I have successfully lived in the Chicago area for slightly over two years without either owning or driving a car. No parking problems. No fuel purchases. No negotiating traffic. Sure, occasionally buses or trains have been behind schedule or populated by obnoxious riders, but no service is 100% perfect, and drivers certainly have their share of chronic issues. Actually on the whole I would say transit in the Chicagoland area is, if anything, better than average nationally - that's one of the reasons I moved here - and it remains a promising example of what is possible if leaders continue to prioritize regional transit funding. In the mean time, I am in better physical condition thanks to getting regular exercise, I pay less to get around and have acquired a better understanding of the history and geography of the area over the same period.
Buggin' out on Metra's UPN
Therefore it is extremely gratifying to see governor Pritzker sign into law SB2111: The new regional transit overhaul bill that eliminates looming funding gaps and removes what long seemed like a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the possibility of service cuts. Those cuts have thankfully been taken off the table, so let's hope the state of Illinois continues to reap the economic and social benefits of a healthy transit system with a high level of service. Cheers! See you out there on the rails, and stay safe!
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