On Track: A blog from NITA | Northern Illinois Transit Authority

Navy Pier Bus Turnaround Electric Bus and Ferris Wheel 0321

Plan RTA advocates for transit-priority, BRT to be included in major Chicago roadway projects

Dedicated space on roads for Pace and CTA buses is critical to improving speed and reliability. It will take a coalition to inspire the political will within...

August 28, 2024

Plan Transit Station Activations in Rogers Park, Joliet bring live music, games, and more

In May, the RTA announced more than $120,000 in funding for eight Transit Station Activation projects near CTA, Metra, and Pace stations and stops. The proje...

August 27, 2024

Plan Metra envisions regional rail, express service to O’Hare during presentation to RTA Board

Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski presented a midyear update to the RTA Board of Directors during their meeting on August 15, outlining improvements the...

August 21, 2024

Move In memoriam: Cartographer Dennis McClendon, ‘Mr. Downtown,’ left his mark on Chicago transit

The RTA is marking the passing of cartographer and Chicago historian Dennis McClendon, who provided cartographic work to the RTA for more than a decade. McCl...

August 14, 2024

Plan Coalition members provide feedback on possible reforms to improve service and accountability for riders

More than 140 riders, agency staff, legislative staff, advocates, and other stakeholders met virtually on July 31 for the fifth quarterly Transit is the Answ...

August 5, 2024

Move How to navigate the Democratic National Convention using public transportation

The Democratic National Convention is coming to Chicago’s United Center and McCormick Place August 19-22, 2024, and with it will come roughly 50,000 visitors...

July 25, 2024

Plan Transit station activation in Uptown brings positive presence to Broadway bus route with weekly outdoor yoga class

On Friday mornings now through the end of the year, CTA #36 and #81 bus riders and Red Line passengers through the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago may catch a...

July 25, 2024

Plan Join the RTA Transit is the Answer Coalition to discuss possible reforms to improve service and accountability for riders

Following the introduction of legislation that proposes changes to how the Chicago region’s transit agencies are organized, the RTA continues to lead convers...

July 15, 2024

Plan RTA releases new fare equity report, recommending fully funding and expanding reduced fare programs

A new report released by the RTA in July, Building a More Equitable Fare Structure for Public Transit in the Chicago Region, recommends that the state legisl...

July 11, 2024

Plan Homewood, Richton Park adopt transit-oriented development plans funded through RTA Community Planning program

This spring, transit-oriented development (TOD) plans were adopted by the villages of Homewood and Richton Park that will make these communities more transit...

July 11, 2024

A crowd of people waits on the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line CTA platform as a train approaches.

Plan Good news: Regional transit ridership reaches new high as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service, offer new fare products

Ridership across Chicago’s transit system has continued to increase, with May 2024 seeing the highest ridership levels since 2019 for CTA, Metra, and Pace. T...

June 28, 2024

Plan Legislative Update: Lawmakers pass state budget, action on transit funding still needed ahead of fiscal cliff

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned this year’s spring legislative session after passing an overall $53.1 billion budget for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025...

June 27, 2024