Blog

Metra Electric Coalition picks up speed

Feb 6, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

The Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric was founded about five years ago with the core question, “What would it take to get more Chicagoans riding Metra?”

Comprised of nine initial organizations, the coalition was founded with the vision of the Metra Electric line serving as a high-speed rail line, better connecting South Side communities to hubs like downtown and O’Hare Airport.

Next month Active Trans will be honoring this plucky organization for its efforts to improve many people’s lives on Chicago’s South Side.

Paving the way to safer streets

Feb 5, 2020 | by Maya Norris

Murphysboro, Illinois, is on its way to creating safer streets for its residents.

The city collaborated with the Jackson County Health Department and Active Trans to conduct a sidewalk audit as a first step toward enhancing the city’s sidewalks and promoting physical activity.

In the summer of 2019, 31 community residents volunteered to assess the condition of all 125 miles of sidewalks in Murphysboro, which is located about 300 miles south of Chicago.

Become a better advocate in 2020

Feb 5, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

Not to brag, but Active Trans is involved in some exciting projects around the region.

If we have the capacity to help and it looks like we can make a difference, we wade into the waters and do what we can.

Whether it’s shepherding legislation through the state assembly or asking suburban municipalities to improve their walking infrastructure, we want to help out by sharing our expertise and resources.

Often,

Will you help make Chicago’s streets safer?

Feb 4, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Do you want to see better streets for biking in your Chicago neighborhood and throughout the city?

Would you like to learn how to be an effective advocate?

Well, here’s your chance to get directly involved in making a difference.

Here’s your chance to help create better walking and biking infrastructure in Chicago and help to hold Mayor Lightfoot accountable to her campaign promise to build 100 miles of new bikeways by 2023.

Support bus lanes on South Halsted

Jan 31, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Transit agencies are considering major upgrades to a busy bus route on Chicago’s Far South Side and in the South Suburbs. As part of the project, they’re looking for public input — but you must act by February 9.  

Pace and CTA started the South Halsted Bus Corridor Enhancement Project in 2018 with the goal of improving transit along 11 miles of South Halsted Street, between the Pace Harvey Transportation Center and 79th Street.

Let’s re-envision Route 53 extension

Jan 31, 2020 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

After nearly six decades of debate over the highly controversial Route 53 highway expansion project, victory was finally declared for walking, biking, and transit in Lake County last summer.

Recognizing the $3 billion project would not relieve congestion problems, in July of 2019, the Lake County Board unanimously voted to remove support for the Route 53 highway extension from its strategic plan.

A day later, the Illinois Tollway announced that it would cease work on a multi-million dollar environmental impact study of the extension.

Want to learn more about the Metra Electric pilot project?

Jan 27, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

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 between the Metra Electric and Rock Island,

Celebrating one year of cycling success

Jan 27, 2020 | by Active Trans

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 advance the implementation of its active transportation plan.

New Uber, Lyft fees should be step toward congestion pricing

Jan 23, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

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 the new revenue goes to the city’s Bus Priority Zones initiative that seeks to make bus service faster and more reliable.

City council votes to freeze demolitions along 606

Jan 15, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

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 Christian Diaz of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association at City Council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate.