The massive federal bill that outlines spending for both highway and
public transit projects finally cleared Congress Friday. Local transit
officials are happy, though some national observers are a bit more
skeptical.
“This is a step forward and gives us a little
stability,” Joseph Costello, executive director of the Regional
Transportation Authority (RTA) told Progress Illinois.
According
to Costello, the bill provides a feasible way for RTA to get additional
federal money for projects such as the long overdue extension of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line. CTA is under the umbrella of RTA, which also is in charge of the region's suburban trains and buses. Read more »
Prior to a leave of absence that began June 9, U.S. Rep. Jesse
Jackson, Jr. (D-Chicago) was focused on the construction of a third
Chicago area airport in the south suburb of Peotone. So it was
interesting to see the Chicago Sun-Times 
The recent legislative fight in Washington to keep the interest rate
on federally-subsidized Stafford loans from doubling also provided an
unexpected victory for those concerned with keeping invasive species out
of the Great Lakes.
Dozens of community activists and angry CTA riders protested bank
deals which they claim take money from transit agencies in the lobby of a
Chase Bank at 10 S. Dearborn St. Thursday morning.
The dramatic Chicago Transit Authority announcement yesterday that it would suspend service on all its South Side Chicago Red Line train stations for five months next year could hold a crucial silver lining: CTA may be putting its ducks in a row to extend the Red Line to 130th St.