Category: Transit

Events for October to December 2011

We will update this page as we know more. Last updated 12-09-11.

December 2011

Thursday, December 1, 2011 (two events)

(1) Join the Metropolitan Planning Council for Better Commutes, Less Congestion: Employers Unlock the Region’s Gridlock, a roundtable discussion on how Commute Options are making a difference in solving the Chicago area’s commute challenges. Panelists will include participating employers describing their experiences with the pilot, and policymakers speaking about the regional benefits of the Commute Options program (including CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein). Cost is $15 for current MPC donors, and $30 for all others.

12  to 1:30 PM
Metropolitan Planning Council
140 S Dearborn Street, Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60603

(2) A public meeting to discuss the design of a new park at Milwaukee and Leavitt Avenues. This new park has been identified as a future access point for the Bloomingdale Trail. Sponsored by Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, Alderman Scott Waguespack (32), and the Chicago Park District.

6:30 PM
Holstein Park Auditorium
2200 N Oakley Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 (two events)

(1) Alderman Solis will discuss his recent fact-finding mission to one of the most bicycle-friendly countries in the world – the Netherlands – and share with us some of his observations that could be applied to Chicago’s bikeway network.

6 to 7:30 PM
Simone’s
960 W 18th Street
Chicago, IL 60608

(2) Get the first glimpse of how the planned multi-million-dollar overhaul of Daley Bicentennial Plaza is taking shape. Read more about this project at the Chicago Sun-Times.

6 to 8 PM
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, Gold Room
200 N Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Chicago bike writers Greg Borzo and John Greenfield celebrate the release of On Bicycles: 50 Ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life, an anthology by Amy Walker, with a free book release party. Borzo and Greenfield will read their chapters on bicycle sharing systems and West Town Bikes, respectively. Afterwards they’ll sign copies while attendees mingle and enjoy soul-jazz piano by Seth Hitsky and a raffle for copies of the authors’ other books, plus other great bike-related prizes. The party doubles as a meet-up for the Active Transportation Alliance.

8-10 PM
Cole’s Tavern
2338 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647

Friday, December 9, 2011

On Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 6:30 AM, participants will ride from Amling’s Cycle (8140 N Milwaukee) to Mystic Celt (3443 N Southport) to meet a waiting truck from the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. We’ll then enjoy a hot breakfast courtesy of Mystic Celt.

6:30 AM
Amling’s Cycle
8140 N Milwaukee
Niles, IL 60714

Saturday, December 10, 2011 (two events)

(1) The first meeting of the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 has been scheduled: it’s an open house that will have mapping activities, educational information about innovative bicycle facilities, and an opportunity to discuss biking in your neighborhood with CDOT staff.

10 AM to 4 PM
23 E Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602

(2) Chrome Chicago shop will be hosting their last (free) Holiday Photo Booth session this Saturday! Everyone is welcome to come in with friends, or whatever variation of, to have their holiday photos taken on the set of Strange Brew’s “Great White North,” complete with snow, defunct Christmas tree and tons of holiday props (for the nice and naughty in us all). Chrome will provide drinks to those 21+.

2 to 5 PM
1529 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 (three events)

(1) There is a zoning hearing at City Hall about Alderman Colón’s proposed ordinance, to strip “Pedestrian Street” designations from two segments of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square. Here’s the proposed ordinance and the hearing notice. What’s a “pedestrian street” designation? We’re still figuring that out. The Municipal Code has some insight.

10 AM
City Hall, 2nd floor council chambers
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602

(2) A Bloomingdale Trail community meeting to learn about and discuss the progress of the framework plan for a park and trail on an elevated former train track.

6-8 PM
Saint Mary of the Angels School Auditorium
1810 N Hermitage Avenue
Chicago, Illinois  60622

(3) A meeting hosted by the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Grand Crossing Rail Project. The purpose of the Grand Crossing Rail Project is to improve freight and passenger rail efficiency on Chicago’s South Side and enhance Amtrak’s on-time performance. An open house will be held between 4 PM and 6 PM where you can view an audio-visual presentation and project exhibits. The project team will also be available to discuss the project and answer questions. A formal session with questions and answers will then be held from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. (EveryBlock posting, official project website)

4 to 6 PM open house, 6 to 7:30 PM meeting with Q&A
Sherwood Park
5701 S Shields Avenue
Chicago, IL 60621

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 (two events)

(1) The final 2011 Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council of 2011. Read recaps of past MBAC meetings.

3 to 4:30 PM
City Hall, Room 1103
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60602

(2) Join project consultants Active Transportation Alliance and Sam Schwartz Engineering for a presentation and discussion about making the 35th Ward a safer and easier place to walk and bike.

6 PM
Armitage Baptist Church
2451 N Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL  60647

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Chicago Department of Transportation and Amtrak will host a public meeting from at Union Station to discuss possible improvements suggested by the Chicago Union Station Master Plan study. The meeting will be an open house, with experts and visuals explaining ideas to increase capacity for more trains, people, and traffic on nearby streets.  A narrated presentation will be made at 4:30 PM and again at 6 PM, allowing commuters to attend before boarding trains home.

4 to 7 PM
Union Station, Union Gallery (southwest corner)
210 S Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A fundraiser for West Town Bikes after the Afterglow Cyclocross race brought to you by Cuttin Crew and Robots <3. The first race category starts at 10 AM in Humboldt Park field house. Register online now.

2 PM
Division Street Bar and Grill
2525 W Division Stret
Chicago, IL 60622

[flickr]photo:260189600[/flickr]

A bus on I-35W in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bus driver is allowed to drive on the shoulder under certain traffic jam conditions. This will start in Chicago on November 14, on the Stevenson Expressway with Pace bus routes 755 and 855 from Plainfield, Illinois, to downtown Chicago. Photo by Aaron Brown.

October 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Pace Bus will hold a town hall meeting “to discuss the issue of buses that will be driving on the shoulder of Interstate Highway 55 [Stevenson] beginning November 14, 2011” (Chicago Tribune). See this video for how that will work. Pace warns drivers to not follow the bus(it’s illegal for private vehicles to be driven on the shoulder except under certain circumstances). More details on TribLocal Plainfield.

4:30 AM to 7 PM
Bolingbrook Village Hall
375 W Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will hold 5 public meetings regarding the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail corridor. This EIS deals with double tracking the Union Pacific railroad south of Joliet and making other improvements north of Joliet to reduce transit times.  The goal for this project is a four hour trip time, with 9 daily round-trips. The nearest meeting to Chicago is in Joliet. See the other 4 events on the Midwest High-Speed Rail Association website.

Jacob Henry Mansion
Victorian Ballroom
15 S. Richards St
Joliet, IL

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Chicago City Council will hold a hearing about the Department of Transportation 2012 budget.

9 AM onward
City Hall
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL

Thursday, October 27, 2011

IDOT will hold an open house and formal public meeting about the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project. It’s a project to improve rail and road congestion in a large area around 75th and Western and between Halsted and the Dan Ryan. Details are on the project website.

4 PM to 7:30 PM
Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ
1459 W 74th Street
Chicago, IL

Friday, October 28, 2011

The Chainlink, a forum for bicycling in Chicago, hosts a Halloween party. The party is sponsored by Half Acre Beer Company and features many raffle prizes from local businesses. Details on The Chainlink.

8 PM to 12:00 AM
Galway Arms
2442 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Monday, October 31, 2011

Two transportation committees will meet: Transportation and Public Way (12 PM) and Pedestrian and Traffic Safety (1 PM). The PTS committee meeting will likely discuss the recent trip to Amsterdam and other cities in the Netherlands taken by Alderman Solis and city staff sponsored by Bikes Belong.

12 PM, 1 PM
City Hall
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL

November 2011

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council

3 PM
City Hall
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL

Friday, November 4, 2011

Bicycle Film Festival. There’s also a pre-BFF bike ride and post-BFF Goldsprints party.

Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

Saturday, November 5, 2011 (two events)

Bicycle Film Festival. There’s an after party TBA.

Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

We Role Cycle Works presents “Cycle More” classes, 12 PM to 2 PM

Growing Power Farm
3333 S Iron Street
Chicago, IL

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Bicycle Film Festival

Logan Square Skatepark
2430 W Logan Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647

Monday, November 7, 2011

Active Transportation Alliance holds their annual member meeting to give an overview of accomplishments and reveal the 2012 legislative agenda.

5:45 PM to 8 PM
American Dental Association
211 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Green Opportunities Hack Salon. Apps for Metro Chicago will host “Go Green Hack Salon” at the Green Exchange-Greenhouse Loft (2545 W. Diversey Avenue) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will include experts discussing green ideas and sustainability concerns, group collaboration and app building. To attend, register on-line.

Monday, November 14, 2011

High Speed Rail Symposium. On November 14, Northwestern University will host the 2011 Lipinski Symposium “High Speed Rail: Perspectives and Prospects,” from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

8:15 AM to 5:30 PM
Allen Center
2169 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

Moving words at Active Transportation Alliance’s 25th anniversary gala

[flickr]photo:6264734276[/flickr]

Steven, Bike and Roll Chicago’s Josh Squire and John (note that the signs were compulsory, so our journalistic credibility should be intact). Photo by Serge Lubomudrov.

Last week dozens of key players in Chicago’s sustainable transportation scene gathered under one roof at the Illinois Institute of Technology (3241 S Federal St) to help Active Transportation Alliance (formerly Chicagoland Bicycle Federation) celebrate 25 years of advocacy.

Joining them was U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Polly Trottenberg, there to accept Active Trans’ Extra Mile Award to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for his leadership in providing safety initiatives and sustainable transportation to local communities. Also in attendance were two legendary transportation gurus: Mia Birk from Alta Planning + Design in Portland, Oregon, and “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz from Sam Schwartz Engineering in NYC.

It was an inspiring celebration and a terrific opportunity for Steven and me to network and learn more about local initiatives. While the $150-a-plate price tag was understandable for an upscale fundraising dinner for Active Trans, it was a bit steep for a couple of humble bloggers. Fortunately, Ben H. and Suzanne C. generously offered us seats at their tables so we could report on the event for you.

Continue reading Moving words at Active Transportation Alliance’s 25th anniversary gala

It’s fare increase time again at Metra

[flickr]photo:6085072353[/flickr]

“It’s become a Chicagoland tradition that every year around this time, transit riders cross their fingers and hope they won’t be hit with service cuts and fare increases. Unfortunately, it looks like the tradition will continue this year.” -Lee Crandell to the Metra board on October 14, 2011. 

Lee Crandell is right, but the tradition is not something Metra, or any other Chicagoland transit agency, has much control over.

Metra staff has proposed fare increases to the board who have accepted the proposal and will submit them to public hearings in November (schedule at the end). The staff first proposed fare increases to the board on September 16, 2011. They proposed a revised fare increase at the October 14, 2011, meeting, at which Crandell spoke. The alternative to fare increase was one of two service reduction options.

Continue reading It’s fare increase time again at Metra

Riders for Better Transit comments to Metra board

[flickr]photo:4553746144[/flickr]

This supports the article It’s fare increase time again at Metra.

Lee Crandell, a manager for the Riders for Better Transit campaign at the Active Transportation Alliance, spoke at both the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra board meetings this month. He published his comments to the CTA board and I’m posting his comments to the Metra board below (they’re nearly identical).

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Lee Crandell and I manage the Riders for Better Transit initiative at the Active Transportation Alliance. We have 6,800 members across the Chicago region who support our mission to improve conditions for biking, walking and public transportation.

It’s become a Chicagoland tradition that every year around this time, transit riders cross their fingers and hope they won’t be hit with service cuts and fare increases. Unfortunately, it looks like the tradition will continue this year.

There are no winners when our transit agencies are forced to make these tough decisions. As you already know, the consequences of fare increases and service cuts would be far-reaching, impacting our mobility, our economy, our quality of life, our environment, the congestion on our streets. The impact on our daily lives would be very real, making everyday activities more difficult for people from all walks of life—from a child trying to get to school, a worker getting to their job, and a grandmother trying to visit her grandchildren.

As a world-class region, we deserve better. Our transit service should be improving and expanding, not slipping backwards.

Criticizing Metra in this situation is a normal reaction—and certainly on behalf of the riders we represent, we urge you to explore every possible efficiency to prevent fare hikes or service cuts—but ultimately, it’s our elected leaders who hold the purse strings and decide whether our transit agencies will have enough funding to make ends meet. Transit is significantly under-funded because our elected leaders at the local, state and federal levels have put it on the back-burner. And that means we, as transit riders and as voters, also bear some burden of responsibility. Riders for Better Transit will be asking our elected leaders to end the cycle of service cuts and fare increases by increasing investment in transit.

I’m here today to tell you that transit riders are ready to speak up, and we hope you will join us.

Please ask our elected leaders: how are you supposed to fulfill your duties as a Metra board member if they don’t adequately fund transit for our region?

Thank you.

Photo is of an outbound Metra Milwaukee Division North line leaving Glenview, Illinois. Photo by Eric Pancer.

Grid Shots: Inside the train stations

When I saw this fisheye photo from Clark Maxwell of the Ogilvie Transportation Center (500 W Madison St) interior, I knew the next Grid Shots topic.

[flickr]photo:4566250267[/flickr] Continue reading Grid Shots: Inside the train stations

Progression of bike sharing RFP: deadline is approaching

[flickr]photo:5793730985[/flickr]

Madison, Wisconsin, has a B-Cycle bike sharing system. B-Cycle is likely to submit a proposal. Photo by Jeramey Jannene. 

Updated October 16, 2011, to add more information about the station selection task order and provide it for download. 

Proposals for Chicago’s large scale bike sharing system are due to the City of Chicago on or before October 25 – that’s 12 days away! The request for proposals (RFP) was issued on September 21, 2011. I and 29 others attended the pre-proposal conference a week later at City Hall (121 N LaSalle St) on September 28 to meet with Jacoby Radford, contract negotiator with the Department of Procurement Services (DPS), Scott Kubly, the head of the bike sharing project at the Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Ben Gomberg, Bicycle Program coordinator (CDOT).

It seemed that the purpose of the meeting was to get know who vendors would be working with at the City and who they would be up against in the proposal process. Some new information was provided, and Scott explained the City’s aims in building a bike sharing system. But any answers given by the City to attendees were “not official”. Questions had to be submitted in writing after which the City would respond with an RFP addendum. Continue reading Progression of bike sharing RFP: deadline is approaching