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thomasbamonte.bsky.social
Chicago. Transportation law, policy, and technology mostly. Senior Advisor, Metropolitan Planning Council. Views my own. One ticket, one timetable, one network....
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The multi-decade failure of the @rtachicago.bsky.social and the transit service operators @chicagocta.bsky.social, Metra, and Pace to implement an integrated fare payment system for public transit in the Chicago region creates a barrier, especially for prospective users.

submitted 7 hours ago • 0 comments

While riders understandably may rank more and improved transit service over fare payment integration, the Illinois legislature in section 2.04(e) of the RTA Act directed @rtachicago.bsky.social to implement a regional fare payment system...by 2015.

submitted 1 day ago • 3 comments

One of many reasons to attend the Transport Chicago conference this Friday, 6/13. 👇https://www.transportchicago.org/

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Friday the 13th is the Transport Chicago conference. The one-day conference (easily accessible by public transit BTW) is a great opportunity to catch up with the issues and people involved in Chicago region transportation issues of all kinds. www.transportchicago.org

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Under current law the regional transportation authority for the Chicago region, @rtachicago.bsky.social, has no guaranteed role by statute in recruiting, selecting, evaluating, or terminating executive directors of the transit service providers--CTA, Metra, Pace. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/03/w...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

High-speed Archer Avenue claims another victim. Sad coincidence, but the alderperson serving in that area, #AldSilvanaTabares, helped defeat a City Council effort earlier this year to lower the speed limits in Chicago. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/07/t...

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Politicians, agencies, experts and advocates weigh in on the transit funding cliffhanger. This new post includes a roundup of recent comments, and bakery-fresh statements from CTA, Metra, Pace, and DePaul transportation seer Joe Schwieterman. @ctaction.org @stevevance.net @betterstreetschicago.org

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

From our roundup of recent takes on #TransitFundingIndecision2025: DePaul transportation planning whiz Joe Schwieterman has some ideas: "If a coalition of mayors could come to together with a unified plan, it would be big help." 🤔 💡 chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/05/p...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

A look by @crainschicago.bsky.social at the state of play in the Illinois General Assembly on the transit legislation (HB 3438) that was approved by the Senate but not voted on in the House. www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/why...

submitted 5 days ago • 2 comments

Article by Phillip Plotch at Eno Transportation Center. Eno played a key research role for CMAP’s Plan of Action for Regional Transit, the blueprint for the Illinois transit governance/funding reform effort. enotrans.org/article/dram...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

[email protected] not a fan of a $1.50 fee on deliveries by motor vehicles (w/groceries, drugs, businesses <$500K sales/yr., and bike deliveries exempted); calls for taxing ultra rich for transit. What IL options to tax ultra rich are legal, ~feasible? chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

With all eyes on transit funding/governance reform in the Chicago region--can't overlook that @illinoisdot.bsky.social and its Chicago DOT compatriot #CDOT have plans in place to lock in North DuSable Lake Shore Drive #NDLSD as an expressway in a park without dedicated mainline lanes for buses.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

[email protected] dunks on @govpritzker.illinois.gov as providing a poor model for California as it wrestles with its transit funding challenges. (Actually, Gov. P. staff was actively engaged in the process that resulted in many of the non-fiscal provisions of the transit reform bill.)

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

California legislation @scottwiener.bsky.social encouraging housing near transit advances. #SB79 Somewhat similar provisions were in the transit reform bill (HB 3438) that stalled in the Illinois General Assembly. davisvanguard.org/2025/06/sb-7...

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

[email protected] pulls no punches when it comes to Mayor Johnson and public transit.

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Part two of the @chi.streetsblog.org #AustinBusch sorting through the aftermath of the Illinois General Assembly's failure to pass the transit reform bill. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/02/t...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Part one of the @chi.streetsblog.org #AustinBusch sorting through the aftermath of the Illinois General Assembly's failure to pass the transit reform bill. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/02/n...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

IL Senate hammered out a governance structure baked in the bill it passed (HB 3438) after months of hearings followed by some weeks of negotiations among some key stakeholders. Reopening the governance issue will detract from now needed single-minded focus on funding, imperiling staving off cuts.

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Here are the Illinois state senators representing the Chicago region who voted against the transit reform bill (HB 3438). Can any of these senators be persuaded to support the transit bill to stave off service cuts and improve transit service throughout the region?

submitted 8 days ago • 2 comments