The Regional Transportation Authority is planning to use $486.2 million in transit funding from the latest stimulus bill to support transit services to “to the places and people across the region who most need transit” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on the research shared during the RTA’s January 21 board meeting, this would mean Chicago, Joliet, Aurora, Elgin and Waukegan, as well as a handful of clusters in the south, west and northwest suburbs. It would be up to the individual transit agencies the RTA oversees to decide exactly how they would use the cash, and what service changes, if any, they would make.
2 Col. Steve Sattinger and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District team have recognized Camie Knollenberg as their supervisor of the year. Knollenberg is the chief of the plan formulation branch in Regional Planning and Environmental Division, North, or RPED-N. She leads a team of planners that solve water resources problems for the nation, and they serve the St. Paul, Rock Island and St. Louis districts.
“This is very big deal, because it not only validates what we already respect and admire about Camie – she s progressive, a team builder, an engaged leader and a trusted colleague – it also underscores the effectiveness of our RPED-N model, said Col. Karl Jansen, St. Paul District commander. The model is only successful because of the personal investment and perseverance of leaders like her. Being integrated in a supported district to the degree that she was recognized as one of ‘Rock Island District’s own’ and among Rock Island’s bes
It’s getting real folks. After many years of lobbying by transit advocates, next month Cook County is launching the Fair Transit South Cook pilot. The program will bring more affordable and convenient service on the Metra Electric District and Rock Island District commuter rail lines for South Side and south suburban residents. The pilot halves the cost of a ride on these lines, and increases frequency on Pace’s 352-Halsted route, which links the 95th Street Red Line stop with the Pace Chicago Heights Terminal and will eventually be upgraded to Pulse express bus service.
I caught up with Cook County president Toni Preckwinkle to discuss the history of this effort, its benefits for South Side and Southland residents, and the city of Chicago’s resistance to participating in the program by providing free, county-subsidized transfers from Metra to the CTA.
December 18, 2020 By David Murray
In the top story of 2020, an invisible virus has, to date, caused more than a million and a half deaths worldwide, sickened tens of millions more, overwhelmed the health care facilities of many countries at times, and upended the global economy, completely reshaping some industries. It is a story that is far from over, but whose end may be in sight.
After crash development by an emergency team under the aegis of Operation Warp Speed, two vaccines have been developed, one by Pfizer-BioNTech and the other by Moderna. Pfizer’s has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration after encouraging testing indicating an effectiveness of more than 90 percent. Moderna’s vaccine was awaiting approval at press time, with 6 million doses ready for immediate allocation.