David Powe
@davidpowe.bsky.social
Transportation planner | Bureaucrat working on Divvy bikeshare & all things micromobility | Alabama native | Posts are my own ofc
Pinned
David Powe
@davidpowe.bsky.social
· Aug 4
Divvy just recorded its highest monthly ridership ever and the busiest single day in program history!
By improving Chicago’s bike network and making Divvy more affordable and accessible, the City of Chicago is continuing to make Chicago an even more bike-friendly city. 🚲
By improving Chicago’s bike network and making Divvy more affordable and accessible, the City of Chicago is continuing to make Chicago an even more bike-friendly city. 🚲
Reposted by David Powe
This by-right development went from summer courtesy presentation right into fall 🎃 permitting. 149 new homes coming to River North. Learn who's behind the project ➡️ buff.ly/X032AGM
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This by-right development went from summer courtesy presentation right into fall 🎃 permitting. 149 new homes coming to River North. Learn who's behind the project ➡️ buff.ly/X032AGM
PUBLIC MEETING ALERT: Illinois is updating its Statewide Transit Plan, setting a long term vision for how we fund, expand & improve public transportation across the state. Virtual meeting info:
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Next Move Illinois
Public transportation is an essential way for people to travel throughout the state of Illinois. Next Move Illinois is a successor to the 2018 Illinois Statewide Public Transportation Plan. The goal o...
idot.illinois.gov
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
PUBLIC MEETING ALERT: Illinois is updating its Statewide Transit Plan, setting a long term vision for how we fund, expand & improve public transportation across the state. Virtual meeting info:
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Reposted by David Powe
Vile.
Astonishing: Bovino and his agents showed up at the Bean this morning to pose for pictures. While Border Patrol snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” The neighborhood where they are least welcome and most acutely felt. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Border Patrol Agents Pose At 'The Bean' For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, Little Village!"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Vile.
Reposted by David Powe
"The legislature has spoken for a more unified system that improves service and safety. Let’s now focus on implementing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to operate a first-class, modern public transit system that attracts more passengers and works well for all in the Chicago region."
Howard A. Learner: Now, let’s focus on making Chicago’s regional transit system work better
Now that Illinois has passed a transit bill, the focus must shift to how to make our transit system work better and more efficiently.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
"The legislature has spoken for a more unified system that improves service and safety. Let’s now focus on implementing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to operate a first-class, modern public transit system that attracts more passengers and works well for all in the Chicago region."
Chicago’s newest Divvy station at Wabash & Jackson in the Loop! On-street stations are always my favorite 🫡
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Chicago’s newest Divvy station at Wabash & Jackson in the Loop! On-street stations are always my favorite 🫡
Reposted by David Powe
The Bus Priority Corridor Study is a major next step toward implementation of the Better Streets for Buses Plan—a framework developed by CTA and CDOT to enhance the bus riding experience. We're exploring ways to improve bus lanes, sidewalks, and signals.
November 7, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The Bus Priority Corridor Study is a major next step toward implementation of the Better Streets for Buses Plan—a framework developed by CTA and CDOT to enhance the bus riding experience. We're exploring ways to improve bus lanes, sidewalks, and signals.
Chicago’s newest Divvy station is live at 55th & Harper in Hyde Park! It’s the first of five new stations being installed in the neighborhood over the next week. Last month, the 10th and 12th busiest Divvy stations citywide were in Hyde Park.
November 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Chicago’s newest Divvy station is live at 55th & Harper in Hyde Park! It’s the first of five new stations being installed in the neighborhood over the next week. Last month, the 10th and 12th busiest Divvy stations citywide were in Hyde Park.
Reposted by David Powe
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
CTA plans 24-hour service on Orange Line to Midway, thanks to mass transit bailout
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Reposted by David Powe
Day-One service priorities should be identifying barriers to increasing all-day Metra frequencies, and reassessing the CTA and Pace’s parallel bus network redesigns to see what can be salvaged or start fresh with what we should’ve initially done (plan the network, then assign routes to CTA or Pace).
November 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Day-One service priorities should be identifying barriers to increasing all-day Metra frequencies, and reassessing the CTA and Pace’s parallel bus network redesigns to see what can be salvaged or start fresh with what we should’ve initially done (plan the network, then assign routes to CTA or Pace).
Reposted by David Powe
NITA needs to come out of the gate with bold vision – and action – to create and enforce the “one-network, one-timetable, one-ticket” regional operating model codified in SB2111.
Leave the past in the past. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to guide us into the future.
Leave the past in the past. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to guide us into the future.
"[Will] CTA/Metra/Pace finally come out of their poorly coordinated silos, whether consolidation of expensive bureaucracies and duplicative transit routes actually will occur and ultimately whether the Chicago region finally will start acting like a region." www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
Greg Hinz: Lawmakers did only half the job of fixing Chicago's creaky public transit system
For the moment, only part of the job of fixing Chicago-area transit has been completed. There’s still work to do.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
NITA needs to come out of the gate with bold vision – and action – to create and enforce the “one-network, one-timetable, one-ticket” regional operating model codified in SB2111.
Leave the past in the past. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to guide us into the future.
Leave the past in the past. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to guide us into the future.
Reposted by David Powe
"[Will] CTA/Metra/Pace finally come out of their poorly coordinated silos, whether consolidation of expensive bureaucracies and duplicative transit routes actually will occur and ultimately whether the Chicago region finally will start acting like a region." www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
Greg Hinz: Lawmakers did only half the job of fixing Chicago's creaky public transit system
For the moment, only part of the job of fixing Chicago-area transit has been completed. There’s still work to do.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"[Will] CTA/Metra/Pace finally come out of their poorly coordinated silos, whether consolidation of expensive bureaucracies and duplicative transit routes actually will occur and ultimately whether the Chicago region finally will start acting like a region." www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
Reposted by David Powe
Great to see that the city is preparing to acquire the intercity bus station. This is good public policy. This station serves more than 500,000 passengers annually. This is a major transportation hub critical to Midwest mobility. www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/cit...
City sets aside $50 million for Greyhound station
Downtown Ald. Bill Conway says he discovered the $50 million set-aside tucked into a city report, and the Johnson administration has provided no details.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Great to see that the city is preparing to acquire the intercity bus station. This is good public policy. This station serves more than 500,000 passengers annually. This is a major transportation hub critical to Midwest mobility. www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/cit...
Reposted by David Powe
Here's MPC's recent blog post about the transit funding/reform bill, featuring a fun photo of some key advocates who were present at the birth in Springfield, looking sleep-deprived but excited!
@metroplanning.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
@metroplanning.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
Illinois Passes the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act > Metropolitan Planning Council
Illinois received a Halloween treat to remember this year as The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (SB2111) passed the Illinois General Assembly in the early hours of October 31, 2025, and Gover...
metroplanning.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Here's MPC's recent blog post about the transit funding/reform bill, featuring a fun photo of some key advocates who were present at the birth in Springfield, looking sleep-deprived but excited!
@metroplanning.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
@metroplanning.bsky.social @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
Chicago’s newest Divvy bikeshare station at May/Hubbard in West Loop!
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Chicago’s newest Divvy bikeshare station at May/Hubbard in West Loop!
Reposted by David Powe
More convinced than ever that now’s the time to #BuildTheTunnel
November 4, 2025 at 3:26 AM
More convinced than ever that now’s the time to #BuildTheTunnel
Reposted by David Powe
This year, CDOT has been investing heavily in the Divvy system by offering (and continuing to offer!):
📍 5,200+ $99 memberships
📍 8,200+ price freezes for current members
📍 43,000+ capped e-bike rides
📍 31,600+ free unlocks in Equity Priority Areas
📍 5,200+ $99 memberships
📍 8,200+ price freezes for current members
📍 43,000+ capped e-bike rides
📍 31,600+ free unlocks in Equity Priority Areas
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This year, CDOT has been investing heavily in the Divvy system by offering (and continuing to offer!):
📍 5,200+ $99 memberships
📍 8,200+ price freezes for current members
📍 43,000+ capped e-bike rides
📍 31,600+ free unlocks in Equity Priority Areas
📍 5,200+ $99 memberships
📍 8,200+ price freezes for current members
📍 43,000+ capped e-bike rides
📍 31,600+ free unlocks in Equity Priority Areas
Chicago's newest Divvy stations:
📍 Halsted St & Melrose St
📍 Kenmore Ave & School St
📍 Oakley Ave & Lyndale St
📍 Halsted St & Melrose St
📍 Kenmore Ave & School St
📍 Oakley Ave & Lyndale St
October 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Chicago's newest Divvy stations:
📍 Halsted St & Melrose St
📍 Kenmore Ave & School St
📍 Oakley Ave & Lyndale St
📍 Halsted St & Melrose St
📍 Kenmore Ave & School St
📍 Oakley Ave & Lyndale St
Reposted by David Powe
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Crain’s is good about revenue sources and splits
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
Last-minute, $1.5B transit compromise being debated in Springfield
The transit revenue package relies on increasing the transit sales tax in the six-county region and transportation related sources. It also includes a steep tollway hike.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Reposted by David Powe
I wrote a provisional summary of the People Over Parking Act, as adopted today.
www.stevencanplan.com/2025/10/illi...
www.stevencanplan.com/2025/10/illi...
Illinois legislature adopts People Over Parking Act to ban parking mandates in transit-served areas
At about 4:22 AM this morning the Illinois Senate concurred with the Illinois House on bill SB2111 (PDF), approving a revenues and reform package that will close budget gaps and provide additional …
www.stevencanplan.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I wrote a provisional summary of the People Over Parking Act, as adopted today.
www.stevencanplan.com/2025/10/illi...
www.stevencanplan.com/2025/10/illi...
Reposted by David Powe
Not an understatement to say how transformational and solid of a bill this is. All the best parts of the robust reform package the Senate passed in the spring, with none of the negative baggage of the new funding sources since we’re moving existing fuel taxes from highways to transit operations
WOOHOO: “Illinois lawmakers approve $1.5B legislative package to buoy mass transit”
chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
Illinois lawmakers approve $1.5B legislative package to buoy mass transit
Lawmakers agreed on a tax package to stave off a $200 million-plus fiscal cliff next year that would likely result in major cuts to bus and rail service at the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pac...
chicago.suntimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Not an understatement to say how transformational and solid of a bill this is. All the best parts of the robust reform package the Senate passed in the spring, with none of the negative baggage of the new funding sources since we’re moving existing fuel taxes from highways to transit operations
Reposted by David Powe
Yup, we're on the ground in the Capitol!
Everyone sign up for rapid text alerts at alerts.savetransit.org and we'll be keeping folks up to date on urgent actions needed!
Everyone sign up for rapid text alerts at alerts.savetransit.org and we'll be keeping folks up to date on urgent actions needed!
Sign up for rapid alerts to save transit.
We're going to be sending rapid text alerts for urgent actions that are needed – like filing witness slips and last-minute calls. There will be key moments where we may need you to fill out these form...
alerts.savetransit.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Yup, we're on the ground in the Capitol!
Everyone sign up for rapid text alerts at alerts.savetransit.org and we'll be keeping folks up to date on urgent actions needed!
Everyone sign up for rapid text alerts at alerts.savetransit.org and we'll be keeping folks up to date on urgent actions needed!
Reposted by David Powe
"We’re going to do what’s necessary to get a transit bill passed. We all understand how important to fund transit throughout the state of Illinois. And so we’re going to attempt to get it done ASAP." - @govpritzker.illinois.gov
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"We’re going to do what’s necessary to get a transit bill passed. We all understand how important to fund transit throughout the state of Illinois. And so we’re going to attempt to get it done ASAP." - @govpritzker.illinois.gov
Reposted by David Powe
The House should finally move the Senate bill, amend the dates to not take effect until after July 1, pass it with a simple majority, kick it back to the Senate for a quick concurrence (where it already has 33+ votes), and get it to the Gov. Should be possible to do in a day.
33 Senators, knowing there was almost zero chance of the House even taking the bill up 12 minutes before the end of spring session, publicly cast their votes to blow up the fiefdoms of board seats and raise taxes opposed by some of the state’s most powerful lobbying groups.
That was hard.
That was hard.
I am sick and fucking tired of hearing legislators talk about how “hard” transit is.
They may not understand right now how hard it will be for their constituents if they don’t get it done — but every single member of the House is running for re-election right now.
We will not forget.
They may not understand right now how hard it will be for their constituents if they don’t get it done — but every single member of the House is running for re-election right now.
We will not forget.
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The House should finally move the Senate bill, amend the dates to not take effect until after July 1, pass it with a simple majority, kick it back to the Senate for a quick concurrence (where it already has 33+ votes), and get it to the Gov. Should be possible to do in a day.