Audrey Wennink
@awennink.bsky.social
Pedestrian, cyclist, transit rider, mom, knitter, urbanist, Chicagoan. Senior Director at Metropolitan Planning Council.
NITA is launching Rider Advisor Councils. Apply here: nita.illinois.gov/blog/2026/09...
Northern Illinois Transit Authority | NITA launches Rider Advisory Councils, now accepting applications
NITA is now accepting applications for two new volunteer advisory councils: the Riders Advisory Council and the ADA Advisory Council, both required by the…
nita.illinois.gov
Please fill out this @illinoisdot.bsky.social survey about what you need from an IL intercity bus program www.surveymonkey.com/r/2B25XBD
IDOT Intercity Bus Survey
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
surveymonkey.com
Our new agency - Northern Illinois Transit Authority - seated its first board of directors today! Tom Kotarac of The Civic Committee was elected board chair. Longtime Chicago government leader Jamie Rhee was named interim Exec Director for 6 months until a permanent ED is selected. A strong start!
Pollution levels in London after 10 years of advancing sustainable transport.
I am glad to see monarch caterpillars have found the milkweed we planted in the parkway. Plant native species everywhere you can to support pollinators!
The Governor's appointments to the NITA board have been announced. gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker...
Gov. Pritzker Announces Appointments to Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
New board appointees bring decades of experience in transit, regional planning, community development, technology, and public sector leadership
gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com
The Chicago Greyhound station “will get better under city ownership” says @aldconway.bsky.social. This is a regional transportation hub. Nearly 500k people on 72 buses use the station daily. The city now owns the terminal and will start rehab this year.
Please join Alderman Conway and City of Chicago departments for a community meeting to learn more about our new Municipal Bus Station. Thursday, August 20, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Location: The Chicago School - 400 S. Jefferson. Register here: cloud.citynews.chicago.gov/municipalbus...
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: The Chicago School - 400 S. Jefferson
cloud.citynews.chicago.gov
@chicagocta.bsky.social is adding 3 routes to its frequent route network this Sunday (#35 31st/35th, #74 Fullerton, #85 Central) - with service at least every 10 min from 6am to 9pm weekdays. Increased funding from the NITA Act is making this possible! www.transitchicago.com/cta-bolsters...
CTA Bolsters Frequent Network with Four Additional Routes by End of 2026
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today announced more frequent and expanded service on 10 bus routes starting Sunday, August 23, including the addition of three bus routes to the heralded Frequent ...
transitchicago.com
Urban planners and housing advocates…you have to see this show www.secondcity.com/shows/chicag...
secondcity.com
New video out now! Covering the sweeping reforms to Illinois transit that started taking effect this month. Big thanks to @metroplanning.bsky.social and @awennink.bsky.social for a) helping craft this legislation and b) helping make this video. Hope you enjoy! youtu.be/eH-ZsEoGu_g?...
Chicago's Transit Agencies Finally Started Working Together
YouTube video by Car Free Keith
youtu.be
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act goes into effect today! We begin a truly exciting era for Chicago area transit. Read @metroplanning.bsky.social new report on what to expect. metroplanning.org/wp-content/u...
metroplanning.org
Get inspired about what's possible for suburban transit-oriented development in the Chicago region by hearing from experts from DC, Dallas and NY at the next @metroplanning.bsky.social Transit Talks event on May 19 from 8:30 - 11. Register here: host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration...
The NITA Act goes into effect one month from today. Check out the new @metroplanning.bsky.social report on what exciting changes are coming if we implement it well metroplanning.org/resources/ni...
Riding Into the Future: A Regional Vision for the Implementation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act > Metropolitan Planning Council
This MPC report outlines the overarching goals of the NITA Act and the steps necessary to take for its successful implementation.
metroplanning.org
Manhattan's congestion pricing program has been a stunning success. Other US cities have noticed. Could Chicago go next? In @bloomberg.com, I explored. 🧵
Could Congestion Pricing Pay Off for Chicago?
Second City leaders have discussed following Manhattan’s lead in tolling roads to ease traffic. But a Chicago-style version of New York’s policy might look very different.
bloomberg.com
How will the Governor's proposed housing package, the BUILD Act, help make housing more affordable? Here's a detailed dive into what we should expect from these policies, acknowledging the gentrification pressures that currently exist in areas of Chicago. open.substack.com/pub/citythat...
What will Governor Pritzker's housing plan mean for existing two-flats?
The impact of upzoning on existing low cost housing
open.substack.com
Help shape the future of transit in Illinois. Illinois DOT is hosting a series of small, interactive virtual focus groups with people who rely on buses, trains, and other shared transportation. Interested participants register here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Focus Group Interest Form
Thank you for your interest in Next Move Illinois' virtual focus group series! Any personally identifying information provided will be kept confidential and will only be used to contact you if necess...
docs.google.com
Great policy to allow flexibility for developers so housing is easier and cheaper to build
Governor JB Pritzker@govpritzker.illinois.gov · 7mo agoWe need to stop prioritizing parking lots over people. Today, I assembled a roundtable to discuss our Building Up Illinois Developments Plan — and the consensus was that we need to act fast. Looking forward to passing it and getting to work in our neighborhoods.
Wrigley Field is special because it's part of a vibrant neighborhood. Building more parking will just incentivize more driving. Do not expand the parking lot. Instead, the Cubs should figure out what else they can do to support people taking Metra/shuttles, buses, biking, walking to the field.
Streetsblog Chicago@chi.streetsblog.org · 7mo agoGuest post by Kalen Luciano from Lakeview Urbanists: Stop the Cubs parking lot expansion: The team’s proposal to add more car storage to Wrigleyville would just make it harder for everyone to get around. chi.streetsblog.org/2026/03/23/s... @cubsbot.bsky.social
activetrans.quorum.us/campaign/158... The legislation HB4660 would legalize the safety stop, allowing people biking to treat stop signs as yield signs. This simple update has been proven to reduce crashes and keep people biking out of harm’s way at intersections. Tell your legislators you support.
Urgent Action Needed: Tell IL House to Support Safety Stop for Cyclists
Bill would allow stop-as-yield for people riding bikes
activetrans.quorum.us
open.substack.com/pub/rthompto... This is a great explanation of the importance of regionalism, the hard work of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. And why transportation planning is systems thinking.
Mr. MPO
How I ended up at the table nobody's heard of
open.substack.com
Levels of debt and default on auto loans are astronomical. This story of a single mom accruing massive debt from a car loan is all too common. We must provide good alternatives to driving. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Trump’s Reckless Gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
As the cost of living continues to spiral upward, the White House is dismantling the government agency built to protect Americans from financial ruin.
newyorker.com
The future of the Chicago region’s transit demands NITA board appointments of high quality. Directors must be knowledgeable about transit, collaborative, have a regional perspective and be deeply committed to transit’s success. citythatworks.substack.com/p/who-should...
Put real experts in charge of transit
Evidence from high-functioning systems
citythatworks.substack.com
Average new vehicles now cost $50K. We have to expand affordable bike, walk, transit networks to provide alternatives to costly driving. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/a...
Affordability angst: How automakers are courting price-shocked buyers
Demand for both high-end and affordable vehicles is a symptom of what experts call a K-shaped economy. While the wealthiest benefit from a booming stock market, lower earners are struggling with in…
chicagotribune.com
I'll be at Second City on Sunday, March 8 participating in the @funnyyoushouldcare.bsky.social show about safe streets. Come see the show!
www.changinglanesdoc.com/about.Thrilled to see the Changing Lanes documentary about street safety and the rollercoaster ride to get good transportation policy implemented. Kudos to the wonderful director Ben Wolf who produced this film himself carrying all equipment by bike.
Traffic safety is no joke…but check out the Safe Streets comedy show at Second City. There are 3 shows on Sunday nights in February and March. See you there! !https://www.secondcity.com/shows/chicago/safe-streets-the-comedy-show-why-it-sucks-to-walk-or-drive-in-chicago-and-how-we-can-fix-it-chi
Safe Streets: The Comedy Show. Why It Sucks to Walk or Drive in Chicago (and How We Can Fix It) - The Second City
Discover top sketch, improv, and stand-up comedy shows at the world-famous Second City!
secondcity.com
Great #Transit Equity Day riding the Western Ave bus with IL transit champion Rep Theresa Mah, advocates, @chicagocta.bsky.social and Chicago DOT talking about bus rapid transit, the need for better connections to Metra and improved walkability near transit stations. This is why NITA was created!
