current proposal, unfortunately, largely maintains the status quo, missing a crucial chance to create a more sustainable and accessible future. Please consider contacting your elected officials to let them know this project should be halted and given new leadership. Our friends at Better Streets Chicago have a quick...

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Chicago needs a safe cycling network

Jul 18, 2024 | by Active Trans

The Chicago Tribune recently reached out to readers, including the Active Transportation Alliance, to share their thoughts on the state of cycling in Chicago. As an organization that has been working to improve conditions for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users in the Chicagoland area for nearly 40 years, we had valuable insights to contribute to this important discussion. Our advocacy manager, Alex Perez, took on the task of crafting a letter that encapsulated our organization's perspective on the current state of cycling in Chicago. This letter was part of a collection of responses from various stakeholders and cycling enthusiasts published by the Tribune. The timing of this request was particularly relevant, given recent developments in Chicago's cycling infrastructure and ridership....

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Does your community need funding for walking and biking projects?

Jul 16, 2024 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

What would inspire you, your family, or friends to walk or bike more within your suburban or rural community? Could the addition of protected bike lanes, multi-use paths, or improved sidewalk connections make a difference? Next month, one of our state’s largest sources of funding for walking and biking infrastructure projects will become available. Starting August 1, this key funding source — the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) — will be accepting grant applications for two months, divvying up $140 million in state and federal funding for walking, biking, and trail projects around the state. To help your city or village develop a successful grant application, we have numerous resources available and are hosting a 3-part webinar series this summer...

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RTA Board should voice support for transit on Chicago’s lakefront

Jun 20, 2024 | by Active Trans

The reconstruction of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive (NDLSD) presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have an impact on Chicago's transportation landscape for better or worse. As the NDLSD project team prepares to announce their preferred design, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board has a critical role to play in supporting high-quality transit solutions for this project. For years, advocacy groups and residents have called for a forward-thinking approach that moves away from the highway-centric model and embraces dedicated space for public transit. However, there are growing concerns that the preferred design will not include improving transit options on our treasured lakefront, ignoring the urgent need for reducing the highway's carbon footprint. In recent weeks, elected officials have leveraged their leadership...

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Chicago’s bike touring legend George Christensen will be honored at Ride of Silence

May 14, 2024 | by Active Trans

Chicago’s bicycling community lost a champion last month. George Christensen, a former bike courier who rode thousands of miles each year and traversed entire continents by bike, eloquently chronicling his adventures along the way, was tragically killed while riding in South Carolina. He was 73. On Monday, April 22, Christensen was on his latest epic bike trip, traveling up the Atlantic coast from Orlando, Florida and visiting Carnegie libraries – another one of his many passions – along the way. He was riding westbound on Highway 34, a few miles southeast of Ridgeway, South Carolina, when a semitruck driver, also traveling west, struck the back of his bike. Christensen died at the scene. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the case. He will be commemorated this Wednesday,...

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Join us May 15 for the Chicago Ride of Silence as we mourn lives lost

May 10, 2024 | by Ted Villaire

On Wednesday, May 15, all are invited to join a worldwide annual bicycle ride to honor the people killed while biking on public roadways. Rides will be held in Chicago, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Evanston/Skokie, and Villa Park. See the full list of Illinois rides and details about how to participate. The event calls attention to the right of people to bike on the road and the urgent need for infrastructure that will make biking in Chicago safer and more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities. “These tragic deaths are preventable, especially on our neighborhood streets,” said Chicago Ride of Silence organizer Elizabeth Adamczyk. “This ride offers us a chance to mourn those who have...

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State legislators introduce bill to transform Illinois transit

Apr 30, 2024 | by Jim Merrell

Speaking at a press conference in the Great Hall of Chicago’s Union Station, Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado unveiled a transformational package of legislation aimed at dramatically remaking how public transit is managed and funded in the state. Chief among the proposed reforms is combining the existing four regional transit agencies (the Regional Transit Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra) into a new consolidated Metropolitan Mobility Authority. A companion appropriations bill would set aside a minimum of $1.5 billion each year from the State of Illinois in additional operating funds for Illinois transit agencies. “Sustainable public transportation supports livable, walkable communities, enables equitable and affordable access to opportunities, underpins a vibrant economy, and...

Tags: Advocacy, legislation, transit

Tell city council: A lower speed limit in Chicago will save lives

Apr 23, 2024 | by Ted Villaire

Last year, 115 lives were tragically cut short in Chicago due to fatal car crashes. Excessive speed was a critical factor in nearly half of those incidents. With higher speeds, the likelihood of severe injuries or fatalities skyrockets. Because of the role speed plays in car crashes, lowering the speed limit even a small amount can have an outsized effect on road safety. (Please read our recent op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times on this topic.) We are at a pivotal moment as local lawmakers consider reducing Chicago's default urban speed limit — a proven strategy that has made streets safer in cities around the nation. The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will soon convene to discuss...

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Make your voice heard for safer streets in Chicago

Apr 15, 2024 | by Ted Villaire

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 limit on May 1. Please take a moment to urge your alderperson to support lower speed limits by sending them this action alert. CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL HEARING ON REDUCING SPEED LIMITS The Chicago City Council hearing on May 1 will discuss lowering the citywide speed limit from the current 30 mph to 25 mph. It's an informational hearing and...

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