The city received a federal grant geared toward improving accessibility at CTA and Metra stations, close to a third of which lack ADA compliance.
[Updated on December 20, 2022]
Chicago transit agencies will receive $185 million in federal funds targeted to accessibility improvements at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra stations, according to an article by Alice Yin in the Chicago Tribune. Of its 145 stations, CTA has 42 non-ADA-compliant stops.
“The largest award for the city will be $118.5 million, for the CTA to modernize its Irving Park, Belmont and Pulaski stations to be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.” The funding will also extend to the 59th/60th Metra Electric station and the 95th Street-Chicago State University station.
The federal program funding the project, called the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), awarded 15 grants in nine states, all of which require the funding to support renovating inaccessible rail facilities built before 1990. “More than 900 such legacy stations remain inaccessible today, the federal government estimates.” In 2018, CTA pledged to make all of its stations accessible by 2038, a timeline unacceptable to disability advocates like Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, who herself uses a wheelchair. Prior to the passage of the infrastructure bill, which superseded her proposal, Duckworth introduced legislation to increase funding for accessibility.
Also attracting media attention for their accessibility grants are transit systems in Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Cleveland. The ASAP was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
FULL STORY: CTA, Metra to get $185 million in federal funding to make stations more accessible
Federal Bill Proposes $10 Billion for Transit Accessibility
The program would fund improvements such as elevators, ramps, and accessible ticketing equipment to bring the nation's transit stations up to ADA standards.
New York Must Make Almost All Subway Stations Accessible by 2055, Judge Rules
Another recent ruling is forcing the agency to accelerate its efforts to make all New York subway stations accessible to people with disabilities and mobility issues.
Chicago Found Liable for ADA Violations
A federal judge ruled that the city fails to provide “meaningful access” to many of its streets due to a lack of infrastructure for pedestrians with vision impairments at most of the city’s intersections.
In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.
Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.
Off-Peak is the New On-Peak
Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are starting to focus on non-rush hour travelers as pre-pandemic commuting patterns shift and transportation needs change.
Tacoma Coalition Calls for ‘Tenants’ Bill of Rights’
The group wants to put more power in the hands of tenants, but the city has its own, competing proposal for addressing the housing crisis.
New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest
The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.
The Limitations of ‘Reconnecting Communities’
The Biden administration has pledged to correct the damage imposed on communities by highways and infrastructure, but many projects are only committing to minor improvements, not transformative changes.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
TAG Associates, Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
