Ryan Richter, AICP
@ryanjrichter.com
Transportation/urban planner. Fascinated with cities, geography and the movement of people and goods. Chicagoan. ryanjrichter.com
These buses must be scheduled to bunch for capacity enhancement reasons. I jumped on the second bus and both were jammed.
November 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
These buses must be scheduled to bunch for capacity enhancement reasons. I jumped on the second bus and both were jammed.
Well this is suboptimal.
November 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Well this is suboptimal.
And now 10 minutes to wait for the Addison bus. Ffs
November 12, 2025 at 10:39 PM
And now 10 minutes to wait for the Addison bus. Ffs
Old Norwood Park around the circle. It was developed before annexation to the city as a railroad suburb.
November 12, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Old Norwood Park around the circle. It was developed before annexation to the city as a railroad suburb.
DOE has only a handful of employees. The proposed budget will allow for far more robust staffing at DOE.
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
DOE has only a handful of employees. The proposed budget will allow for far more robust staffing at DOE.
The hope here is that NITA and reduced mayoral power on CTA gives the agency more authority to make these needed service improvements. Otherwise, what's the point of the reforms?
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The hope here is that NITA and reduced mayoral power on CTA gives the agency more authority to make these needed service improvements. Otherwise, what's the point of the reforms?
Here's another example of service planning that could be done today by CTA. bsky.app/profile/nort...
cta is planning on making the orange line run 24 hours a day!! imo they should take the opportunity to through-run brown & orange line trains (at least overnight) so that everything from kimball to midway can be 24 hour. they already run occasional rush hour trains like that!!
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 10 minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and ...
chicago.suntimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Here's another example of service planning that could be done today by CTA. bsky.app/profile/nort...
Just really pad the schedules Amtrak style.
November 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just really pad the schedules Amtrak style.
So will CTA, as the service board, flex its operational authority? Will it have the support of NITA to make regional service changes with its partners, Metra and Pace? Will existing transit planners and decision makers across the RTA and service boards have the capacity to plan the system better?
November 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
So will CTA, as the service board, flex its operational authority? Will it have the support of NITA to make regional service changes with its partners, Metra and Pace? Will existing transit planners and decision makers across the RTA and service boards have the capacity to plan the system better?
Bus stop placement, as the article notes, is one of the things that can dramatically increase speed and generate operational efficiencies. And better yet, these efficiencies cost almost no money to implement.
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Bus stop placement, as the article notes, is one of the things that can dramatically increase speed and generate operational efficiencies. And better yet, these efficiencies cost almost no money to implement.
Hell, even line extensions, too. Here's one example in which CTA overcame neighbor opposition but still required aldermanic support. chi.streetsblog.org/2024/05/27/m...
Miracle on Ashland Avenue: Despite past pushback from neighbors, bus line will be extended north to Ravenswood Metra - Streetsblog Chicago
The route will run for about a mile north of Irving, opening up new commuting options and making it easier to access more jobs and businesses.
chi.streetsblog.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Hell, even line extensions, too. Here's one example in which CTA overcame neighbor opposition but still required aldermanic support. chi.streetsblog.org/2024/05/27/m...
You can thank our old bugaboo, "aldermanic prerogative". Under the current RTA structure (soon to be replaced by NITA), CTA's board was controlled by the mayor of Chicago. And via the mayor, bus stop placement is heavily influenced by the local alderman at the ward level.
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
You can thank our old bugaboo, "aldermanic prerogative". Under the current RTA structure (soon to be replaced by NITA), CTA's board was controlled by the mayor of Chicago. And via the mayor, bus stop placement is heavily influenced by the local alderman at the ward level.
Lol, Metra owns that land. So it can't be a bus terminal because Metra only Metras. Maybe this should be the location of the NITA world headquarters.
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Lol, Metra owns that land. So it can't be a bus terminal because Metra only Metras. Maybe this should be the location of the NITA world headquarters.
They're just upset the tolls are increasing.
November 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
They're just upset the tolls are increasing.
They probably should, but the optics look bad to the general public, so I understand why they won't.
November 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
They probably should, but the optics look bad to the general public, so I understand why they won't.
The Trib Editorial Board also failed to read the bill today.
November 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The Trib Editorial Board also failed to read the bill today.
But yeah, that Pritzker should veto the bill for the People Over Parking Act is ridiculous.
November 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
But yeah, that Pritzker should veto the bill for the People Over Parking Act is ridiculous.
My city healthcare plan (BCBS PPO) increased by 20% for next year. And this is considered a really good plan. Of course, the insurance company never tells me why.
November 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My city healthcare plan (BCBS PPO) increased by 20% for next year. And this is considered a really good plan. Of course, the insurance company never tells me why.