Myron Levin’s documentary “Power Trip” looks at the the media culture around dangerous driving. Join Streetsblog Chicago for a screening on Sunday 11/16, with an optional bike ride to the venue and SBC reader meetup afterwards.

It was a love fest at today’s RTA board meeting, as directors officially nixxed 2026 fare hikes, and the agency prepares to ride off into sunset to make way for NITA. @rtachicago.bsky.social @chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @betterstreetschicago.org @yonahfreemark.com

Psst... @chicagocta.bsky.social... As you know, @rtachicago.bsky.social officially signed off on no fare hikes in 2026. So why don't you boost ridership by heavily advertising on buses and trains what a bargain your customers will be getting next year – still only $2.50 per 'L' ride! 🚌 🚋 🥰

Posted by former Streetsblog Chicago reporter Lynda Lopez.

Headlines: More coverage of how Philly bus station crisis made Johnson say "I can't go for that"; Smooth criminals on CTA used Google Translate for nonviolent robbery; Neighbors paradoxically say building will cause congestion but want more car spaces.

Hilarious: "Developers say more parking would make the Kinzie Street project financially unfeasible, but residents are worried about congestion." Don't these neighbors understand that more parking -> more driving –> more congestion? blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/04/w... @blockclubchi.bsky.social

NITA celebrate? Hailing a historic win: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and $1.5B in funding to save and upgrade service.

Philly's transit budget crisis inspired Illinois lawmakers to pass a funding bill last week. Now Philly's bus station crisis is inspiring Mayor Johnson to save our Greyhound stop by buying it. Let's send their mayor some Mr. Beef sandwiches as a thank you! chi.streetsblog.org/2025/11/05/a...

Greg Hinz in Crain's: "Lawmakers did only half the job of fixing Chicago's creaky public transit system." www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra... @crainschicago.bsky.social

Sun-times letter: Could we fight CTA smoking by making offenders pay for it through Ventra? Short answer: No, but it's an interesting idea. chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-t...

LOL, we're not the only ones who used 19th Century German statesman Otto von Bismarck's reported sausage-making analogy to describe the messy, but ultimately successful, process of passing Illinois' transit bill! www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/l...

Not feeling up to poring over 1,044 pages of transit bill SB 2111? Don't worry, urban policy analyst Austin Busch has done the heavy lifting for you! chi.streetsblog.org/2025/11/04/e... @stevevance.net

Thanks to Streetsblog USA for syndicating our piece about Illinois lawmakers saving Chicagoland transit. It's good to let people know NYC isn't the only big US city making headlines this week! usa.streetsblog.org

"Hello... This is the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. The transit reform/funding bill party is over." Lawmakers and @ctaction.org clap back at the paper's latest naysayer act, which Rep. Buckner hilariously labeled, "Trib-splaining." chi.streetsblog.org/2025/11/04/t... @betterstreetschicago.org

Psst... Exurbanite drivers who are mad about tolls and RTA sales tax rising next year while transit fares don't: 1. More transit riders, less driving = fewer traffic jams. 2. The RTA sales tax doesn't apply to exurbs like DeKalb. www.facebook.com/profile.php?... You're welcome! 😉

There was a differences of opinion among local news outlets this morning about whether or not CTA, Metra, and Pace fares will be going up next year in the wake of the transit bill passage. Here's the answer, straight from the horse's mouth. 🚌 🚃 🚉 🐎 @rtachicago.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social

Here's MPC's recent blog post about the transit funding/reform bill, featuring a fun photo of some key advocates who were present at the birth in Springfield, looking sleep-deprived but excited! @metroplanning.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net

Tragic: Grocery worker the Darren Lucas, described as the “nicest guy I’ve known,” was fatally struck by a driver Monday around 6 PM as he crossed 5-lane Sheridan just S. of 33rd near his workplace in Zion. The intersection is surrounded by parking lots. www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2025/11/04/w...

Headlines: RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace statements on the transit bill passing; Metra budget meetings today and tomorrow 4-6, at 8 different locations, w/ Chicago's online tonight; RTAboard meeting Thursday 11/6, 8:30 AM, 175 W. Jackson and online. @rtachicago.bsky.social @chicagocta.bsky.social

It's officially heat lamp season ♨️ Overhead people heaters across all outdoor stations have been activated.

Chicago Street vendor buyout bike ride. Chicagoland bicyclist stepping up. 🙌🏻

More convinced than ever that now’s the time to #BuildTheTunnel

Tonight we added 56 *new* city filters to our maps. You can view all bike lane obstructions from all cities in the USA and Canada or filter to one of 143 cities.

Biking with his daughter gives this dad a ton of joy, but it can also reveal the gaps in a city's bike infrastructure, and he told us more about that in his full interview!

‼️ As the holidays approach, devices with electric motors - including e-motos - are the wish lists of many children and teens. This message is to all parents, grandparents, fun uncles, and others who are buying gifts – DO NOT purchase an e-moto for a child or teen ‼️🚫

"Few developers will build a high-rise in [suburban] downtowns w/out parking, given the absurdity of the notion that the Metra station is able to get everyone where they want to go." Yet, ChiTrib editorial supports keeping current parking minimum laws. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/e...

We're so grateful for the generous support of Keating Law Offices, helping power our work for another year! If you'd like to join them to in helping sustain our advocacy, we invite you to join us on Nov. 5th for our 3rd Annual Fundraiser! 🎟️ betterstreetschicago.org/annual-fundr...

A message from CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen: "No service cuts. No layoffs. In fact, CTA will grow."

🚨 ACTION ALERT🚨 We did a ride-thru of the lanes Ald. Dowell just paused construction on, to see what's been constructed so far. It includes moving the bike lane to a parking-protected curbside lane, and installing concrete protection at intersections on the 1/2mi stretch. youtu.be/XtjgaB0OywE (1/3)

Urban policy analyst Austin Busch took a deep dive into the 1,044-page final transit bill so you don't have to! Here's his new post, "Everything in the new transit bill on Pritzker’s desk." Of course, if you want to, go nuts! ilga.gov/documents/le... @stevevance.net @yonahfreemark.com

Crain's podcast discusses last week's Halloween Miracle. 🚌 🎃 www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-daily... @crainschicago.bsky.social

The @chicagotribune.com motorheads aren't happy about the transit bill's measures to right-size parking. "To the delight of our vociferous anti-car lobby, the bill includes the People Over Parking Act (always be on guard for these Orwellian names)." 🤣 @stevevance.net @betterstreetschicago.org

Average Chicagoland Joes, Janes, and Jordans are happy about the new transit bill, but what do hardcore railfans think about it?

NITA another reason to get excited about the upcoming Northern Illinois Transit Authority? (Besides the fact John won't keep making "Regional Transit Authority" typos.) Metra says they're "all aboard" with the plan. 🚉👍

Headlines: "Speaker Welch [read our interview with him] talks... transit bills on way to Gov. Pritzker"; "14,000 CTA smoking complaints in 14 months"; 6th Annual Chicago Bike Collective Ride featuring orgs "serving Black and Brown communities" Friday 11/7.

Rich Miller: "[Powerful road-building union] Local 150 opposed an earlier plan to use increased tolls to fund transit." How did JB convince them to go along w/ using fuel tax and Road Fund interest to fund transit? "A toll increase." 🤯 Sen. Villivalam's thoughts: chi.streetsblog.org/2025/11/03/s...

It bears repeating: Illinois lawmakers passing a robust transit reform/funding bill last Friday was a Halloween miracle. We did a postgame interview with Senate sponsor Ram Villivalam, who discussed the role Local 150 played in making it happen. @atalliance.bsky.social @chicritmass.bsky.social

ICYMI: Post from SBC cofounder, sounding board, and occasional writer Steven Vance, now running the development data site Chicago Cityscape, discussing how the transit bill will positively impact development near stations. @chicagocityscape.com @stevevance.net

A key advocacy org that helped get transit $$$ passed is Better Streets, which did tireless outreach. Here's director Kyle Lucas in Springfield. They host a victory party W 11/5, Murphy & Sons, 3905 N. Lincoln. www.betterstreetschicago.org/annual-fundr... @stevevance.net @betterstreetschicago.org

Nice: Commentary on transit bill from a mainstream outlet that is not the editorial equivalent of a diss track. Crain's: "IL deserves credit for facing a problem squarely instead of deferring it... This bill, while imperfect, represents progress." 👍 @crainschicago.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com

Is the 0.25% RTA sales tax increase to fund transit "regressive"? It's not ideal, but paying an extra quarter for a $100 purchase should not be a major hardship. It's certainly less regressive than transit cuts that would have forced people to drive. @rtachicago.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social

Sweet! Block Club: "Car-Free ‘Meet Me On Milwaukee’ Events Will Return To Wicker Park Next Year." blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/03/c... Our most recent coverage of the event: chi.streetsblog.org/2025/09/29/e... @betterstreetschicago.org @blockclubchi.bsky.social @ronythebikeczar.bsky.social

Maybe Joliet high school tennis star Lionel Richie can chip in to buy the rail right-of-way for Metra's Heritage Corridor so customers don't have to wait for their train "All Night Long"? 🚉 🎵 🪩 🕺 x.com/ThunderWolf0... @starlinechicago.bsky.social @hsrail.bsky.social

Chambers of commerce and alders, please note: Good transit, pedestrian-friendly streets, and public spaces like car-free plazas make your neighborhood a magnet for visitors and shoppers. 🚃🚶‍♀️💰 @ronythebikeczar.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @ctaction.org @atalliance.bsky.social

Frightening. Sun-Times: "CTA hopes... subway surfing doesn't take root here as it has in NYC." According to sources, a man, 26, who died after falling off a moving Brown Line train M 10/27 near Paulina, was not riding on top of it. chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10... @chicagocta.bsky.social

Headlines: Miller: "Heart of transit package is using all state motor fuel sales taxes to fund transit"; Tribune editorial: "Springfield’s adults in the room averted horrific transit taxes"; SBC cohosts "Power Trip" screening on 11/16.

Theory proven: Rubbing Abraham Lincoln's nose *is* an effective way to get Illinois legislation passed. Transit riders, you're welcome. Just kidding. But Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado *does* deserve some of the credit. Here's yesterday's interview with her. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/t...

Also in the transit bill passed today was a provision to stop parking mandates for developments in areas served by transit chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i... #ParkingReform

Headlines: Almost everybody is celebrating the $1.5B transit funding win; ...Not including the grumps at right-wing Illinois Policy; CTA's Leerhsen thanks "transit advocates" and others who helped keep Chicagoland transit from turning into a 🎃. @atalliance.bsky.social @chicagocta.bsky.social

Still up for some more transit talk? We are! From Ald. Matt. Martin: "Join us Monday 6pm at Begyle Brewing to celebrate this good news and to find out about the bill... We'll be joined by activists and officials to debrief the situation." 🚌 🚃 🚉 💰 🍻 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... @stevevance.net