Thomas Bamonte
@thomasbamonte.bsky.social
Chicago. Transportation law, policy, and technology mostly. Senior Advisor, Metropolitan Planning Council. Views my own. One ticket, one timetable, one network....
Interview with #HaydenAI, the supplier of the tech for the @chicagocta.bsky.social bus lane enforcement pilot. Has anyone published a study of the bus speed/reliability impact of the tech in the Chicago pilot area zone?
February 5, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Interview with #HaydenAI, the supplier of the tech for the @chicagocta.bsky.social bus lane enforcement pilot. Has anyone published a study of the bus speed/reliability impact of the tech in the Chicago pilot area zone?
"When our government is not just apathetic but an aggressor against our communities,... we need to resist today by creating systems of community care that get people where they need to go right now, even in the most terrible storms." @keawilson.bsky.social usa.streetsblog.org/2026/02/02/s...
Shoveling a Snowy Sidewalk Is An Act of Resistance — Streetsblog USA
Shoveling a sidewalk in winter is always a critical act of community care — but in an era of government assault on civil liberties, it's also an act of resistance.
usa.streetsblog.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
"When our government is not just apathetic but an aggressor against our communities,... we need to resist today by creating systems of community care that get people where they need to go right now, even in the most terrible storms." @keawilson.bsky.social usa.streetsblog.org/2026/02/02/s...
Reposted by Thomas Bamonte
The Development on Church Land Act has been filed in Illinois
🏘️ Allows faith based orgs to develop mixed-use housing on their property
❌ Limits local government from enforcing:
- Height maximums (below 5 stories)
- Parking minimums
- Setbacks >10ft
- FAR
ilga.gov/Legislation/... #SB3187
🏘️ Allows faith based orgs to develop mixed-use housing on their property
❌ Limits local government from enforcing:
- Height maximums (below 5 stories)
- Parking minimums
- Setbacks >10ft
- FAR
ilga.gov/Legislation/... #SB3187
February 3, 2026 at 1:43 AM
The Development on Church Land Act has been filed in Illinois
🏘️ Allows faith based orgs to develop mixed-use housing on their property
❌ Limits local government from enforcing:
- Height maximums (below 5 stories)
- Parking minimums
- Setbacks >10ft
- FAR
ilga.gov/Legislation/... #SB3187
🏘️ Allows faith based orgs to develop mixed-use housing on their property
❌ Limits local government from enforcing:
- Height maximums (below 5 stories)
- Parking minimums
- Setbacks >10ft
- FAR
ilga.gov/Legislation/... #SB3187
NYT: “Congress Targets Housing Crisis as Solutions Elude Trump.” (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Congress Targets Housing Crisis as Solutions Elude Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
NYT: “Congress Targets Housing Crisis as Solutions Elude Trump.” (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
A transit-oriented development site near the 95th/Dan Ryan intermodal station in Roseland was made available for redevelopment proposals by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) in collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). 5/4/26 deadline. www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
www.chicago.gov
February 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
A transit-oriented development site near the 95th/Dan Ryan intermodal station in Roseland was made available for redevelopment proposals by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) in collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). 5/4/26 deadline. www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
“Commonsense, balanced legislation at the state level that doesn’t add strain on law enforcement will be an effective and prudent path forward for Illinois,” Dave Simmons @rideillinois said. www.wbez.org/transportati...
New state initiative aims for e-bike regulation, safety education
The initiative, called "Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready," seeks to expand safety education and address Illinois' archaic bike laws, which currently don't address some of the fastest e-bikes.
www.wbez.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:40 PM
“Commonsense, balanced legislation at the state level that doesn’t add strain on law enforcement will be an effective and prudent path forward for Illinois,” Dave Simmons @rideillinois said. www.wbez.org/transportati...
Auto travel time savings throughout the New York City metro area--not just in Manhattan--attributed to the NYC congestion pricing program. @davidzipper.bsky.social summarizes research. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers
NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Auto travel time savings throughout the New York City metro area--not just in Manhattan--attributed to the NYC congestion pricing program. @davidzipper.bsky.social summarizes research. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
HB4588 introduced in the ILGA. It would repeal for all but the City of Chicago the People Over Parking Act provisions of the transit reform law that facilitate housing production around transit service corridors/hubs by abolishing parking minimums. ilga.gov/Legislation/...
Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly
Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly
ilga.gov
January 30, 2026 at 12:42 AM
HB4588 introduced in the ILGA. It would repeal for all but the City of Chicago the People Over Parking Act provisions of the transit reform law that facilitate housing production around transit service corridors/hubs by abolishing parking minimums. ilga.gov/Legislation/...
Bill introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner creating the Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act. www.ilga.gov/Legislation/...
www.ilga.gov
January 29, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Bill introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner creating the Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act. www.ilga.gov/Legislation/...
“Regional rail is a “keystone” vision that would create a unified backbone for a modern regional transit network, with truly-regional benefits.”
Urbanists talk about the “missing middle” of housing all the time, but Chicagoland rail transit also has a missing middle that results in a bifurcated system that leaves millions of Chicagolanders with substandard transit.
CrossTowner regional rail is the remedy. open.substack.com/pub/starline...
CrossTowner regional rail is the remedy. open.substack.com/pub/starline...
The Missing Middle of Transit
An introduction to regional rail
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:07 PM
“Regional rail is a “keystone” vision that would create a unified backbone for a modern regional transit network, with truly-regional benefits.”
The @illinoisdot.bsky.social Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure Funding and Policy has released its final report: idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/...
idot.illinois.gov
January 28, 2026 at 4:13 PM
The @illinoisdot.bsky.social Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure Funding and Policy has released its final report: idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/...
Interview w/Rob Nash @rtachicago.bsky.social on the Illinois transit reform law. www.wbez.org/say-more-wit...
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Interview w/Rob Nash @rtachicago.bsky.social on the Illinois transit reform law. www.wbez.org/say-more-wit...
Interview with Elaine Nekritz, one of the key movers in the passage of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) transit reform legislation. activetrans.org/blog/elaine-...
Elaine Nekritz: The strategist behind Illinois’ transit victory | Active Transportation Alliance
When Illinois passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act last fall, many credited former State Representative Elaine Nekritz as […]
activetrans.org
January 27, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Interview with Elaine Nekritz, one of the key movers in the passage of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) transit reform legislation. activetrans.org/blog/elaine-...
Housing Manager position has opened @metroplanning.bsky.social in Chicago. metroplanning.bamboohr.com/careers/69?s...
Housing Manager
Position: Housing Manager
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
Reports To: Director of Housing and Community Development
FLSA Status: Exempt
About MPC
Chicago is at a crossroads. Longstanding pol...
metroplanning.bamboohr.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Housing Manager position has opened @metroplanning.bsky.social in Chicago. metroplanning.bamboohr.com/careers/69?s...
Another case for increasing public transit bus stop spacing. Bus stop intervals in Chicago are relatively short. www.worksinprogress.news/p/america-ha...
January 23, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Another case for increasing public transit bus stop spacing. Bus stop intervals in Chicago are relatively short. www.worksinprogress.news/p/america-ha...
Department of low-hanging fruit: AI processed vehicle dashcam video is a way for DOTs and transit agencies to monitor roadway corridors--e.g., missing signs, unauthorized road blockages, streetlight outages, pothole formation, striping quality. www.govtech.com/transportati...
Hawaii Is Crowdsourcing the Collection of Road Data
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has launched its Eyes on the Road project, which leverages dashcams in private and state-owned vehicles to gather vast amounts of information on roadway conditi...
www.govtech.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Department of low-hanging fruit: AI processed vehicle dashcam video is a way for DOTs and transit agencies to monitor roadway corridors--e.g., missing signs, unauthorized road blockages, streetlight outages, pothole formation, striping quality. www.govtech.com/transportati...
Sure to cause a tiff? @rsday.bsky.social and #ConnorDurkin call for terminating the Red-Purple Modernization Project tax increment financing (TIF) district once the project is paid off. citythatworks.substack.com/p/sunset-the...
January 22, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Sure to cause a tiff? @rsday.bsky.social and #ConnorDurkin call for terminating the Red-Purple Modernization Project tax increment financing (TIF) district once the project is paid off. citythatworks.substack.com/p/sunset-the...
Detailed summary and critque of recent CTA Board meeting by #JoshuaWoods. open.substack.com/pub/thoughts...
From the January 2026 CTA Board Meeting
Attending CTA Board meetings so you don't have to! In this edition, "mitigating the impact of smoking," new buses and another lively public comment period.
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Detailed summary and critque of recent CTA Board meeting by #JoshuaWoods. open.substack.com/pub/thoughts...
Cash flow limits prompt City of Chicago to split its annual advance pension payment. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Chicago Splits 2026 Advance Pension Payment Due to Cash Crunch
Chicago is dividing up its annual advance supplemental payment to its underfunded pensions into two, a departure from paying the entire amount at the start of the year.
www.bloomberg.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Cash flow limits prompt City of Chicago to split its annual advance pension payment. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
MLK Day is especially special for me because the civil rights movement helped lay the social and legal groundwork for my mixed-race marriage and family. @jamellebouie.net underscores the larger importance of MLK Day in these troubled times.
i think this MLK day the thing to focus on is the strategic focus and tactical brilliance of the civil rights movement and the way it was laser focused on a set of achievable goals
January 19, 2026 at 4:38 PM
MLK Day is especially special for me because the civil rights movement helped lay the social and legal groundwork for my mixed-race marriage and family. @jamellebouie.net underscores the larger importance of MLK Day in these troubled times.
As folks consider what is next after the Northern Illinois Transit Authority bill, @toddlitman.bsky.social would like to have a word: Reorient how we do transportation planning. Interestingly, he prescribes tolling new road capacity as path to affordability. www.planetizen.com/blogs/136542...
What do We Want, Speed or Affordability?
Conventional planning assumes that travellers want to save time, but evidence indicates that they usually prefer to save money. How can planning better reflect these preferences?
www.planetizen.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:05 PM
As folks consider what is next after the Northern Illinois Transit Authority bill, @toddlitman.bsky.social would like to have a word: Reorient how we do transportation planning. Interestingly, he prescribes tolling new road capacity as path to affordability. www.planetizen.com/blogs/136542...
"Targeted cycling policies, such as building dedicated lanes and improving bike parking, were major contributors to the rise in ridership. Equally important were measures that discouraged car use—like low-emission zones, traffic restrictions, and fuel price changes." momentummag.com/new-study-pa...
New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution
Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.
momentummag.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:08 PM
"Targeted cycling policies, such as building dedicated lanes and improving bike parking, were major contributors to the rise in ridership. Equally important were measures that discouraged car use—like low-emission zones, traffic restrictions, and fuel price changes." momentummag.com/new-study-pa...
Link to Foundry Park materials submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission covering proposed development on razed industrial property along Cortland Avenue between Racine and Elston Avenues: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
January 13, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Link to Foundry Park materials submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission covering proposed development on razed industrial property along Cortland Avenue between Racine and Elston Avenues: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Surging construction cost for I-5 bridge linking WA/OR in Portland echoes increases in cost estimates for the Red Line Extension Project @chicagocta.bsky.social. @nikhunder.com Hollowing out of in-house DOT technical capabilities cited as one but not only factor. cityobservatory.org/17-7-billion...
$17.7 Billion: Exploding costs doom I-5 bridge replacement – City Observatory
cityobservatory.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Surging construction cost for I-5 bridge linking WA/OR in Portland echoes increases in cost estimates for the Red Line Extension Project @chicagocta.bsky.social. @nikhunder.com Hollowing out of in-house DOT technical capabilities cited as one but not only factor. cityobservatory.org/17-7-billion...
Transportation theorist @transportist.org, who is key figure in focusing us on connecting people to destinations effectively rather than on just maximizing vehicle speeds/volumes and a past resident of Minneapolis now in Sydney, sounds alarm on rise of US fascism. transportist.org/2026/01/13/s...
State-sponsored domestic terrorism
The US has created a domestic masked secret police force1 that plucks residents out of their homes and disappears2 them. An organization of poorly trained, gun-wielding, masked agents who shoot peo…
transportist.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Transportation theorist @transportist.org, who is key figure in focusing us on connecting people to destinations effectively rather than on just maximizing vehicle speeds/volumes and a past resident of Minneapolis now in Sydney, sounds alarm on rise of US fascism. transportist.org/2026/01/13/s...