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Star:Line Chicago

@starlinechicago.bsky.social

3.3K followers 120 following 7.6K posts

Suburbanite. Sustainable transportation advocacy, for Chicago and Chicagoland. #BuildTheTunnel “The smart, transit-oriented [social media] account” -Chicago Tribune Planning, building, breaking, rebuilding.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · Nov 7

#2034sight is more relevant now than ever. Strategic investments to fundamentally change the way we operate existing transit service is imperative as we enter a period of federal austerity. When we #BuildTheTunnel we can create a new regional rail transit network on infrastructure we already have.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 3h

The lower 2026 deficit is really irrelevant since the 2027 deficit is well over $800 million anyway. If they don’t address it this year we’ll have to go through all of this for a second time next year regardless

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 3h

The Senate-passed NITA legislation this spring included $1.7 billion in new revenues

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

No such thing as a trans ally NIMBY

Chicago 🏳️‍⚧️🌱 @chicagotrans-plant.bsky.social · 4h

Leni says they need to welcome folks fleeing those states.

That's right. My community in the south is fucking terrified. They are being genocided. Build more housing here.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

If "most of the small-scale infill that seems viable from community feedback is between the current alignment and Michigan Avenue," then it's at worst net-neutral. Not to mention "not many vacant lots between Michigan and MED" means there's a stronger existing ridership walkshed to work with.

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

Cut-and-cover under Michigan Avenue north of ~117th seems perfectly viable

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

It's about a mile shorter, by the way

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

RLE is overall a good project, but since budget is clearly not an issue, we really should revisit the specific alignment to maximize development and investment potential.

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

The two strongest arguments for RLE are that it will enhance service to a historically-disinvested part of the city, and that it will seed new development on the Far South Side. The current alignment really fails to do the latter, except near 115th/Michigan.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

TL;DR: automated vehicles can either proactively fit into an integrated transportation network, or they can destroy obstinate transit agencies that fail to adapt

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

I see it less about "solving traffic" than proactively coordinating automated service in mixed traffic to feed into a more-frequent grid of core high-capacity transit routes that operate on their own rights-of-way

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 4h

It's about a mile shorter, by the way

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 5h

An enlightening read, and one that defends my ultimate NITA vision of putting the CTA in charge of all fixed-route buses regionwide and transitioning Pace into exclusively a micromobility role

Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 5h

Vehicle automation could have pandemic-like impact on public transit systems as currently structured and operated. This article, based on a newly released book, identifies two ways public transit agencies can productively respond to vehicle automation. www.changinglanesnewsletter.com/p/driving-au...

Driving Automation and Transit

Automation could kill transit as we know it, or make it even better

www.changinglanesnewsletter.com

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 5h

Also worth noting that since we’re already spending $1B+ a mile, with land uses and zoning more conducive to ETOD, we should be seriously considering reimagining RLE north of 115th/Michigan as a cut-and-cover subway under Michigan Ave instead of an elevated along freight rail thru a SFH neighborhood

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 5h

It’s unfortunate that almost the entire RLE corridor has been designated as “opt-in” (purple on this @abundanthousingil.bsky.social map) for accessory dwelling units, which allows for more organic, neighborhood-oriented ETOD opportunities and to better grow community wealth.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 6h

Bright and early tomorrow morning: Illinois House Executive Committee has a scheduled hearing regarding the fiscal cliff at 8am. ilga.gov/House/Hearin...

Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

ilga.gov

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 6h

Really stupid suburban quirk here: Broadview's village limits include the single row of houses north of Harvard, but not the rest of the block

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Reposted by Star:Line Chicago

Audrey Wennink @awennink.bsky.social · 6h

What do developers think about the transit fiscal cliff? If transit is not funded "it will kill projects." Check out summary and recording of @metroplanning.bsky.social webinar here: metroplanning.org/what-are-the...

What Are the Stakes For Developers in Transit Funding and Reform? > Metropolitan Planning Council

On October 9, 2025, Metropolitan Planning Council convened a virtual discussion to discuss the economic implications of Illinois’ transit funding crisis and the opportunities that reform could unlock.

metroplanning.org

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 6h

They probably had an eye on the transit budget cycles, RTA + service board budgets need to be finalized by mid-November, so any veto session action would’ve been too late otherwise

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

It’s a split session too, they’re taking next week off and then coming back on the 28th

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

It’s time for something new. NITA is the compromise to keep the service boards responsive to their local constituents for day-to-day service delivery issues while centralizing service planning issues where they belong at the regional level.

Call your reps: SaveTransit.org

CTA service cuts are real as hell...get plugged in! — Better Streets Chicago

Legislators failed to pass legislation before May 31st to prevent 40% service cuts on CTA, Pace, and Metra – and they need to hear that YOU want them to save transit NOW.

SaveTransit.org

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

New figure is based on the draft service board budgets that came out within the past few days, but how in the world did the RTA not have the “real” number two weeks ago? A 14% correction is pretty sizable, and I’m not accusing anyone of nefarious intent, but it’s quite the misstep heading into veto

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

Apparently the Chicagoland transit fiscal cliff for 2026 went *up* quietly yesterday, now up to $230 million. A week and a half ago it was $202 million; two weeks ago it was $771 million. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

www.rtachicago.org

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

Can confirm. Spouse works in Cicero and she noted this morning how eerily uncongested Cermak was today. ICE is very intentionally destroying the livelihoods of Latino/a communities.

Soren Spicknall @sorenspicknall.bsky.social · 18h

To a somewhat lesser extent, the same is true of several other areas. Cicero has seen heavy ICE activity similar to Sunday in Rogers Park about twice a week lately. Same for the southeast side, same for southwest suburbs like Burbank and Bridgeview, same for Hammond and Whiting across the border.

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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

Time is merely a construct, what is “immediate” to the mighty oak tree?

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 7h

I believe that was Sara’s point, that having fares that tacked closer to inflation over time would provide a stronger fiscal footing for transit while also avoiding huge “one-time” fare hikes for riders.

Reposted by Star:Line Chicago

Abundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · 8h

Chicagoland’s transit agencies can’t afford to go it alone. Real reform means Metra, Pace, and CTA working together, with unified planning, fares, and goals, to build a system that truly serves the whole region. 🚇 🚂 🚍

citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-suburb...

The Suburban Case for Transit Reform

Trips don’t end at the city limits, so why do our transit agencies?

citythatworks.substack.com

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