A big job ahead
Friday, Sep 11, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) yesterday…
Dear Members of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Board:
Today marks the beginning of an important new chapter for public transit in northeastern Illinois.
The historic legislation creating NITA was about more than solving a funding crisis. It created an opportunity to finally build a truly regional transit system-one that connects communities, agencies, and people across Chicagoland.
As you begin this work, I encourage you to act boldly. Build the connections necessary to deliver a world-class transit system for Chicagoland.
That means looking beyond individual agencies and jurisdictions to create a system that works as one: coordinated service, seamless transfers, integrated fares, thoughtful capital investments, and connections that make it easier for people to get where they need to go.
But above all, keep the rider at the center of every decision.
The success of NITA should ultimately be measured by the experience of the people who use transit. Are trains and buses reliable? Are connections convenient? Is the system safe, accessible, affordable, and easy to navigate? Does it connect people to jobs, schools, health care, and opportunity?
The legislation gave you the tools to build something better. Now it is up to this Board to turn that vision into reality.
* Just one of countless examples of how the system is in dire need of improvement…
- Occasionally Moderated - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 8:51 am:
Have been wanting to comment on this. Recently took a trip to D.C. and we used the Metra train system extensively. It was a wonderful experience. It was clean. It was safe. It was cheap and it was easy. I would not currently consider using train service in Chicago. I drive to Wrigley, Soldier Field anywhere else I need to go in the city but I am rooting for success in this transportation endeavor.
In an exercise of curiosity I asked my favorite ai to contrast the D.C. Metro and public transportation in Chicago and how Chicago can replicate the success. It was interesting and I will not rehash what I read since it is an easy thing for anyone interested to do for themselves. I certainly hope the logjam can be broken and some real good can be done here.
- One Term Mayor - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 8:51 am:
Excellent EDD!
- Moderation Enabled - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 8:52 am:
Caught in moderation again.
- Consider This - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:05 am:
May be a good time to ask for suggestions. Wife awaiting a consult date with Rush Medical in Chicago. To avoid driving in Chicago, our initial plan is to take Amtrak out of Bloomington. Do buses run as regularly and dependably from Union Station to Rush Medical, and back, as they claim on their website? Thanks for any insight or suggestions.
- Blue Dog - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:18 am:
As skeptical as I am, I wish the best of luck in a successful transition. Affordable service. safety. You are public servants.
- May soon be required - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:26 am:
==o buses run as regularly and dependably from Union Station to Rush Medical, and back, as they claim on their website?==
Blue line stop about 2 blocks from Union Station will get you to Rush (IL Medical district stop) quickly and regularly.
- Cornbilly - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:31 am:
@Consider This
Yeah, you have a couple options for transport to Rush from Union Station. The 7 bus is probably your easiest option. If you don’t mind walking a few blocks, you can also take the Blue Line to Illinois Medical District. If all else fails, taxis and Uber/Lyft are plentiful around Union Station.
I used to take the train to Union Station from Springfield and took the bus from Union to my destination. I never much of a problem other than the bus getting stuck in traffic but I was also taking a route that went through the Loop and north on Michigan Ave.
- Juice - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:39 am:
Consider this, you can also download the Ventra app, and that has a bus tracker so you can actually see in real time how often the buses are running on that route as opposed to just relying on their schedule.
As mentioned above, the blue line is also an option. More walking involved. But the trip itself is likely going to be faster and the service will be more frequent.
- Incandenza - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:45 am:
Leader Delgado is the platonic ideal of a legislator. Her work on NITA and dedication to making government work for the people (not the interest groups that rotate around government).
As one who rides the CTA, I hope NITA also explores platform screen doors, which most other developed (and even developing) nations use to keep people from falling onto the tracks. Also, Hawaii is developing an automated heavy rail line. I hope NITA looks at the long-term viability of automating the Red or Blue lines.
- Retired School Board Member - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 9:51 am:
For far too long, the suburbs have had theeeee most mediocre bus service. I certainly hope that this reorganization will address this.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:04 am:
Oldsters like me will remember when the RTA was going to fix all the same problems. Hope springs eternal, I guess….
- sim1 - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:15 am:
@Consider This
For your trip from Union Station to Rush Hospital, the #7 bus may also be helpful because the Blue Line stations have a lot of stairs and ramps (no elevators) and are a bit of a walk. The #7 bus towards the hospitals picks up just across Clinton Street from Union Station’s historic great hall. Note however, it only runs on weekdays, from around 6am to around 9pm (regarding the main point of this thread, hopefully NITA can increase service so buses like this can also serve people who need to travel outside those hours as this and many other buses used to up until major service cuts 30 years ago). It runs every 15-20 min, so it’s not the most frequent bus, but you can check its arrival status online. https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/7/ https://ctabustracker.com/home
- Cicero Slav - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:15 am:
===It was clean. It was safe.===
I do not think a majority of Washingtonians would echo your sentiments.
- Ducky - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:37 am:
Did someone let Mayor Johnson’s appointees know there is work to be done? An inauspicious start if your goal is urgent change.
- Joseph M - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:22 am:
We can’t let anyone forget why NITA was needed. If we kept letting transit service degrade, it would have had lasting consequences for the region. I’m not just talking about traffic - a death spiral for CTA would pose a huge threat to our population growth and talent pipeline.
My fellow Gen Zers have a completely different attitude about public transit compared to previous generations. I know countless people who moved to Chicago specifically because it freed them from relying on a car. Last year, three of my friends decided to host a joint CTA train crawl birthday party, and 30 people showed up to pack on green, blue, brown, and red line trains around the city. If you’re not around young adults much, you might be surprised by how much we love public transit. (And as the first commenter mentioned, we’re all inspired by DC’s Metro system, who are expanding service and outpacing the CTA in ridership growth.)
All the while, our leaders refused to take this vital system seriously. They appointed board members who never rode the trains and buses they were in charge of. One nominee (Acree) openly admitted in his confirmation hearing that he “I don’t have to use CTA. I’m fortunate to have a car.” Not to mention that his hearing was his “first time hearing about” the dire fiscal cliff. Brandon Johnson’s actions demonstrate that the city looks down on transit riders and doesn’t consider them a priority. https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/07/14/ctas-top-leaders-rarely-swiped-onto-transit-records-show-now-officials-call-for-president-to-be-fired/
Other than the unsurprisingly lackluster NITA board nominations from the mayor, NITA has been promising so far. I just hope that our leaders understand how important transit is to the future of Chicagoland.
- Red Ranger - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:29 am:
The most significant accomplishment will be the renaming. Chicago TV media loves nothing more than a rebrand of a failing government agency that has a clever and easy to say nickname. NITA is perfect. I ride the BNSF 3-4 times a week and live one block from a PACE line. I have near zero confidence that me standing 2-3 times per week because there are no seats on the train will change nor will the hit or miss nature of the AC on the train in the summer. Further I have zero confidence the empty PACE buses the go up and down Mannheim Road on a daily basis will suddenly be full. There are simply too many structural problems with mass transit that will never be solved within the confines of these IL state, local and county governments. However, the anchors on NBC 5 will have so much fun reporting on the doings of NITA, that much I do know.
- Cicero Slav - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:44 am:
===I have near zero confidence that me standing 2-3 times per week because there are no seats on the train will change nor will the hit or miss nature of the AC on the train in the summer.===
I am interested to know what train #/#’s you are taking. I take the BNSF to work three times/week and there are plenty of available seats during peak rush. I do not think I have ever seen a person need to stand. The train is busy but since the pandemic the train is far from packed.
About the AC, agreed!
- Katie - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:59 am:
I think it is obviously true that if you are using transit in the tourist core of the city the DC metro is a much cleaner and nicer experience than the equivalent on CTA. Yes, they don’t have 24 hour lines to maintain and yes, I have found myself waiting 20 minutes for a train there at off-peak hours, but I think they have improved their service as ours has deteriorated. With all that said I’m trying to think how much second hand crack smoke there would have to be on my Red Line car before I’d drive to Wrigley and it’s a lot.
- Brandon - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:15 pm:
Our metra is very clean and very safe. Judging our trains while not riding them and comparing to others is certainly… a choice.
CTA is safe, mostly clean. Things have imoroved massively since December with more patrols by the sheriffs department.
Riding the CTA and metra is safer in every way than driving.
- Incandenza - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:29 pm:
== There are simply too many structural problems with mass transit that will never be solved within the confines of these IL state, local and county governments. ==
This is a pessimistic view. Chicago and Chicagoland has incredible infrastructure for mass transit. The structural issues are many but they are definable, and solvable. A big structural issue is just land-use: allowing dense construction near transit stops goes a long way. The BUILD plan would go a long way to address that. Another is getting different DOTs to coordinate developing bus-only right of ways on key corridors, and that is also very solvable. This isn’t an impossible barrier, many other cities across the world have solved many mass transit issues. Doom and gloom is not warranted. NITA is step one
- Consider This - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:30 pm:
Sincere thanks for all the ideas on our upcoming trip to Rush. I knew there was some knowledge out there that would be helpful. It appears our next action will be to get one of the grandkids to get us set up on some apps that you all mentioned. Having a couple options is a big peace of mind. Thanks again.
- Banish Misfortune - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:55 pm:
Everyone’s experience is their own, but I rarely drive to the Loop. The L is so much easier and cheaper. Driving is so expensive and you have to park so far away.
When my family comes to visit we hop on the L and head to the Loop and watch boats from the Riverwalk. Or Grant Park. So easy cheap and convenient.
And Pace has gotten somewhat better too. The Pulse bus to O’Hare is fast and reliable.
I hope they can make even more improvements.
- Dtown Resident - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:20 pm:
Was in Toronto recently for a long weekend to sight see. Took Go trains, which are like Metra, from a suburb into the city each day. Transferred to their subway and light rail in the city. We had a fare card we could use to get on all of them and the buses, which we didn’t use. That made it easy to use all of them regardless of which agency was running it. Could be useful for getting around Chicago and it’s suburbs too.
- NorthSideNoMore - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
As much as I hope transit in the Chi metro area gets more efficient this pops in my head CTA ” Big TY to suburbanites and transit types for yet another bail out of our mismanageed system . We promise, again, it won’t happen again”
- Leslie K - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:27 pm:
==Riding the CTA and metra is safer in every way than driving==
I’m pro-public transit and hopeful for the future of NITA. But that strikes me as a very odd thing to say. More convenient in many ways, maybe?
- low level - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:29 pm:
If they could only correct the problem of buses being bunched together, I would be happy. Too often there are two or sometimes three #62 buses in a row then not another one for 20 minutes or more. Please find a way to space the buses out more. Thank you.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:51 pm:
from someone who drove the green machine for a bit, there was rampant agreement among drivers how to bunch bus. we have so many tracking devices now. what is in union agreements that would prevent tracking drivers to ensure this only happens on rare occasion?
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:54 pm:
==But that strikes me as a very odd thing to say==
A million people a day are on CTA transport.
Start working the numbers of safety issues and problems spread out over 1,000,000 people a day.
- Cicero Slav - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 2:30 pm:
===My fellow Gen Zers have a completely different attitude about public transit compared to previous generations.===
Joseph, Zoomers are not the first generation to embrace a car-free lifestyle. Millennials came to Chicago in droves all through the 2010’s and drove the building frenzy of dense, light-on-parking apartments in N/NW side neighborhoods.
Chicagoland’s railways are the envy of almost all other American cities and I am hopeful of NITA changing things for the better.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 2:51 pm:
I do not live in the city (in the past, I was a daily METRA rider into the loop). When I visit, I prefer to park in Joliet and take the METRA to the Loop and then use the el/subway lines to get around. When I fly into other cites, I use the light rail systems when I can (busses when I must). What I would like to see is a seamless transfer between various aspects of the system; some cities do this well, others not. Chicago-area transit is OK, but not as easy as it could be. Cleanliness and safety are also considerations, but I do not find Chicago to be much better or worse than what I have experienced elsewhere. I would like to see one entity to run the whole show.