Showing posts with label Blue Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Island. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Friends of the Cal-Sag Trail celebration on Sunday 9/22
It's been great seeing the Cal-Sag Trail grow over the years, though it's taken a lot of patience. Come out and celebrate on Sunday afternoon. Here's a map link to the start location, in case it's not familiar to you.
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Saturday, November 11, 2017
2018 Metra fare increases and service changes
If you haven't gotten the details about what's going to change with Metra fares and service in 2018, here's the scoop:
A Zone C to A monthly pass will increase from $149.75 to $159.50. A 10-ride will increase from $47.25 to $52.25. A 1-way ticket will increase from $5.25 to $5.50.
The price of $8 weekend passes will increase to $10.
For more details on new fares, click here. Fare increases will take effect 2/1/18.
Service cuts on the Beverly branch are as follows:
• Train 622 (arrives at LaSalle Street Station at 6:44 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 424 (currently arrives at LaSalle Street at 6:28 p.m.) will now make all stops from Joliet to LaSalle Street via the Beverly Branch to accommodate Beverly Branch passengers who previously took Train 622, arriving at LaSalle Street at 6:45 p.m.
• Train 526 (arrives at LaSalle Street at 7:42 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 532 (arrives at LaSalle Street at 11:50 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 533 (departs LaSalle Street at 12:30 a.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 527 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 8:45 p.m.) will depart at 9:15 p.m.
• Train 529 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 9:45 p.m.) will depart at 10:30 p.m.
• Train 531 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 11:15 p.m.) will depart at 11:45 p.m.
I don't know about you, but I often attend events and meetings downtown or in other neighborhoods after work. These changes are going to hurt. Sometimes this will will mean later nights and longer trips home. Some of those trips will be longer because departures from downtown are too late for my trip, so I'll end up taking the red line and 95th St. bus more often instead of sitting around a long time to take Metra.
For more details on service cuts (including other lines), click here.
Mary Wisniewski of the Chicago Tribune has an article the subject today.
A Zone C to A monthly pass will increase from $149.75 to $159.50. A 10-ride will increase from $47.25 to $52.25. A 1-way ticket will increase from $5.25 to $5.50.
The price of $8 weekend passes will increase to $10.
For more details on new fares, click here. Fare increases will take effect 2/1/18.
Service cuts on the Beverly branch are as follows:
• Train 622 (arrives at LaSalle Street Station at 6:44 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 424 (currently arrives at LaSalle Street at 6:28 p.m.) will now make all stops from Joliet to LaSalle Street via the Beverly Branch to accommodate Beverly Branch passengers who previously took Train 622, arriving at LaSalle Street at 6:45 p.m.
• Train 526 (arrives at LaSalle Street at 7:42 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 532 (arrives at LaSalle Street at 11:50 p.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 533 (departs LaSalle Street at 12:30 a.m.) will be eliminated.
• Train 527 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 8:45 p.m.) will depart at 9:15 p.m.
• Train 529 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 9:45 p.m.) will depart at 10:30 p.m.
• Train 531 (currently departs LaSalle Street at 11:15 p.m.) will depart at 11:45 p.m.
I don't know about you, but I often attend events and meetings downtown or in other neighborhoods after work. These changes are going to hurt. Sometimes this will will mean later nights and longer trips home. Some of those trips will be longer because departures from downtown are too late for my trip, so I'll end up taking the red line and 95th St. bus more often instead of sitting around a long time to take Metra.
For more details on service cuts (including other lines), click here.
Mary Wisniewski of the Chicago Tribune has an article the subject today.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Did you witness a crash in Blue Island on Friday 2/24?
On Friday 2/24, there was a crash on 123rd St. in Blue Island, just west of the railroad tracks near Fairway Dr. and Meadows Ln. (map link) This happened around 7:30 in the morning. A bicyclist was injured.
If you were there and can provide any information, please email me. Thank you for any help you can offer.
If you were there and can provide any information, please email me. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
sustainable transportation vision (and the lack of it) in local wards and municipalities
Initiatives to promote bicycling as a healthy, sustainable form of transportation have the potential to transform the Chicago area. If more people feel safe when riding to their destinations instead of driving, quality of life in our neighborhoods improves: less road rage, less pollution (air, water and noise), better health, and a stronger local economy. Businesses can serve more customers with less car parking when more customers arrive by bike and on foot instead of driving. We've seen progress in the last 10 years, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
A cross section of Chicago wards currently have ongoing bike events and/or plans: 19, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.
The 49th ward (Alderman Moore) is on the verge of starting one of the more ambitious neighborhood greenway plans, thanks to resident voting under participatory budgeting.
Former Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd ward) had bike events, and made bike infrastructure an important priority. Under new Alderman Brian Hopkins (ward remap), that has disappeared. The 14th and 15th wards had ward bike events under previous aldermen, but don't anymore.
I met Alderman Sawyer (6th ward) at a Slow Roll ride last year and talked bikes with him. He spent the morning riding with us and talked with quite a few riders.
Under former Alderman Colon, the 35th ward got an active transportation plan to promote walking and biking, as well as the city's first on-street bike parking corral. I'm hopeful that new Alderman Ramirez-Rosa will continue the momentum that was established under Colon.
The 26th ward did a safety study, but modifications to the streets since then have been a mixed bag with respect to safety and biking. (Note: useful info on infrastructure concepts starting at page 20 at the safety study link above.)
The 3rd ward has a great community bike program: Bronzeville Bikes, which includes a neighborhood co-op, the Bike Box.
Alderman Reboyras (30th ward) introduced an ordinance in an attempt to modify Chicago law to allow people 65 and older to legally ride bikes on sidewalks. He hoped to make conditions safer for seniors who ride. Under current law, only children 12 and under are allowed to ride on sidewalks.
In the 33rd ward, Alderman Mell has worked for bike and pedestrian improvements.
I talked with Alderman Burnett (27th ward) at an Active Transportation Alliance event a few years ago. While he doesn't appear to have an active ward program to promote biking and bike infrastructure, he is aware of relevant issues.
Many current and former south side aldermen don't seem to get the idea that many residents want or need to ride - for transportation that is healthy and affordable, or for recreation. This includes the 7th ward (Sandi Jackson), 5th ward (Leslie Hairston) and 8th ward (Michelle Harris).
I'm encouraged that some of our south side aldermen now say they want Divvy, though they don't necessarily understand that improving bike infrastructure in their wards to make biking safer would be important to Divvy's success there.
Participatory budgeting is becoming an important tool in getting community input and allocating funding for bike projects, such as the proposed greenway in the 49th ward mentioned above.
The list of Chicago area municipalities that have bike plans and are in some phase of implementation includes: Evanston, Oak Park (2008 2014), Skokie, Blue Island, Berwyn, and Schaumburg,
The Cal-Sag Trail is a great example of cooperation between municipalities. When it is complete, it run 26 miles from Lemont to Burnham and Calumet City, connecting with many existing trails and boosting local and regional bike tourism.
The growing importance of bike transportation and bike-related tourism cannot be ignored. It must be included in economic planning for our city and region. Watch for more on these topics.
A cross section of Chicago wards currently have ongoing bike events and/or plans: 19, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.
The 49th ward (Alderman Moore) is on the verge of starting one of the more ambitious neighborhood greenway plans, thanks to resident voting under participatory budgeting.
Former Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd ward) had bike events, and made bike infrastructure an important priority. Under new Alderman Brian Hopkins (ward remap), that has disappeared. The 14th and 15th wards had ward bike events under previous aldermen, but don't anymore.
I met Alderman Sawyer (6th ward) at a Slow Roll ride last year and talked bikes with him. He spent the morning riding with us and talked with quite a few riders.
Under former Alderman Colon, the 35th ward got an active transportation plan to promote walking and biking, as well as the city's first on-street bike parking corral. I'm hopeful that new Alderman Ramirez-Rosa will continue the momentum that was established under Colon.
The 26th ward did a safety study, but modifications to the streets since then have been a mixed bag with respect to safety and biking. (Note: useful info on infrastructure concepts starting at page 20 at the safety study link above.)
The 3rd ward has a great community bike program: Bronzeville Bikes, which includes a neighborhood co-op, the Bike Box.
Alderman Reboyras (30th ward) introduced an ordinance in an attempt to modify Chicago law to allow people 65 and older to legally ride bikes on sidewalks. He hoped to make conditions safer for seniors who ride. Under current law, only children 12 and under are allowed to ride on sidewalks.
In the 33rd ward, Alderman Mell has worked for bike and pedestrian improvements.
I talked with Alderman Burnett (27th ward) at an Active Transportation Alliance event a few years ago. While he doesn't appear to have an active ward program to promote biking and bike infrastructure, he is aware of relevant issues.
Many current and former south side aldermen don't seem to get the idea that many residents want or need to ride - for transportation that is healthy and affordable, or for recreation. This includes the 7th ward (Sandi Jackson), 5th ward (Leslie Hairston) and 8th ward (Michelle Harris).
I'm encouraged that some of our south side aldermen now say they want Divvy, though they don't necessarily understand that improving bike infrastructure in their wards to make biking safer would be important to Divvy's success there.
Participatory budgeting is becoming an important tool in getting community input and allocating funding for bike projects, such as the proposed greenway in the 49th ward mentioned above.
The list of Chicago area municipalities that have bike plans and are in some phase of implementation includes: Evanston, Oak Park (2008 2014), Skokie, Blue Island, Berwyn, and Schaumburg,
The Cal-Sag Trail is a great example of cooperation between municipalities. When it is complete, it run 26 miles from Lemont to Burnham and Calumet City, connecting with many existing trails and boosting local and regional bike tourism.
The growing importance of bike transportation and bike-related tourism cannot be ignored. It must be included in economic planning for our city and region. Watch for more on these topics.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Open Streets is coming to Blue Island
On Sunday afternoon 6/8, Open Streets is coming to Blue Island for the first time. If you're not familiar with the concept of Open Streets, it's been done a few times in Chicago. Minneapolis is doing several events this year. Portland and San Francisco are doing it, too.
There's more than one name for this type of event: Ciclovia, Open Streets, Sunday Streets, Sunday Parkways.
It started with Ciclovia in Bogota, Colombia and became a big event in Medellin and other Colombian cities. This inspired similar events in other cities around the world.
In Blue Island, Greenwood Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 127th and 119th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The street will become an activity space for walking, biking, skating, dancing and other forms of fun. Click here for info.
I'd love to see an event like this happen in the 19th ward.
There's more than one name for this type of event: Ciclovia, Open Streets, Sunday Streets, Sunday Parkways.
It started with Ciclovia in Bogota, Colombia and became a big event in Medellin and other Colombian cities. This inspired similar events in other cities around the world.
In Blue Island, Greenwood Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 127th and 119th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The street will become an activity space for walking, biking, skating, dancing and other forms of fun. Click here for info.
I'd love to see an event like this happen in the 19th ward.
Monday, March 5, 2012
blast from the past
I ran across an interesting web site while looking for something else - Cinema Treasures, a site dedicated to old movie theaters. I love the old theaters.
Here's the one that used to be at 95th & Beverly/Ashland. I'd never pictures of what it looked like before its current use as a church. Roseland and West Pullman used to have several: the Roseland, Parkway, and others.
This one in Rogers Park was demolished several years ago. The Ramova in Bridgeport has been closed a long time, but is still standing. Blue Island had the Lyric. My first loss was the Valencia in Evanston, a vintage gem with twinkling lights in the ceiling. I saw that one demolished in 1975, and a bland high rise office building was built in its place in 1976. Don't even get me started about the Uptown.
The Patio on the northwest side was recently reopened after being closed for several years. They're having a fundraiser to upgrade to digital projection, since film prints are becoming harder to get and will eventually go out of widespread distribution.
Hyde Park had the Hyde Park, later known as the Harper, which is currently being renovated. Those are the bright spots on this list. I'm looking forward to that reopening at 53rd & Harper.
Here's the one that used to be at 95th & Beverly/Ashland. I'd never pictures of what it looked like before its current use as a church. Roseland and West Pullman used to have several: the Roseland, Parkway, and others.
This one in Rogers Park was demolished several years ago. The Ramova in Bridgeport has been closed a long time, but is still standing. Blue Island had the Lyric. My first loss was the Valencia in Evanston, a vintage gem with twinkling lights in the ceiling. I saw that one demolished in 1975, and a bland high rise office building was built in its place in 1976. Don't even get me started about the Uptown.
The Patio on the northwest side was recently reopened after being closed for several years. They're having a fundraiser to upgrade to digital projection, since film prints are becoming harder to get and will eventually go out of widespread distribution.
Hyde Park had the Hyde Park, later known as the Harper, which is currently being renovated. Those are the bright spots on this list. I'm looking forward to that reopening at 53rd & Harper.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Blue Island historical architecture walking tour
There are some amazing old houses in Blue Island. If you've never seen them, this tour sounds like a great excuse to explore.
The Blue Island Historical Society will offer a historical architecture walking tour on Sun. 10/18 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. It starts at BIHS/Albee House, 13018 Maple Ave., Blue Island. You can buy tickets ($10) at the Blue Island Public Library, 2433 York St., or call 708-371-8546.
The Blue Island Historical Society will offer a historical architecture walking tour on Sun. 10/18 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. It starts at BIHS/Albee House, 13018 Maple Ave., Blue Island. You can buy tickets ($10) at the Blue Island Public Library, 2433 York St., or call 708-371-8546.
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