Better Streets Chicago

@betterstreetschicago.org

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Chicagoans working together to make our streets better for walking, rolling, bicycling and public transit. 🧑‍🦼🚶🚲🚌 linktr.ee/betterstreetschicago

The Johnson administration's appointment of Chairman Lester Barclay to the NITA board is profoundly baffling. Barclay's leadership on the Chicago Transit Board spanned the pandemic, where riders saw on full display what a lack of oversight means for their day-to-day: ghost buses and trains, long waits, and problems ignored until they become longstanding crises. In response to Chairman Barclay's refusal to hold former CTA leadership accountable, City Council was forced to step in and conduct its own oversight.

In November, Chairman Barclay demonstrated no lessons had been learned from this experience, when after the passage of NITA he wrote an op-ed slamming the governance reforms that are designed to make our systems better connected, eliminate silos between our agencies, provide more frequent, reliable, and accessible service – and most importantly, provide real accountability to riders. He has consistently shown throughout his tenure and in monthly board meetings a lack of interest in improving service reliability and frequency, key priorities for transit riders. Ultimately, the reforms in NITA are only as good as those who will implement them, and it's critical that the board consists of members who believe in the future that advocates, community members, and Illinois lawmakers fought so hard to win in 2025.

Transit riders deserve NITA board members who ride the system, who understand and listen to their concerns, and who are going to get on board the NITA train to deliver the regional transit system that we know is possible.

We saved Chicago's intercity bus terminal. Better Streets Chicago.

Take action to save Chicago's intercity bus terminal. Better Streets Chicago.

A sidewalk and ADA ramp are covered in compacted snow and ice.

Thank you Elijah Baird for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Meghan Babcock for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Jordon Novak for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Micheál Podgers for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Scott Rubin for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Brittney Lane for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

Thank you Keating Law Offices for powering our work another year! Better Streets Chicago.

A group of people smile for a screenshot on a zoom call.

CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen addresses a crowd, with other CTA leaders seated on stage with her.

A disability advocate speaks at a rally in front of RTA headquarters in downtown Chicago.