On September 30th, RTA is hosting a webinar on the fiscal cliff. 🚂 rtachicago.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

There have been over 100 miles of bike infrastructure improvements made in the past two and a half years in Chicago There's still a long way to go (see those huge gaps, hello Aldermanic prerogative!)

“Real, secure, protected bike lanes throughout the city is the ultimate goal. I don’t want there to be any section of the city that doesn’t have secure, dedicated bike lanes.” - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/24/m...

"The reforms proposed in Transforming Transit stand out by empowering the RTA to leverage discretionary funds to ensure providers deliver the frequent, reliable service that has been agreed to and funded." www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

The US DOT is on an all-out campaign to defund city-designed projects that prioritize pedestrians and bikers. To explain why it was cancelling a San Diego project, the US DOT complained that it “appears to reduce lane capacity and [has] a road diet that is hostile to motor vehicles."

"A smart growth approach to housing aims to build more homes in the right places at the right price so everyone can live in a community that supports them at every stage of life. For too long, housing has sprawled, costed too much, + offered little choice." www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-ce...

Fully agree. Paratransit -- and shared micromobility in general (vanpool, dial-a-ride, bike-/scooter-share, etc.) -- is an important component of a universally-accessible transportation network, but is also fundamentally different from fixed-route operations.

"Why are transit operations so expensive? Why is transit in an endless emergency? Why do biz leaders assume transit’s financial situation is hopeless? Bc our transportation funding streams make transit costs visible, while the costs of car dependence are concealed." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

State of Illlinois covers only 4% of the total $250M annual cost of ADA paratransit service. Time for lawmakers to step up and fully fund paratransit, which would free up resources to provide more frequent and reliable bus and train service. Sign a letter to your electeds at RTAChicago.org/SaveADA.

“It will be critical to communicate about specific cuts to the members of the General Assembly and the Governor to demonstrate the urgency of addressing a funding and reform solution in their October veto session and avoid a transit crisis in 2026 and beyond.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/15/r...

"Philadelphia transit has faced two weeks of chaos, foreshadowing some potential outcomes for Chicago-area transit if Illinois lawmakers don’t pass a funding bill in the fall veto session next month to plug a multi-million budget hole." chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...

after 65 months, CTA rail operations are back to full pre-pandemic staffing levels!

I'm honored to be sworn in as Chair of @apta-info.bsky.social at this weekend's TRANSform Conference. #APTAtransform25 Excited to continue advancing transit alongside so many dedicated leaders. While I'm still getting used to social media, follow along for updates on this journey.

A transit funding town hall will be held on Saturday Sept. 20 with City and State legislators: Senator Ram Villivalam, Ald. Clay, Ald. Hadden, Ald. Martin, Ald. Vasquez, Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth, Senator Feigenholtz, Senator Simmons, and Senator Guzman. Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

BREAKING: By an apparent 6–3 vote, the Supreme Court halts an injunction that had prevented immigration agents from racially profiling Latinos in central California. Sotomayor, dissenting, says the decision is "unconscionably irreconcilable with our nation's constitutional guarantees."

Grateful for local leaders like @leniann.bsky.social who stand up for the proven safety and economic development benefits of fair enforcement. She cites a 90-year-old man who was hit while walking across the street and the many elementary school students who cross these supersized streets daily.

Here's out interview with GOP State Sen. Don DeWitte, a former RTA board member. Even if you disagree with some of his assertions, he sheds some interesting light on Springfield's transit governance and funding bill "sausage-making process". chi.streetsblog.org/2025/09/05/g... @yonahfreemark.com

We talked with neighbors at the Downers Grove Farmer’s Market about the importance of transit - and the impact that 40% cuts would have if legislators don’t take action to save transit NOW.

"By building the housing people want in the places they want them, we will align housing with transportation, energy, and economic development, meaning people can spend less money and time on transportation and pollute less while doing so." www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hu...

"Every community, from Chicago to old-line suburbs like Evanston and Oak Park to more far-flung and newer suburban communities, should have a contribution to make in offering shelter more people can afford to buy." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/01/e...

Platner: No one cares that you pretend to be remorseful as you sell out to lobbyists. Symbolic opposition does not reopen hospitals. Weak condemnations do not bring back Roe V Wade. Maine deserves better than Susan Collins.

Nearly 20,000 letters have been sent by riders urging legislators to reach a transit funding solution. Visit SaveTransitNow.org to tell your legislator now is the time for funding and governance reform that will ensure our transit system can not only survive, but thrive. 🚇📲

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and Labor Alliance for Public Transportation issued an urgent joint appeal today to members of the Illinois General Assembly: act now in the upcoming October veto session to deliver critical funding and reforms for the state’s public transit system.

This month, the RTA Board of Directors approved a program of Section 5310 projects that will make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to get around the region. 🧑‍🦽‍➡️🚌 Learn more and see the full program of projects in our blog: www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

On Aug 13, 200 riders, advocates, and other stakeholders met virtually with the RTA for the 8th Transit is the Answer Coalition meeting to discuss the 2026 budget process including an analysis of HB 3438, the Sustainable Transit for Northern Illinois Act. 🧵 www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

My latest for @bloomberg.com Citylab: Parking reform might be the rare issue that Chicagoans can agree on www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Leadership. From @govpritzker.illinois.gov. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

I am sounding the alarm on the real crisis we face today. Donald Trump’s overreach is what our founders warned against – it is unprecedented, unwarranted, and un-American. There’s no emergency here that calls for military intervention.

"The Republican-controlled #Pennsylvania State Senate seems to be motivated by pure cultural animus toward urban life." Why is funding being cut to SEPTA, #Philadelphia 's transit agency? Jarrett Walker, aka, @humantransit.bsky.social, has the lowdown: humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...

Powerful story on traffic violence @davidstruett.bsky.social. Important steps by @illinoisdot.bsky.social & CDOT (e.g., Chicago Ave announcement) but not the wholesale paradigm shift we need amid decades of entrenched car culture in infrastructure & land use, plus growing SUV sizes & share.

"9% of the city’s road network is run by IDOT, but those roads accounted for 45% of fatal crashes." State-owned arterials are the biggest barriers to safer streets, faster transit, more walking and biking, and stronger, more connected communities. We need a plan and funding for wholesale redesign.

"As transit travel increases and driving declines, communities become much safer. Sprawled areas have about 5x the traffic fatality rates as transit neighborhoods. Even moderate increases in transit are associated with large reductions in traffic casualty rates." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

This is such an insightful (and upsetting) read open.substack.com/pub/theargum...

I wrote an unusually strongly worded thing about the transit crisis in Pennsylvania, which is coming soon to Oregon and Illinois. humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...

A few thoughts on addressing #Illinois’ transit crisis —and becoming better people as we do it. #publictransit #transitfunding #adaptiveleadership www.linkedin.com/pulse/illino...

“Metra understands the need for transit agencies to work together and share resources to address this unprecedented crisis. We are hopeful Springfield will soon reach a solution in which all of us receive stable, adequate funding to continue and expand service" www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/20/r...

This is truly transformative for me. I live on a bus route that will have 10 minute bus headways on and off peak 😱

RTA's Transportation Tuesday webinar series is back this September! 💻✨ Each week attendees will hear from experts, ask questions, and learn about hot topics in transportation planning. Participation is free, but registration is required. Learn more: www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

"We demand that Mayor Adams immediately direct the Department of Transportation to complete the full road diet — a plan that should have been protecting our community for the past two years."

200+ transit riders and local leaders joined our recent coalition meeting for an open, public discussion about the fiscal cliff and the legislature's latest funding and reform proposal. Proud of @rtachicago.bsky.social's commitment to transparency and rider voices. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

As part of our commitment to providing more reliable service, we've improved service across several bus routes. 🚍

We need to fight Trump and his corrupt buddies with a vision that ensures working people have the safety and dignity they deserve. Join Bernie, Delia, and me this Sunday!

Don’t believe the transit doomsday talk - ridership in Chicago and cities across the country is growing, and will continue to grow if transit is sustainably funded.

Great news! A 25 operator increase in July puts CTA Rail right at the cusp of 2019 staffing levels for the first time since Covid.

The numbers reflect what riders have been telling us for years. In places where the Service Boards have increased frequency and reliability, ridership is up. A $1.5 billion investment in transit operations would be transformational to make more improvements across the system.

"As legislators consider their next steps on the transit fiscal cliff, RTA continues to advocate for a swift, transparent, and inclusive process that gives riders and the public the time needed to review major policy changes and provide feedback and input on how it will affect them."

At yesterday's Transit is the Answer Coalition meeting, RTA staff provided updates on the Chicagoland budget gap situation, and how other cities are dealing with transit fiscal cliffs. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/08/14/a... @rtachicago.bsky.social

"Unless our state leaders act, the progress we’ve achieved toward greater transit accessibility will stall. The transit systems that give independence to thousands of people living with disabilities will be severely diminished." – Karen Tamley, Access Living www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/13/o...

Sharing the latest article in our effort to distinguish between legal classes of e-bikes (class 1, 2, and 3) and e-motos – the working term for devices with greater than a 750 watt motor capable of going more than 20mph without pedaling. www.axios.com/local/chicag...

Karen Tamley of Access Living in today's Tribune: "We need everyone’s help to call on their state elected representatives to act now to fully fund our transit systems....We must not let decades of hard-won progress get left at the station." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/13/o...