Chicago

Chicago Gets its First Bike Counter
After years of failed efforts to install bike counters, the city finally has its first counter at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Wells Street.

Chicago Awarded Federal Funding for Accessible Train Stations
The city received a federal grant geared toward improving accessibility at CTA and Metra stations, close to a third of which lack ADA compliance.

Chicago’s ‘Teardown Tax’ Slowing the Loss of Two-Flats
A demolition fee designed to preserve affordable housing in older buildings has had some impact on the city’s housing supply.

Update: Chicago Red Line Extension TIF Approved
The long-anticipated project that will bring the Chicago Transit Authority rail system into transit deserts on the Southside of Chicago is making substantial progress.

Chicago Makes ‘Pop-Up’ Bus Lanes Permanent
Even with the addition of 3.5 miles of permanent bus-only lanes, Chicago trails other cities in miles of dedicated bus lanes.

Chicago Transit Faces Steep Budget Gap
The region’s transit riders could see major fare hikes and reduced service if agencies don’t find new ways to make up for reduced fare revenues.

Scorecard Will Track Chicago Transit Recovery
A new scorecard from the Chicago Transit Authority will update the public on the agency’s progress on key issues like service delivery, frequency, and infrastructure improvements.

Chicago To Boost Vacant Lot Sales Program
The city hopes its incentives to buyers will help convert the thousands of city-owned vacant lots into housing, green space, or other productive uses.

Keanu Reeves, Daniel Burnham Dream No Longer a Reality
Keanu Reeves will no longer portray Daniel Burnham in a film adaptation of The Devil in the White City.

Electric ‘Jitneys’ Seek to Close Last-Mile Gaps
Two companies focusing on hyper-local trips want to bring more transit and services within reach of Chicago’s underserved Black neighborhoods.

Opinion: Traffic Calming Shouldn’t Be Optional
Road infrastructure that fails to make dangerous driving behavior feel risky to drivers is ineffective in protecting pedestrians and people on bikes.

Chicago ADUs Concentrated in More Affluent Neighborhoods
An analysis of city-issued permits shows that homeowners in gentrified wards are building accessory dwelling units at much higher rates than those in less well-off communities.

The Role of Segregation in Traffic Deaths
Research from Chicago suggests that the city’s traffic calming infrastructure is concentrated in the most affluent neighborhoods, contributing to higher rates of road deaths in lower-income neighborhoods.

Chicago’s Red Line Extension Environmental Review Complete
The Red Line Extension on Chicago’s South Side could be a game changer, if the city can figure out the local funding.

Alternative Railroad Electrification
Rather than building costly overhead electrification infrastructure to convert a Chicago-area commuter rail line from polluting diesel power to emission-free electricity, the Metra Board of Directors chose a far less expensive and quicker route.

Chicago Renters Struggling to Afford Housing
Experts have little hope that growing rent costs will stabilize anytime soon.

Keanu Reeves Set to Play Daniel Burnham in ‘The Devil in the White City’
Planning is going to get a new level of star power as a limited series adaptation of The Devil in the White City gets ready for television screens in 2024.

Chicago Passes Equitable TOD Ordinance
The new legislation will promote more development near transit in the city’s underserved neighborhoods and improve safety for pedestrians and other road users.

Protecting Urban Residents From Extreme Heat
With temperatures reaching record highs in cities around the country, local officials are implementing measures to ensure vulnerable residents have adequate cooling.

Nascar Set to Race the Streets of Chicago Starting in 2023
Nascar races are a series of loops. Chicago has The Loop. Chicago also has a heated debate about traffic safety that probably doesn't have room for sponsored cars doing speeds upward of 100.
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