Sarah Freishtat
@sfreishtat.bsky.social
Once: reporter @chicagotribune. Now investigating elsewhere.
Friday was my last day at the Tribune, and my last story ran today. Covering this city and how people do, or don’t, get around it has been an honor, but it’s time for a new career step for me
March 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Friday was my last day at the Tribune, and my last story ran today. Covering this city and how people do, or don’t, get around it has been an honor, but it’s time for a new career step for me
CTA slow zones have grown so much in recent years that now nearly 1/3 of the “L” is speed restricted. A key culprit? Aging and deteriorating tracks.
“When you’re trying to get to work or an appointment, it can be a real setback for folks”
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...
“When you’re trying to get to work or an appointment, it can be a real setback for folks”
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...
CTA slow zones are growing, and that means longer commutes for ‘L’ riders
In February, slow zones covered some 30% of the rail system, up from 13% five years earlier. It’s one more hurdle for the CTA to overcome.
www.chicagotribune.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
CTA slow zones have grown so much in recent years that now nearly 1/3 of the “L” is speed restricted. A key culprit? Aging and deteriorating tracks.
“When you’re trying to get to work or an appointment, it can be a real setback for folks”
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...
“When you’re trying to get to work or an appointment, it can be a real setback for folks”
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...
Interesting look at CTA overtime from @ndblumberg.bsky.social, one way to see if service is tied to more staff or more hours of work
And v impt look at CTA FOIA: "The CTA has never within memory responded to a FOIA request from WTTW News within the legally required timeline"
And v impt look at CTA FOIA: "The CTA has never within memory responded to a FOIA request from WTTW News within the legally required timeline"
CTA Continues to Rely on Bus and Train Operator Overtime — But Fails to Provide Detailed Information Within Required Time Frame
Illegally delayed responses are a chronic problem with the CTA’s FOIA office. Other news organizations and advocacy groups have also dinged the agency for its FOIA transparency failures. Despite not s...
news.wttw.com
March 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Interesting look at CTA overtime from @ndblumberg.bsky.social, one way to see if service is tied to more staff or more hours of work
And v impt look at CTA FOIA: "The CTA has never within memory responded to a FOIA request from WTTW News within the legally required timeline"
And v impt look at CTA FOIA: "The CTA has never within memory responded to a FOIA request from WTTW News within the legally required timeline"
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
Hope folks will tune in for @chihacknight.bsky.social tonight at 7pm Central where @sfreishtat.bsky.social and some folks from the Mansueto Institute will be presenting on their Stop Watch data project and reporting!
chihacknight.org/events/2025/...
chihacknight.org/events/2025/...
Online: StopWatch - Exploring Bus Service in Chicago - Chi Hack Night
The StopWatch analyzes a unique dataset of over 100 million real-time bus locations collected by Chi Hack Night Ghost Bus. Part of the 2024 Local Data Journalism Initiative, this project is a collabor...
chihacknight.org
March 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Hope folks will tune in for @chihacknight.bsky.social tonight at 7pm Central where @sfreishtat.bsky.social and some folks from the Mansueto Institute will be presenting on their Stop Watch data project and reporting!
chihacknight.org/events/2025/...
chihacknight.org/events/2025/...
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
Truly outrageous conduct by Metra, great reporting by @sfreishtat.bsky.social: Metra paid a law firm over $1.5M for an internal investigation that it won’t release, raising transparency questions. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/24/m...
Metra paid a law firm over $1.5M for an internal investigation that it won’t release, raising transparency questions
Metra hired a team of outside lawyers to conduct an internal investigation, but the outcome of the 2023 investigation remains shrouded.
www.chicagotribune.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Truly outrageous conduct by Metra, great reporting by @sfreishtat.bsky.social: Metra paid a law firm over $1.5M for an internal investigation that it won’t release, raising transparency questions. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/24/m...
The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Took a look at the prospects for a new station now, as a redevelopment proposal for the surrounding area moves forward
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...
The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Could redevelopment plans change that?
A new Pink Line station wouldn’t be the first at the intersection of Madison and Paulina streets.
www.chicagotribune.com
February 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Took a look at the prospects for a new station now, as a redevelopment proposal for the surrounding area moves forward
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...
Mayor Brandon Johnson on the federal grant freeze this morning, from @aliceyin.bsky.social
Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.
Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.
January 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Mayor Brandon Johnson on the federal grant freeze this morning, from @aliceyin.bsky.social
Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.
Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.
The delayed program to ticket drivers parked in downtown bike/bus lanes is up and running, and in the first weeks the city issued more than 3,500 warnings and violations.
The numbers "clearly show that bike-and-bus-lane parking violations are an issue," CDOT said.
The numbers "clearly show that bike-and-bus-lane parking violations are an issue," CDOT said.
Downtown bike- and bus-lane ticketing program generates more than 3,500 warnings and violations in its first weeks
The program allows the city to use cameras to mail tickets to registered vehicle owners for violations in an area that covers much of downtown.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The delayed program to ticket drivers parked in downtown bike/bus lanes is up and running, and in the first weeks the city issued more than 3,500 warnings and violations.
The numbers "clearly show that bike-and-bus-lane parking violations are an issue," CDOT said.
The numbers "clearly show that bike-and-bus-lane parking violations are an issue," CDOT said.
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
Chicago needs the Reader ⬇️
Donate $5 or $500,000, if you can
Donate by December 31 | Chicago Reader (Powered by Donorbox)
Donate to the Reader by December 31The Reader is the paper that keeps Chicago connected — and as a nonprofit, we can’t do it without you.Our stories are written by humans. Printed in ink. Distributed ...
donorbox.org
January 15, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Chicago needs the Reader ⬇️
Today, at what is expected to be CTA President Dorval Carter’s last board meeting, the board approved agency chief of staff Nora Leerhsen to be the interim president.
Appointment of a permanent president still rests with Mayor Brandon Johnson
Appointment of a permanent president still rests with Mayor Brandon Johnson
January 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Today, at what is expected to be CTA President Dorval Carter’s last board meeting, the board approved agency chief of staff Nora Leerhsen to be the interim president.
Appointment of a permanent president still rests with Mayor Brandon Johnson
Appointment of a permanent president still rests with Mayor Brandon Johnson
Can Chicago make its streets safe for students to walk and bike to school? A look at pedestrian and cyclist safety for students
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
Can Chicago make its streets safe for students to walk and bike to school?
At least 2,860 youth pedestrians and cyclists have been hit by cars in Chicago since 2021, according to city data.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Can Chicago make its streets safe for students to walk and bike to school? A look at pedestrian and cyclist safety for students
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
🚨CTA President Dorval Carter is resigning.
He's been in the hot seat for years. Now the reform debate is expected to heat up in Springfield this year, with lawmakers calling to combine CTA and other agencies. W/ @royalpratt.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
He's been in the hot seat for years. Now the reform debate is expected to heat up in Springfield this year, with lawmakers calling to combine CTA and other agencies. W/ @royalpratt.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
CTA President Dorval Carter to step down
Carter’s resignation comes as a debate brews in Springfield about whether to combine the CTA with Metra, Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
🚨CTA President Dorval Carter is resigning.
He's been in the hot seat for years. Now the reform debate is expected to heat up in Springfield this year, with lawmakers calling to combine CTA and other agencies. W/ @royalpratt.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
He's been in the hot seat for years. Now the reform debate is expected to heat up in Springfield this year, with lawmakers calling to combine CTA and other agencies. W/ @royalpratt.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...
Coming this spring in Springfield: a transit reform and funding debate that’s likely to get contentious, with competing legislative proposals and a projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit to complicate things
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/c...
Debate over the future of CTA, Metra, Pace, RTA to heat up in Springfield this year
The clock is ticking on a financial cliff looming for the Chicago area’s four transit agencies, and along with it efforts in Springfield to address the way transit is overseen and funded.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Coming this spring in Springfield: a transit reform and funding debate that’s likely to get contentious, with competing legislative proposals and a projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit to complicate things
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/c...
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
Brooklyn, Illinois, is the oldest majority-Black town in America. And it’s dying.
Take a look inside the fight to save the historic community.
Take a look inside the fight to save the historic community.
America’s oldest Black town is in Illinois — and it’s dying. But the fight has begun to save it.
America’s oldest Black town is Brooklyn, Illinois. Once an Underground Railroad stop, it’s now dying. A race is on to save it.
www.chicagotribune.com
January 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Brooklyn, Illinois, is the oldest majority-Black town in America. And it’s dying.
Take a look inside the fight to save the historic community.
Take a look inside the fight to save the historic community.
These neighborhoods have been slowest to get bus service back from pandemic cuts - including many that are exactly the kinds of places where CTA's own study found the benefits of transit are clearest
I teamed up with U of C's Mansueto Institute to take a deeper look at buses. Here's what we found 👇
I teamed up with U of C's Mansueto Institute to take a deeper look at buses. Here's what we found 👇
CTA says bus service is back to prepandemic levels. A new analysis shows which neighborhoods were slowest to get service back.
Some neighborhoods were slower to get service back than others — and many that fared worst have high unemployment and low incomes.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 30, 2024 at 4:44 PM
These neighborhoods have been slowest to get bus service back from pandemic cuts - including many that are exactly the kinds of places where CTA's own study found the benefits of transit are clearest
I teamed up with U of C's Mansueto Institute to take a deeper look at buses. Here's what we found 👇
I teamed up with U of C's Mansueto Institute to take a deeper look at buses. Here's what we found 👇
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
CTA was slower to restore bus service post-pandemic in some of the neighborhoods where it's needed the most, @chicagotribune.com/U of C report finds. Via @sfreishtat.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/c...
CTA says bus service is back to prepandemic levels. A new analysis shows which neighborhoods were slowest to get service back.
Some neighborhoods were slower to get service back than others — and many that fared worst have high unemployment and low incomes.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:29 PM
CTA was slower to restore bus service post-pandemic in some of the neighborhoods where it's needed the most, @chicagotribune.com/U of C report finds. Via @sfreishtat.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/c...
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
This is a story of a baby who lived 17 days before dying the day after Christmas. It is a story about all who grieve, sorrow or seek comfort during the holidays. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/23/l...
‘We are not alone’: Local ‘Blue Christmas’ services offer solace for those who grieve, struggle during the holidays
Churches across the Chicago area have been hosting “Blue Christmas” services to offer solace for those enduring pain, hardship or loss.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 24, 2024 at 1:29 AM
This is a story of a baby who lived 17 days before dying the day after Christmas. It is a story about all who grieve, sorrow or seek comfort during the holidays. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/23/l...
Reopening the express lanes on the Kennedy has been pushed back to January, as work continues to get the reversible lane system up and running.
Last year lanes reopened in early December, but this year IDOT said work on the reversible lanes turned out to be more complicated than expected
Last year lanes reopened in early December, but this year IDOT said work on the reversible lanes turned out to be more complicated than expected
December 17, 2024 at 4:42 PM
Reopening the express lanes on the Kennedy has been pushed back to January, as work continues to get the reversible lane system up and running.
Last year lanes reopened in early December, but this year IDOT said work on the reversible lanes turned out to be more complicated than expected
Last year lanes reopened in early December, but this year IDOT said work on the reversible lanes turned out to be more complicated than expected
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
NEW: Plow the Sidewalks has been added to the Chicago budget aldermen will soon vote on.
A line item for $500,000 under "accessibility programming" in the amended budget is an earmark for the program to pilot city-run snow plowing, I'm told.
A line item for $500,000 under "accessibility programming" in the amended budget is an earmark for the program to pilot city-run snow plowing, I'm told.
What's happening with the 'Plow the Sidewalks' campaign?
Nothing, in Mayor Brandon Johnson's 2025 budget. Despite calling for it to start in 2025 this May, Johnson put $0 toward the transit & disability rights effort. For @chicagotribune + thread👇:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/25/m...
Nothing, in Mayor Brandon Johnson's 2025 budget. Despite calling for it to start in 2025 this May, Johnson put $0 toward the transit & disability rights effort. For @chicagotribune + thread👇:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/25/m...
Sidewalk plowing plan unfunded in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget: ‘It would mean freedom’
The mayor’s team said budget challenges made funding the pilot impossible this year, frustrating advocates who say there is money to do so.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 16, 2024 at 9:55 PM
NEW: Plow the Sidewalks has been added to the Chicago budget aldermen will soon vote on.
A line item for $500,000 under "accessibility programming" in the amended budget is an earmark for the program to pilot city-run snow plowing, I'm told.
A line item for $500,000 under "accessibility programming" in the amended budget is an earmark for the program to pilot city-run snow plowing, I'm told.
Work is set to begin next year on long-running plans to revamp Union Station. But Amtrak still needs more money for the rest of the work, and this time will be asking for it from the Trump admin and a Republican-controlled Congress likely to be less enthusiastic about funding passenger rail.
Plans to overhaul Chicago Union Station could take a step forward in 2025, but more money is needed
Amtrak is preparing for work to begin modernizing and boosting capacity at Union Station, a Metra and intercity rail hub.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 16, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Work is set to begin next year on long-running plans to revamp Union Station. But Amtrak still needs more money for the rest of the work, and this time will be asking for it from the Trump admin and a Republican-controlled Congress likely to be less enthusiastic about funding passenger rail.
After years of complaints about CTA service and safety, Pres Dorval Carter previews priorities for 2025:
- Boost frequency of buses and trains
- Focus on overnight service
- New day pass that can be used on CTA/Metra/Pace
- Reopen north Red Line stations closed for years during track rebuild
And…
- Boost frequency of buses and trains
- Focus on overnight service
- New day pass that can be used on CTA/Metra/Pace
- Reopen north Red Line stations closed for years during track rebuild
And…
December 11, 2024 at 5:33 PM
After years of complaints about CTA service and safety, Pres Dorval Carter previews priorities for 2025:
- Boost frequency of buses and trains
- Focus on overnight service
- New day pass that can be used on CTA/Metra/Pace
- Reopen north Red Line stations closed for years during track rebuild
And…
- Boost frequency of buses and trains
- Focus on overnight service
- New day pass that can be used on CTA/Metra/Pace
- Reopen north Red Line stations closed for years during track rebuild
And…
Former Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner Gia Biagi is heading to IDOT
December 10, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Former Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner Gia Biagi is heading to IDOT
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
how Chicago does gift giving: Maria Pappas gave Toni Preckwinkle one of her jackets (of jacket calendar fame). on
@goolsbee.bsky.social's Christmas list? 2% inflation and a renewable membership to the Illinois Mycological Association
gift story gift link:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/05/i...
@goolsbee.bsky.social's Christmas list? 2% inflation and a renewable membership to the Illinois Mycological Association
gift story gift link:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/05/i...
December 5, 2024 at 2:55 PM
how Chicago does gift giving: Maria Pappas gave Toni Preckwinkle one of her jackets (of jacket calendar fame). on
@goolsbee.bsky.social's Christmas list? 2% inflation and a renewable membership to the Illinois Mycological Association
gift story gift link:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/05/i...
@goolsbee.bsky.social's Christmas list? 2% inflation and a renewable membership to the Illinois Mycological Association
gift story gift link:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/05/i...
Some fun new Chicago Amtrak tidbits:
In FY2024 (Oct-Sept), 3M Amtrak riders came into or out of Chicago Union Station, up from 2.7M the year before.
That’s still below the 3.3M Union Station riders Amtrak had prepandemic. But nationwide Amtrak hit a record high number of riders last year
In FY2024 (Oct-Sept), 3M Amtrak riders came into or out of Chicago Union Station, up from 2.7M the year before.
That’s still below the 3.3M Union Station riders Amtrak had prepandemic. But nationwide Amtrak hit a record high number of riders last year
December 4, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Some fun new Chicago Amtrak tidbits:
In FY2024 (Oct-Sept), 3M Amtrak riders came into or out of Chicago Union Station, up from 2.7M the year before.
That’s still below the 3.3M Union Station riders Amtrak had prepandemic. But nationwide Amtrak hit a record high number of riders last year
In FY2024 (Oct-Sept), 3M Amtrak riders came into or out of Chicago Union Station, up from 2.7M the year before.
That’s still below the 3.3M Union Station riders Amtrak had prepandemic. But nationwide Amtrak hit a record high number of riders last year
Reposted by Sarah Freishtat
The Chicago Tribune sports department is hiring! We have a college sports reporter opening — full-time role to focus on/off the field with emphasis on teams in Illinois & Big Ten + national stories with Midwestern lens.
If interested apply here: myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TPCO/j...
If interested apply here: myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TPCO/j...
Senior Reporter
Summary: The Chicago Tribune is looking for a reporter to join its sports team at the largest news organization in the Midwest. This reporter will be responsible for producing clear and contextualized...
myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:22 PM
The Chicago Tribune sports department is hiring! We have a college sports reporter opening — full-time role to focus on/off the field with emphasis on teams in Illinois & Big Ten + national stories with Midwestern lens.
If interested apply here: myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TPCO/j...
If interested apply here: myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TPCO/j...