Today’s must-read
Monday, Oct 26, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The Sun-Times takes a closer look at the Northern Illinois Transit Authority’s new powers to develop land near transit…
When lawmakers passed the law creating the Northern Illinois Transit Authority nearly a year ago, they spoke about the new agency’s grand mission to transform Chicago-area public transit. […]
But, tucked inside the thousand-page-plus law, they also granted NITA unprecedented power to buy and develop land near transit. […]
“We’ve been doing planning studies … for nearly 30 years,” said Heather Mullins, NITA’s division manager for local planning. “But that’s really all we could do.” [….]
Under the law, NITA must inventory all underused transit-owned parcels and publish the list by June 2027. That list isn’t public yet. But Mullins said the agency has identified 3,000 underused parcels owned by transit agencies. She said 91 of them are ripe for development. Most of them are in the suburbs. That’s enough land near transit to build 8,500 homes.
Development will take time. The agency should start taking proposals from developers in 2028, Mullins said. Building could start in 2029. After that, NITA hopes to be doing four or five TOD projects a year.
NITA plans to put $10 million toward these projects, many of which will be affordable housing, she said.
Go read the rest.
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Monday, Oct 26, 26 @ 3:15 pm:
But, tucked inside the thousand-page-plus law, they also granted NITA unprecedented power to buy and develop land near transit. […]
“We’ve been doing planning studies … for nearly 30 years,” said Heather Mullins, NITA’s division manager for local planning. “But that’s really all we could do.” [….]
Under the law, NITA must inventory all underused transit-owned parcels and publish the list by June 2027. That list isn’t public yet. But Mullins said the agency has identified 3,000 underused parcels owned by transit agencies. She said 91 of them are ripe for development. Most of them are in the suburbs. That’s enough land near transit to build 8,500 homes.
Illinois Government over reach at it’s finest. This has nothing to do with Mass Transit
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 26, 26 @ 3:31 pm:
===This has nothing to do with Mass Transit===
You cannot be that daft or you’d know that mass transit works best in walkable areas.
- Ben Tre - Monday, Oct 26, 26 @ 4:01 pm:
“underused transit-owned parcels…” Since when is it overreach for government agencies to figure out better uses for land they already own? That’s like calling searches for government waste an overreach.
- 44 - Monday, Oct 26, 26 @ 6:09 pm:
Love it. Some of these built near CTA stations look great and seem full. Hop on a train and cut commute time down big time. Just need soundproofing!
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Oct 26, 26 @ 7:43 pm:
Jake: “How often does the train go by?”
Elwood: “So often that you won’t even notice it.