Thomas Bamonte
@thomasbamonte.bsky.social
Chicago. Transportation law, policy, and technology mostly. Senior Advisor, Metropolitan Planning Council. Views my own. One ticket, one timetable, one network....
It's time for all good citizens to pick up a snow shovel and clear space around their nearest bus stops because both municipalities and private landowners don't #PlowTheSidewalks. Indeed, they sometimes dump snow in bus stop areas. Query: Is municipal failure to clear bus stops an #ADA issue?
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's time for all good citizens to pick up a snow shovel and clear space around their nearest bus stops because both municipalities and private landowners don't #PlowTheSidewalks. Indeed, they sometimes dump snow in bus stop areas. Query: Is municipal failure to clear bus stops an #ADA issue?
Here's a quick and dirty one-page overview of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority legislation that the Illinois General Assembly passed early this morning. Reply w/questions. Link to bill: ilga.gov/documents/le...
October 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Here's a quick and dirty one-page overview of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority legislation that the Illinois General Assembly passed early this morning. Reply w/questions. Link to bill: ilga.gov/documents/le...
Penn urban planner Erick Guerra’s new book, ‘Overbuilt,’ argues that additional spending on building more highways might not be the solution to the country’s transportation issues. In a Q&A, Guerra shares his insights. penntoday.upenn.edu/news/why-are...
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Penn urban planner Erick Guerra’s new book, ‘Overbuilt,’ argues that additional spending on building more highways might not be the solution to the country’s transportation issues. In a Q&A, Guerra shares his insights. penntoday.upenn.edu/news/why-are...
This is a big bone for Downstate on top of other funding it would receive from the revenue mechanisms in the House and Senate transit bills.
October 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is a big bone for Downstate on top of other funding it would receive from the revenue mechanisms in the House and Senate transit bills.
Chicago Trib: We need world class transit in Chicago but Trib doesn't like IL House revenue plan and proposes belt-tightening as its solution for fiscal cliff approaching ~$1B/yr. starting in FY 2027. Says governance reform should be full agency consolidation. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/29/e...
October 30, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Chicago Trib: We need world class transit in Chicago but Trib doesn't like IL House revenue plan and proposes belt-tightening as its solution for fiscal cliff approaching ~$1B/yr. starting in FY 2027. Says governance reform should be full agency consolidation. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/29/e...
Statement on transit bill introduced late yesterday by the Illinois House and transit funding options by @chicagocta.bsky.social Board member @splanish.bsky.social.
October 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Statement on transit bill introduced late yesterday by the Illinois House and transit funding options by @chicagocta.bsky.social Board member @splanish.bsky.social.
"Nobody wants to burden working families. But what’s more regressive than forcing people to own a car?" @ellensteinke.bsky.social @chi.streetsblog.org og.org 🔥 chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/28/w...
October 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
"Nobody wants to burden working families. But what’s more regressive than forcing people to own a car?" @ellensteinke.bsky.social @chi.streetsblog.org og.org 🔥 chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/28/w...
Collar counties spend <2% of the RTA transit tax $$$ paid directly to those counties per the RTA Act on transit services. They spend the rest on law enforcement and roadway engineering. @alexnitkin.bsky.social @gracehauck.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Collar counties spend <2% of the RTA transit tax $$$ paid directly to those counties per the RTA Act on transit services. They spend the rest on law enforcement and roadway engineering. @alexnitkin.bsky.social @gracehauck.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Op-Ed by Kirk Dillard, Chair of the Board @rtachicago.bsky.social. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/o...
October 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Op-Ed by Kirk Dillard, Chair of the Board @rtachicago.bsky.social. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/o...
"On the hopeful side,
transportation providers as well as transportation consumers are seeing the strength of
telework programs, bike and walk modes, as well as the social benefits of providing
workers with more job location flexibility."
transportation providers as well as transportation consumers are seeing the strength of
telework programs, bike and walk modes, as well as the social benefits of providing
workers with more job location flexibility."
October 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"On the hopeful side,
transportation providers as well as transportation consumers are seeing the strength of
telework programs, bike and walk modes, as well as the social benefits of providing
workers with more job location flexibility."
transportation providers as well as transportation consumers are seeing the strength of
telework programs, bike and walk modes, as well as the social benefits of providing
workers with more job location flexibility."
“Congestion is a fact of life in thriving regions. This year’s numbers challenge us to think differently about travel. Why are people on the road? Can we shift some of that demand, or give travelers more reliable options?” www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news/congest...
October 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
“Congestion is a fact of life in thriving regions. This year’s numbers challenge us to think differently about travel. Why are people on the road? Can we shift some of that demand, or give travelers more reliable options?” www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news/congest...
Juan Sebastian Arias @elevatedchicago.bsky.social lays out how the transit reform bill (HB3438) empowers new regional agency (NITA) to partner with communities on transit-oriented development projects but does >not< empower NITA to roll over local land use rules. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/21/e...
October 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Juan Sebastian Arias @elevatedchicago.bsky.social lays out how the transit reform bill (HB3438) empowers new regional agency (NITA) to partner with communities on transit-oriented development projects but does >not< empower NITA to roll over local land use rules. chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/21/e...
Minimal infrastructure.... 🤔
October 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Minimal infrastructure.... 🤔
As CMAP documented in its Plan of Action for Regional Transit State of Illinois support for public transit lags that of the funding support peer states provide their public transit systems. cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/u...
October 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
As CMAP documented in its Plan of Action for Regional Transit State of Illinois support for public transit lags that of the funding support peer states provide their public transit systems. cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/u...
Cortland and Honore bump out.
October 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Cortland and Honore bump out.
Population density attracts @abundanthousingil.bsky.social mainstays like @mclean.bsky.social like catnip….
October 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Population density attracts @abundanthousingil.bsky.social mainstays like @mclean.bsky.social like catnip….
We serve and protect…. Bicyclist shared her thoughts firmly.
October 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
We serve and protect…. Bicyclist shared her thoughts firmly.
Illinois Policy Institute: “Before asking taxpayers to pay more, the RTA should right-size service, eliminate inefficiencies and align spending with current demand. Illinois lawmakers should require clear operational reforms before considering any tax hikes.” www.illinoispolicy.org/doordash-ube...
October 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Illinois Policy Institute: “Before asking taxpayers to pay more, the RTA should right-size service, eliminate inefficiencies and align spending with current demand. Illinois lawmakers should require clear operational reforms before considering any tax hikes.” www.illinoispolicy.org/doordash-ube...
Updated fiscal cliff numbers and an outline of what comes next if the Illinois General Assembly fails to address the funding gap facing the transit system(s) in the Chicago region. www.rtachicago.org/transit-fund...
October 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Updated fiscal cliff numbers and an outline of what comes next if the Illinois General Assembly fails to address the funding gap facing the transit system(s) in the Chicago region. www.rtachicago.org/transit-fund...
Op-ed by Adam Slade @ilblackadvocacy.bsky.social makes the case for the @chicagocta.bsky.social Red Line Extension to Chicago's far South Side and stresses the value of high-density development near transit service. #ETOD www.chicagobusiness.com/elevate/tran...
October 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Op-ed by Adam Slade @ilblackadvocacy.bsky.social makes the case for the @chicagocta.bsky.social Red Line Extension to Chicago's far South Side and stresses the value of high-density development near transit service. #ETOD www.chicagobusiness.com/elevate/tran...
The @chicagocta.bsky.social has released its proposed 2026 budget. It has "baseline," "growth," and "reduced" operating budget scenarios. The reduced and growth budgets paint starkly different futures for transit riders and workers.
October 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The @chicagocta.bsky.social has released its proposed 2026 budget. It has "baseline," "growth," and "reduced" operating budget scenarios. The reduced and growth budgets paint starkly different futures for transit riders and workers.
Chicago Marathon.
October 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Chicago Marathon.
