There is a “missing middle” of urban mobility but it ain’t Waymo: it’s regional rail starlinechicago.substack.com/p/the-missin...

The Missing Middle of Transit

An introduction to regional rail

starlinechicago.substack.com

David Zipper@davidzipper.bsky.social · last wk.

​Waymo is all over NYC Climate Week, sponsoring a slew of events. I just watched Adam Lenz, Waymo's sustainability head, field softball questions from Heatmap's CEO (nothing re: added VMT). Waymo clearly hopes to piggyback on YIMBYism. Lenz described Waymo as the "missing middle" of city mobility.

Divvy needs to be integrated into NITA

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · last wk.

Divvy is a critical transportation resource for our city, and we fully support its continued growth and expansion across our region. Every Divvy trip is one less car trip, to the benefit of everyone! Stay tune for more ways you can support bike share coming soon!

Divvy is a critical transportation resource for our city, and we fully support its continued growth and expansion across our region. Every Divvy trip is one less car trip, to the benefit of everyone! Stay tune for more ways you can support bike share coming soon!

Chicago extends Divvy contract; parking changes, new bike model coming

Thousands of new bikes and scooters will be added to Chicago's streets as part of the new contract, the city announced Wednesday.

chicago.suntimes.com

Jamie Rhee (former Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner) has been appointed Interim Executive Director of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. She has stated that she does not intend to seek the permanent role.

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 3w ago

The first @nitachicago.bsky.social board meeting is officially underway! This is an tremendous new era full of opportunity — but the promise of NITA will only ever be as good as our commitment to seeing it through.

Tom Kotarac has been appointed the first Chair of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority board.

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 3w ago

The first @nitachicago.bsky.social board meeting is officially underway! This is an tremendous new era full of opportunity — but the promise of NITA will only ever be as good as our commitment to seeing it through.

The first @nitachicago.bsky.social board meeting is officially underway! This is an tremendous new era full of opportunity — but the promise of NITA will only ever be as good as our commitment to seeing it through.

"The community is ready, ripe with ideas like bus rapid transit, modernizing Metra for regional rail, crosstown rail via a tunnel, and more. It’s critical you work with community and advocacy partners to not just maintain the status quo, but plan what our transit will become."

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · last mo.

Sign our letter to the new NITA board, calling for them to deliver on the promise of NITA.

🎉🚌 NITA is officially here! And we need you to take action with us: 1) Sign our letter to the NITA board 2) Attend the first NITA board meeting on September 10th 3) Take our pledge to keep fighting for transit with us Take action at savetransit.org

What if we made the conscious choice to give ourselves the space every day? Not just on special occasions, but to choose ourselves over cars every day.

The Chicago Transit Authority’s board of directors approved an array of new efforts aimed at aiding passengers who need shelter or healthcare, as well as new crisis and community violence intervention programs.

CTA Board Approves Slate of Social Service Outreach Efforts Focused on Violence Intervention, Homelessness

The Chicago Transit Authority’s board of directors approved an array of new efforts aimed at aiding passengers who need shelter or healthcare, as well as new crisis and community violence intervention...

news.wttw.com

Free learn-to-ride lessons are happening next Sat. 7/18 at Percy Julian H.S. If you or any #Chicago adult or teen you know wants to learn to ride a bike, this is a good opportunity. Close to 103rd/Vincennes Rock Island Metra station. #bikechi @activetransportation.org @betterstreetschicago.org

I wrote to my alder, finance committee vice chair Conway, about this bad plan that invests in more cars and driving, and $0 in transit

Chicago is about to spend millions on a new parking garage and nothing on transit at The 78

This week I asked my alderperson to defer the finance committee’s vote on a massive funding package that would have the city own a parking garage while at the same time making zero investment…

stevencanplan.com

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 3mo ago

🚨 Urge your alder to hit the brakes on The 78 TIF! 🚨 Instead of investing in public transit like in the original 2019 plans, the City is now trying to ram through $216 million in public subsidies for a parking garage, with little transparency on the impact nor what public benefit this will provide.

🚨 Urge your alder to hit the brakes on The 78 TIF! 🚨 Instead of investing in public transit like in the original 2019 plans, the City is now trying to ram through $216 million in public subsidies for a parking garage, with little transparency on the impact nor what public benefit this will provide.

Literally what are we doing here?

Streetsblog Chicago@chi.streetsblog.org · 3mo ago

Better Streets Chicago Executive Director Kyle Lucas provided a statement about Mayor Johnson nominating current CTA Board President Lest Barclay, who previously expressed skepticism about NITA, for the new CTA and NITA boards. We've added it to our post. chi.streetsblog.org/2026/07/07/c...

So we CAN #PlowTheSidewalks. The original pilot was $1.5-3m. The reduced pilot was budgeted for at $500k, but rejected after Mayor Johnson forced it to be legislated anyway.

Chicago Sun-Times@chicago.suntimes.com · 3mo ago

Chicago closed the books on 2025 with an unassigned balance of $52 million — up from zero in its operating checkbook — thanks to spending controls and higher than expected revenues.

❌ Today, for a second quarter in a row, City Council has ghosted CTA at the quarterly hearings THEY mandated by law. This is profoundly unacceptable, particularly as we are rapidly racing toward a critical deadline for NITA board appointments that will have to be approved by Council.

Bike-a-palooza is coming up quick! Join us at Welles Park this Sunday, June 28th, from 5-8pm, for lots of bike fun, from test rides of bikes and ebikes to safety tips and a whole lot more!

A city report has found that Chicago's bike lanes don't hurt businesses. blockclubchi.co/4epHwpd

The deal also pumps millions of dollars into renovating the terminal — and saves the half-million people who use the station each year from potentially being kicked to curbside bus service.

Greyhound bus terminal will soon be public-owned as City Council approves $19M purchase

chicago.suntimes.com

Victory! After years of advocacy, Chicago City Council just voted 38-10 to save and fix the intercity bus terminal. This brings the City of Chicago’s intercity bus service into the future and solidifies our place as a major transportation hub in the Midwest. elpc.org/news/chicago...

🎉 It's official, we saved Chicago's intercity bus terminal! Today, Chicago City Council voted to purchase our former Greyhound terminal to establish a publicly-owned intercity bus terminal. This is a massive victory, and a testament to the years of organizing that brought us here today!

We still need your help in urging the City of Chicago to buy its intercity bus terminal before the ordinance moves to full council for final approval on Wednesday, June 17! Email your alder using this easy form from our partners at Better Streets Chicago. Then pass it along to a friend!

Urge your Alderperson to support a municipally-owned intercity bus terminal! - Better Streets Chicago

In 2024, we came dangerously close to losing Chicago's Greyhound terminal. Just like other cities across the nation, the station had come under ownership of private equity and Greyhound's lease was…

act.betterstreetschicago.org

As our community continues to grieve the loss of Riley O’Neil, we joined @sashaannsimons.bsky.social on @wbez.org to discuss how we can make our streets safer — and prevent further tragedies like this from happening again.

Chicagoans, please take a few seconds to fill your info, they send an email automatically you don't even have to do it!

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 4mo ago

🎉 BIG NEWS – today the Committee on Housing & Real Estate has officially approved the purchase of 630 W Harrison to establish a publicly-owned intercity bus terminal! This now goes to full council for final approval. We need you to contact your alderperson today urging them to get the job done!

I’m currently in the lobby at this bus station. My weekend trip to visit family in Ohio cost $110, far cheaper than renting a car (~$400) or flying (~$300) and more convenient than Amtrak (arrives in Cleveland at 5am). Bus travel is great, actually, and we should make it easy and popular!

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 4mo ago

🎉 BIG NEWS – today the Committee on Housing & Real Estate has officially approved the purchase of 630 W Harrison to establish a publicly-owned intercity bus terminal! This now goes to full council for final approval. We need you to contact your alderperson today urging them to get the job done!

We’re so close. Keep putting on the pressure so Chicago buys its bus terminal! Intercity buses are an essential public service, especially for low-income people. Even once we have a high-speed rail network, intercity buses will be needed.

Better Streets Chicago@betterstreetschicago.org · 4mo ago

But time is ticking, and the longer council waits, the closer we get to losing this vital transportation resource. Take 60 seconds and use our tool to contact your Alderperson today!

🎉 BIG NEWS – today the Committee on Housing & Real Estate has officially approved the purchase of 630 W Harrison to establish a publicly-owned intercity bus terminal! This now goes to full council for final approval. We need you to contact your alderperson today urging them to get the job done!

Urge your Alderperson to support a municipally-owned intercity bus terminal! - Better Streets Chicago

act.betterstreetschicago.org

A ride and vigil honoring CDOT worker Riley O'Neil was held in Bridgeport. He died after being hit by a vehicle in an unprotected bike lane, the very kind he dedicated his career to replacing. Find this story on CBSChicago.com.

The bicyclist killed in a fatal Bridgeport traffic crash Friday was a Chicago Department of Transportation employee who had devoted much of his career to bike infrastructure, according to the city agency and others who knew him.

Bicyclist killed in Bridgeport crash was CDOT employee devoted to bike infrastructure

chicagotribune.com

Our hearts go out to the CDOT complete streets team and all those who knew and loved Riley. We will honor Riley’s memory by continuing to fight for the safe streets he deserved — and that he spent his time in service to our community trying to win.

David Powe@davidpowe.bsky.social · 4mo ago

CDOT lost the best of our team yesterday. We're heartbroken. In memory of Riley O'Neil, please refer to these bike racks as "Riley Racks". He led Chicago's bike parking program for several years. Our hearts are broken, but we want to make sure his legacy lives on 💙🚲 Please spread the word