Sponsored by: • Bicycling in Chicago doubled in 5 years, but bikers still worry about safety (Sun-Times) • More about RTA board nominee Ira Acree’s “lack of transit knowledge” and the fact he “rarely rides the CTA” (ABC, Block Club, Tribune, WTTW, Crain’s, CBS) • Evanston to get additional Metra service (Evanston Now) • Axios: How a CTA, Metra, Pace merger would work • Chicago Ride of Silence Wed. 5/15 gathering 6 PM at Dickens/Stockton plaza; ride to plaza leaves Loop 5:30 PM at LFT across from Buckingham Fountain Did you appreciate this post? Please consider making a tax-dedu ..read more

This post is sponsored by The Bike Lane. This article includes reporting by Cameron Bolton and commentary by John Greenfield. As Streetsblog Chicago’s Igor Studenkov discussed last month, Mayor Brandon John’s nominee for the Regional Transportation Authority board, Pastor Ira J. Acree, has no professional transit experience, but does have lots of political clout. Along with Pastor Michael Eaddy, whom the City Council confirmed for the CTA board on April 17 without a single “no” vote, Acree is one of two clergymen with no transit expertise that the mayor has tapped from his native West Sid ..read more

Sponsored by: • CTA touts report showing transit’s key role in Chicago region – but agency president quiet on proposal to merge CTA, Metra and Pace (WTTW) • Politically connected West Side pastor’s appointment to RTA board advances, but he rarely rides transit: “As a man, I don’t have to use CTA” (Block Club) • Progressive Railroading looks at Metra’s response to proposed Chicagoland transit agency merger • Outdoor dining season kicks off amidst political debate over Clark Street closure (FOX) • CTA: Alley east of Broadway, between Thorndale and Ardmore is closing for RPM w ..read more

This post is sponsored by Boulevard Bikes. Juan Sebastian Arias, recently announced as the new executive director of Elevated Chicago, a collaborative that promotes equitable transit-oriented development, was already a familiar face to advocates for affordable, sustainable transportation-friendly housing. He was previously a proxy member of the group’s steering committee, who promoted ETOD while working for former and current mayors Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson. According to Elevated, Arias has been involved with public policy issues for over 15 years, including urban planning, comm ..read more

Sponsored by: • Metra “wants to be part of the conversation” on merging with CTA and Pace, but stays neutral (Herald) • WGN: CTA lags comparable cities in ridership recovery, staffing shortage remains a “crisis” • Girl, 3, killed, 2 other children and a woman injured in single-vehicle car crash Sunday around 11:48 AM at 53rd/DLSD in Hyde Park (NBC) • Sedan driver killed, passenger injured after collision with SUV driver Sunday around 1:15 AM at 95th/Paxton in Calumet Heights, no citations (ABC) • Block Club looks at opening of Metra’s new Peterson/Ridge UP-N station on 5/20 • Qu ..read more

As Pace suburban bus transit ridership continues to lag behind pre-pandemic numbers, it appears to be doing better in the north and northwestern suburbs than in the southern and western suburbs. Image: Pace During the a recent meeting of the Pace board’s Joint Planning and Infrastructure Committee, Chief Planning Officer Erik Llewellyn gave a report on suburban ridership trends since COVID-19 hit. The report looked at fixed-route, paratransit, and dial-a-ride services alike, comparing the ridership numbers from 2019 and 2023. Llewellyn also discussed services has Pace launched since the pandem ..read more

Sponsored by: • Greg Hinz and Amy Guth discuss: “Embattled CTA is taking another hit from Springfield, this time from a bill that” would combine transit agencies (Crain’s) • Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller asks, “In Chicago, ‘CTA’ means ‘Can’t Travel Anywhere.'” Can a state service tax change that? (River Cities’ Reader) • WBBM looks at upcoming CTA community meetings to unveil RPM draft community space designs for 10 blocks between Lawrence and Ardmore • Tribune, Trains.com discuss plans for new Metra Peterson/Ridge station opening 5/20, increased UPN service • Probably good only for ..read more

Sponsored by: • Transit agency: CTA crime continues downward trend in April • Tribune editorial: The pros and cons of a unified transit agency for metropolitan Chicago • Hit-and-run Bentley driver seriously injured woman Saturday around 10:51 PM in Armitage/Damen crosswalk in Bucktown (ABC) • ATA: Lowering speed limit from 30 to 25 mph would change People for Bikes’ ranking of Chicago from one of worst big cities for biking to one of best (WTTW) • Metra: UP North Line weekday service to expand May 20 as new Peterson/Ridge Station opens • Chicago Teachers Union list of contract demand ..read more

This post is sponsored by Ride Illinois. Chicago’s Ravenswood Avenue (1800 W.), already an iconic corridor for Metra’s Union Pacific line trains, bicycling, and community green space, is slated to get a lot better. This week the 40th and 47th Wards spread the word about plans for the new Ravenwood Greenway bike route, and the expansion of the existing Winnslie Parkway walking trail and garden along the commuter rail embankment. Improvements to the avenue will cover the 1.5 mile stretch from Lawrence (4800 N.) to Peterson (6000 N.) avenues, between the newly rehabbed Ravenswood UP-N statio ..read more

Sponsored by: • Possible CTA, Metra, Pace merger makes McHenry County leaders worried about diluting local influence say “Chicago should stay Chicago” (Shaw Local) • Three people died, including a young girl, after a crash involving multiple vehicles Wednesday evening in south suburban Ford Heights (ABC) • Juan Sebastian Arias is new executive director of Elevated Chicago, which promotes equitable transit-oriented development • South Side Critical Mass celebrates Cinco De Mayo tonight at 5:45 PM at Nichols Park, 1300 E. 55th in Hyde Park, rolling at 6:15. • CTA: Ride our buses a ..read more