CMAP Regional Transportation Survey Dashboard
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Other written responses:
Buses do not follow a reliable schedule. Long wait followed by two and sometimes three buses bunched together in a literal row. Lack of cta train station staff awareness or care to protect or help train riders. Lack of any regulation on cta trains allows unsafe conditions to persist.
Bike paths that actually go somewhere important (shopping, etc.) rather than meandering Sunday bike ride paths that really go nowhere, or you have to go far out of your way to remain on a bike path and go somewhere important.
Slow and unsafe el trains.
Navigating three-way intersections as a pedestrian or cyclist.
Need more bike/ped connections with safe infrastructure. Most are identified in DuPage County plans.
long travel times
Lack of reliability of public transit. Lack of convenient east-west connectivity for public transit (faster to drive).
Transit frequency of service needs to be better. We need more housing near transit.
Parking Minimum Requirements (they should be abolished)
Public transit not running on time/ frequently enough
Not enough sidewalks
encountering Cyclists on sidewalks, and other poor etiquette and lack of bike rules education. You can make all the marked bike lanes you want, but if they won't ride in them, you've wasted your time. Need more accountability, bike licensing? I like riding my bike, but I feel like some riders are looking for an accident
Tolls
Vehicles running red lights and ignoring traffic laws; pedestrian safety-infrastructure biased towards drivers (signal and cross timings, signage etc)
The Blue Line to the airport was never extended to schaumburg.
Rural communities are too car focused!
lack of comprehensive infrastructure
Lack of enforcement of red lights, speed limits, stop signs, crosswalks, etc.
Roads, especially Irving Park and Western Ave. are designed to move cars quickly with little thought for people who don't use/own cars (like me). They slow down busses and are dangerous to cross. Our daycare is 1,000 feet from a local park, but they can't take the kids there because it isn't safe to cross Western Ave.
There are no dedicated cycling lanes where there are no cycling paths.
Missing signage, failure to replace damaged or downed signage, faded lane markings on roads - mostly failure to properly maintain important safety markings and signage
not enough buses and times are every hour. They are stops in places that are not accessible for someone in a wheelchair. Paratransit is awful at meeting times and pickups. rideshares dont have enough wheelchair ramp vehicles
Price of gasoline
train schedule especially on the weekend, is not frequent enough. more trains and express to downtown
There is an increase in drivers blatantly disregarding red lights, stop signs, and pedestrian/bike safety.
Need to connect to downtown
enforcement of traffic lights/signs/signals. people driving do not make it easy for bicyclists.
Use of handheld mobile phones
Inconsistency in service
Need more and safer Crossings of major roads and highways for bikes.
In addition to vehicle speeding, other dangerous driving makes walking and biking unsafe. Disregard for traffic signals, unsafe passing, and general agressiveness are harmful to pedestrians and bikers.
The Electric scooters and the Electric bikes on the roads and prairie baths now are dangerous.
Confusing intersections improperly marked.
Too many traffic lights/signs/signals.
Getting across the Fox River. Only can cross a few places. Cutting off the road for Stryker.
no bike paths
Pedestrians are not prioritized. Cars are dangerous for everyone and their usage should be minimized at all costs. Congestion pricing and infrastructure to slow them down are essential. Increased protected bike lanes, priority bus lanes, raised sidewalks, and other road dieting is needed. Transit service must increase. More routes, higher frequency, more security, more maintenance, repairs, and cleaning.
1 main road (RTE 14 Nw Hwy) is the only real way to get out of Cary or over the Fox River. Funeral procession during morning and evening commutes until you pass RTE 22 in FRG. Light signal timing does not accommodate the real traffic volume on Rte 14, which should be given preference over side streets and perpendicular/intersection streets. It’s not rocket science.
east-west cycling facilities easier and faster connections between public transit options Sunday bus service
A lot of people smoke on trains
With the amount of vehicle traffic it feels unsafe bicycling and there are places that are impossible to get to without navigating a major, 4-lane road.
Crossing streets as a pedestrian or biker is dangerous and cross walks (white lines) are insufficient for safe crossing.
There are no bike lanes. Pedestrian crosswalks over rt. 59 in Barrington near the train are often ignored by drivers. There is not a bus close enough to get to without a car. The metra doesn’t run often enough to be a reliable source of travel. If you miss the last train you are stuck. If you work in the service industry and need to work early, there isn’t an early enough train.
No crosswalks by the high school.
I live in a good suburb that has accessible options but that’s not the case for a lot of the Chicagoland area
When Indiana has road construction, they all get off in Lansing and congest our local roadways (Torrence Ave and Ridge Road)
Lack of enforcement of existing traffic rules: speeding, illegal parking, failing to stop, illegal passing.
As a elderly person, I'm always getting run off the sidewalk by rude kids on bikes or kids walking abreast of the sidewalk and people who don't move their poorly behaved dogs off the sidewalk. I've almost been hit dozens of times by vehicles blowing through sidewalks coming speeding out of alleys
Unreliability of public transit
No public train No safe way to walk downtown from wolf's crossing No safe way to access the stores on 34 is bike or walking The future plans for wolf's crossing & have it narrowing to two lanes from 5 lanes and no noise reduction on the last 1/3 - that makes no sense with all of the new houses goi g up and the traffic it will bring
Safe biking lanes - it should be car lane, parked car lane, bike lane and sidewalk but more often than not, the bikes and cars are in the same lane. I also wish there were better bus lanes, so that way the buses do not have to sit in traffic with the cars. The point of public transit it to be faster or at the same speed as regular traffic. IF it ends up being slower, I usually end up taking my car.
See above.
Bus often is 45min+ late which makes us late for work, and doesn’t run after around 7:30PM, which means we can’t take any evening classes.
Cars not stopping at stop signs for pedestrians, inconvenient gaps in scheduled buses/ghost buses, bus runs ending too early in the evening
I am in need of using Ride in Kane more often and booking a ride is not always easy ! I would like to use Uber type services but uneasy about how to use them.
No public buses that run throughout Geneva (and St charles/batavia)
Bike lanes often just stop when crossing from one kane county town to the next leaving the bike rider at risk on the street in an intersection or next town.
Lack of good drivers: poor pedestrian practices, failure to stop or give space for pedestrians or cyclists, speeding, aggressive driving, treating Stop signs like Yield signs... I appreciate this isn't your problem - rather, I think this is more of a law enforcement and governmental education issue, but it seems relevant to share.
See above
vehicles going too slow
Public transit is in the way, slowing down traffic
The pollution is so bad on Clark Street in Andersonville that my lungs hurt - and I don’t even have asthma! Even on off peak times the air is so poor. I wish the shopping streets were closed to cars.
Brighter crosswalk lights, police watching some of the crosswalks and ticketing the people that ignore the flashing lights
The intersection of Addison, Elston and Kedzie is a MESS no matter the time of day. That BP station is such a nuisance to traffic in addition to the lights being mistimed. I would love to see that removed in favor of a traffic circle with a nice piece of art or landscaping in the center
I have good access to recreational cycling and walking but poor access to walking/cycling for shopping/entertainment. I can use recreational paths for bike to train but it is indirect and adds many miles to the trip.
CTA and PACE service is infrequent and unreliable, they need to improve
"Hub & Spoke" CTA rail design that only functionally serves commuters into the loop, a shrinking demographic. Connect the Brown to the Blue, run a circle line around the outer perimeter of the city.
I drive. They're is virtually no public transport in my town. I do not want a single cent of my taxes to pay for public transport. Let those that use it pay for it, like I do with my cars. Raise the rates to ride our shut it down if those using it aren't willing to pay for it
Traffic laws not being enforced and general dangerous driving being normalized since 2020. I walk most places and the amount of times I almost get run over in crosswalks, often at Stop signs, is simply unacceptable.
Noise pollution from drivers
Car infrastructure is prioritized. There are no pedestrian only shopping plazas. There is no BRT with dedicated lanes. Connections for CTA are abysmal with a serious lack of train routes heading east and west.
Too many cars on the road. Please implement a tax incentive for people to ride bikes or take public trans it
One major hurdle in my area is that the limited bike infrastructure is treated as a recreational amenity rather than a vital part of the transportation network. This mindset has real consequences: bike paths and lanes are often not maintained in the winter, making them unusable for months at a time. When construction or road closures affect these routes, there are rarely any detours provided—something that would never happen with car traffic. This approach signals that biking is optional or secondary, rather than a legitimate, year-round mode of transportation. It discourages people from relying on bikes for commuting or daily errands and undermines efforts to build a more sustainable, multimodal transportation system.
Need more speed cameras everywhere!!!! People drive insane. More cops inforcing
Lack of available workers/ equipment on transit system
High levels of road noise
Need to design around people, not vehicles.
Vehicles going through red lights
No Protected bike/bus lanes, speed cameras on all of Archer/Pulaski, pedestrian islands, slower speed limits. All of Illinois can benefit from this. Paris reconstructed their major roads, so did Minnesota. We have to catch up & do better for our environment & for future generations to come.
As a cyclist, drivers engaging in unsafe, aggressive behaviors such as running stop signs and lights, driving in bike lanes, parking in bike lanes, driving too close to me, and even hitting me while attempting to park.
speed, failure of law enforcement to ticket drivers disobeying traffic control signals (running red lights) AND failure of law enforcement to relocate crashes and initiated traffic stops to areas safer to BOTH the officer/violator and the motoring public. Relocating drivers stopped for traffic violations to nearby areas (parking lots, wider shoulders, less travelled side streets) would help maintain traffic flow and reduce officers/violators exposure to being struck by passing motorists!
We need to change traffic circulation on neighborhood careers in Chicago to reduce cut-thru traffic. It should be safe for kids to play in the street. Another issue is the slow speed of the bus. We need dedicated bus lanes on streets like Ashland and Western so the bus doesn’t get stuck in traffic.
Not having frequent or close proximity modes of public transit.
Trucks get stuck in the volmer road multiple times a week, causing damage and traffic.
Poor train service (CTA) Unsafe train service (CTA) Public indecency on public transit (CTA buses and trains) Drug use, harassment, and urination in public transit by users that don't seem to move our authorities
Bike lanes to get to work ; Purple line and red line take forever to get downtown
Car dependency, especially in winter when PT & biking is less practical
Frequency of service
Lack of an interconnected pedestrian networks, cycling networks
The newly restructured intersection at 55th Street and East Avenue. 55th Street has two lanes going east for miles and miles and then at East Avenue it is suddenly down to one lane going East and one right handed turn lane. Every single day this causes a dangerous traffic scenerio with cars recklessly cutting in to eastbound lane from the turning lane. Absolutely no reason to have a specific turn lane when you are able to get to the exact same destinations by using Lagrange and Joliet Roads.
the PACE bus schedules do not align with the METRA train schedules so even if there are trains at reasonable times (which there aren't, they are super limited), the bus schedule from where I live does not arrive in time for the train times.
I’m out of time. The walk light is on at major intersections. I am 88 years old and it takes me longer to cross Ridge Avenue then the walk light permits. Cops on Ridge, Rhode Island Lookout for people on foot and for instance, don’t come to a full stop before they turn right off of ridge And tend to be looking for other cars rather than pedestrians. One of my friends was struck at the corner of church and Ridge and I nearly struck at the corner of Davison Ridge. The corner of Church Street at Ridge Avenue is particularly problematic and I try to avoid it even though it makes the route to my house longer.
Metra commute times; not enough express options
time-efficient transit options
Frequency and reliability of transit
The abundance of electric bikes and scooters is a huge safety issue as they don't follow rules of road or they create problems on sidewalks.
Transit frequency
There is no option to get from my town (Riverside IL) to the north side of chicago, besides going into the City and back out. Would love to see anything option to get to the north side of Chicago. Currently takes me an hour 20 minutes to go 12-15 miles on a typical day For biking, there are bike trails around but would love to see a sidewalk or bike path to the zoo. 31st is all grass and crossing the bridge near 31st and 1st Ave is dangerous.
Limited schedule of passenger trains to Chicago
Each of the above to varying degrees. I have it better than most where I live, north shore
The short distances in Winnetka to our many destinations make biking an ideal option for much of the year but it isn't prioritized in terms of bike lanes nor other safety measures.
Noise pollution is a concern (cars/motorcycles)
Motorists running stop signs
drivers hitting people with their cars
Infrequent buses
Lack of dedicated transit routes (L lines, dedicated bus lanes) to destinations aside from downtown Chicago. Lack of frequency especially on Metra.
Lack of connections between public transit, lack of bus-only lanes, lack of enforcement of reckless driving (like speeding, tinted windows, excessively loud vehicles, cars parked illegally)
Frequency of transit, availability of transit on all days of the week, availability of transit at all hours
The northern terminus of DLSD is in my neighborhood and it generates incredible amounts of car traffic trying to drive at highway speeds, often on residential streets. This is dangerous, unhealthy, and unpleasant for people in the neighborhood. It is also used as an excuse to keep roads artificially wide and prevents needed improvements. We need to dramatically downsize DLSD and prioritize it for express bus travel.
There are no fast crosstown public transit lines outside of the red line. Going east/west takes forever and long trips that don’t go through downtown take forever on transit.
Dangerous roads with 1,196 deaths
Frequency of public transportation, especially the Metra
Train route limitations
Infrequent, unreliable buses and L service. Smoking and antisocial behavior on L trains.
Small motor vehicles, ie minibikes, ebikes, scooters, etc. Speeds and driving maneuvers make it dangerous to walk or bike on same paths.
Predictability; People smoking/sleeping on CTA
Transit routes only go downtown Not enough bike lanes Cars don’t stop at stop signs (had a few near misses when I’m the side walk because cars just don’t stop)
Bicyclists disregard for the rules of the road (e.g., stop signs, crosswalks, red lights, etc.)
Very few crosswalks on busy streets, trouble seeing approaching traffic on diagonal roads that bisect straight ones like East Prairie onto Oakton
Too many signals.
Train times
Public transit routes
Frequency
Access to walking or biking are incompatible. Bikes snd scooters NEVER. Stop at the stop signs as I try to to cross Grace at Kenmore north of Wrigley Firld. Cars often do not stop unless I make eye contact.
Unreliability of CTA
Majority of issues are from train crossings.
Infrequent service times and reliability.
The number of delivery trucks, rideshares, and gig deliveries and their general disregard for safety in order to finish their business.
Idiotically configured traffic lights in many areas. If you are trying to maximize pollution, noise pollution, driver frustration you are doing a good job. Unfortunately. The company that you seem to be buying traffic lights from has one competitive edge: convincing politicians to buy their products. As far as product development is concerned they are one of the worst companies in existence. If you do not believe me, just drive on Quentin Rd in Palatine. The stupidity of the way the lights operate is unbelievable; and that is just one example of many.
The rules of the road are not respected. Too many cars do not obey traffic signals and do not stop at red lights or stop signs. Young E bike riders do not know or obey rules of the road and ride carelessly.
Train schedule is not flexible enough - too few options
Reliability of transit options-- there are so many ghost busses which makes bus riding unreliable.
reckless, antisocial driver behavior with no enforcement and no infrastructure to improve compliance.
Again, east/west travel on public transit in my neighborhood is very slow.
By lack of safe infrastructure, I'm referring to walking on the sidewalk down Belmont headed east, to get to the NCS metra. There are often trucks or construction there that block the sidewalk, and no thought is given to pedestrians at all. There is no parking lane or any room to walk in the street, so I have to wait or risk being hit. Also, the lights at Belmont and 25th are a joke. They don't give a walk sign unless you press the button in time, and for one of the directions there doesn't seem to be a way to get the walk sign (when crossing from the NW corner to the SW corner.
Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians not following the rules and not using common sense.
Reliability
IIgnoring pedestrians on crosswalk and ignoring No Turn On Red rules.
Electric bikes driven by kids.
Connectivity of bike and ped systems across community boundaries, along state routes and crossing major arterials.
See above about ice and snow. ALSO drivers no longer fully stop at stop signs. Infuriating and intimidating to pedestrians and cyclists.
Lack of transit priority (bus stuck in traffic)
Drivers failing to follow traffic laws (stop signs, red lights etc)
Noise - cars are so loud. Also, car traffic congestion: they slow down the bus so much that its actually faster to walk during rush hour.
Not enough protected bike lanes. Not enough train lines that go between neighborhoods. Metra frequency abysmal. Buses get stuck in traffic
A lack of transit infrastructure (bus lanes, etc) along DLSD really slows my bus commute to work. So much so that I often go out of my way to ride the red line, even though the 135 bus is 1/2 a block a way.
All of the traffic lights are timed for travel patterns that no longer exist which causes long waits and frustration and backups that make it unsafe to bike.
Safe bike infrastructure
Lack of police enforcement, lack of drivers care, attention. fights against Complete Streets infrastructure
Distracted driving
Lack of bus lanes and congested roadways lead to long commute times via bus
Needs more sidewalks
Other written responses:
Southern Lake County and points south.
Family and friends in other parts of the region.
Family
ORD
Family in the suburbs
Our public transportation system is very good at getting us downtown, North/South, or East/West, but abysmal at taking us in diagonals like NE/SW. Sometimes you just have to go to Logan Square, and there's no safe way to get there on a bike, and no fast way to get there on public transit.
Travelling to Springfield
I am retired and only travel to places that our safe to go.
Airports
Downtown Chicago
Airport
Programs in the loop.
not really because I have a car but would rather use transit
Most are car-dependent, not easily accessible via bike, pedestrian, or local public transportation.
Car repair, especially during the week. There is no way to use public transit between my mechanic and work.
Would like to see bus/van ? transportation to MDY Airport
I would love to see more safe bike lanes prioritized. Lack of bike friendly infrastructure limits community access.
City busing does not come to our Montgomery area between Aurora and Montgomery.
There is limited and cumbersome public transport options to Ohare and Midway airports. Although my parents lived 10 min away by car in Garfield Ridge, taking public transport to see them would take me over a hour during date time hours.
Family in suburbs
Airport
Difficult/Long drive to Highways from my location. There should be more divided highways. For example, NB IL-25 just ends at Lake-Cook Rd. Many cars zig-zag up Ridge Rd in Barrington Hills, there should be better interconnection of roads.
Professional sports stadiums, but that's mostly because of where they are located.
OHare Airport
I often travel by single passenger car to any destinations.
I live in Lakeview, no great way to Western neighborhoods (Logan Square, Wicker Park)
O'Hare and Midway airports.
I live in Richmond Illinois...............I never take the corner of Broadway and Main St. (Rt. 12) ..no lights, just a cross-walk signal that nobody pays attention to. People going up to Wisconsin...always too fast....seems dangerous for people to cross and cars to turn left on!
The central business district is the only place this is very convenient to get to. We need more options to travel to other neighborhood without going downtown
not specified
There are no safe bike routes in my community, or between my community and downtown.
Ohare
I would like to see the PACE bus take Lansing Residents to Metra Homewood station then I wouldn't have to drive and pay for parking
Airports are difficult to get to using public transportation.
Loved ones' houses
I want to take public with my little dogs
Restaurant
Can't walk /bike downtown. Can't walk/ bike to stores or restaurants on rt 34. Can't walk to the highschool ohs Can't walk across wolf's crossing Can't walk across rt 34
Church, Village Hall, Police Station, Social Security office, Department of Motor Vehicles, Kendall County Government Building (Jury duty, legal hearings, Health and Human Services, etc.), libraries, etc.
Unless you have your own vehicle, there is currently no public access options.
Chicago - train would be awesome. Work - the congestion on Orchard from 71 north to I88 is HORRIBLE!
Religious Services
Ohare, Midway
There is too much metra stations, it blocks regular transportation. STOP BUILDING METRAS
Suburban locations
Going northwest or southwest from the north side - everything is aimed towards downtown
Driving trips between the suburbs and Chicago.
Getting to fox river bike trails require being south of 20 when west of Randal or using a car to transport your bikes
volunteer opportunities are often far from my home and I have to travel far
Would like bike lanes in our area connecting bike trails!
United Center
Forest preserves and parks
ALL road entrances are way too narrow compared to other counties, very unsafe and hard to even see curbs.
I like using the Red Line as it’s near my home, but something needs to be done about crowding on Cubs nights. It’s a health hazard when people crowd on trains, and I am afraid of stampedes or crowd crushes.
Downtown
Suburbs
airports (O'Hare in general, Midway mostly bikeable but crossing the south branch/the stevenson is treacherous
The public transit system has been in decline for 20 years (at least) and this is apparent to a daily rider. It has never been effective for traveling anywhere other than downtown. So long as buses sit in traffic, the system is not useful for most inter-neighborhood travel.
Living in a Chicago northside neighborhood, traveling to any neighborhood on the city's west side is a complete pain unless I'm driving. The commute driving from Lincoln Square to Logan square is usually 20-30 minutes. If I want to take public transit, that commute is now 45-1 hr and involves buses which, due to traffic and unreliability, could be well over an hour.
Airport
I drive. They're is virtually no public transport in my town. I do not want a single cent of my taxes to pay for public transport. Let those that use it pay for it, like I do with my cars. Raise the rates to ride our shut it down if those using it aren't willing to pay for it
CTA and Metra's hub/spoke models makes it difficult to use for many journeys throughout Chicago/Chicagoland.
Airport
Out of town trips via public transit.
Airport
volunteer work
Lake view area to West Town is the biggest issue
Walking around my neighborhood is almost impossible with all the missing sidewalks. I have 2 very young children and find it difficult to take walks with them.
In Chicago, traveling west from the lakefront is limited.
Ohare airport
Friends & Family.
The area that I live in - the western suburbs - requires that I rely solely on an automobile. There is practically no public transit. Sidewalks are poorly maintained. Bike paths are sporadic. There is no intercity connection besides car or a direct train to the city.
Transportation in the city is somewhat well connected, but it is a hassle to use public transit to reach destinations in the suburbs(leaving from Chicago)- whether it be for healthcare, employment, or recreation. It is more convenient to drive and sit in traffic.
ORD
Social
Visiting family in suburbs (I'm in Chicago)
Downtown - I don't work in Elmhurst and getting downtown from work takes a long time during peak travel periods, even on Metra.
Convenient and especially weekend access to transit to O’Haire airport by train. Right now, very LIMITED train access, and the drop off discontinued the bus service to the terminal to catch the “tram” into the airport. Now have to walk a long distance to the building which is difficult for an older, arthritic person
O’Hare Airport
Going up to the burbs to visit family
Airport
Visit family across the region and region adjacent.
Difficult to travel on 55th Street at East Avenue to go anywhere. Very dangerous and inconvient to turn 55th into a one lane going East at this stop light and intersection.
Family!
Shelters are not always available during climate extremes
MDW or ORD airports using public transit.
Downtown during the times I would go.
I don’t drive and chose to live in Lakeview in part for the transit connectivity, walkability, bikeability to work downtown and a variety of amenities in the neighborhood. However, getting from red/brown line neighborhoods to blue line neighborhoods for social, entertainment, etc is too difficult. It takes a long time, and there are long gaps between buses in the evening. Biking across the river and highway is too dangerous. Belmont protected bike lane from the river west has been an improvement, but still doesn’t get you south of the highway. Additionally, most of my family is in Iowa. To visit I have taken megabus, ride in a car when I have someone to drive me, and fly at least annually. I would love to see the passenger train to the quad cities and beyond to Iowa City finally happen. Why has this taken so long when the money has been there for the route to the quad cities? I know this is a plan for the metro area, but freight and passenger rail options to nearby states have an impact.
Difficult to get to/from suburbs reliably. Only UP-NW Metra has a reliable schedule. Everything else for Metra is so infrequent
Living in a dense urban environment like Chicago means different destinations in different wards have wildly different bike and transit infrastructure. I live near multiple bus stops and train stations and regularly bike to areas with little to no public transportation infrastructure.
Family in the suburbs
See friends and family
seeing family across the city
Airport
Public places like library, village hall.
O'Hare airport for frequent volunteer related travel and family travel
Libraries and airports
Libraries
I am not comfortable with the bus system. It is often not safe or practical to ride my bike. And the train is great for north and south, but not at all to the west The lake is to my east. The use of my car is necessary often. The Metra is a major plus compared to the absence of that kind of option in so many places and everywhere I lived before the North Shore. I have limited access to the L now, but it doesn’t feel as safe still as it used to, or as reliable.
From Albany Park down to south side (e.g. Bronzeville or Englewood)
Because there are few train lines, it is hard or very inefficient to travel between certain areas (particularly east/west outside the loop). This is not divided by activity type.
Transit to region transport (O'Hare, Union station)
Family/friends
Family
Some friends/family are difficult to get to.
The beach!
weekend sports and other children activities
Emergency vet, the northwest side in general
Visiting friends and family
other urban cities
airport
O'Hare Airport
Friends family living in Chicago usually are not close to Metra or the expressways. Once you leave these critical transportation corridors driving is torture.
Nature
Airport
There is no easy way to get to the o'hare airport unless I have to drive, spend a ridiculous parking fee, or using uber. I have to drive wherever I need to go. Bike lanes are not at all safe. Traffic lights don’t work with the flow of cars causing an unnecessary long wait, wasting precious time, resources, and pollution. I’m looking forward to seeing a friendly solution to a better transportation plan to the community.
Public transportation to the airport from the northwest suburbs is difficult and time consuming.
Crosstown neighborhood trips for appointments or visiting friends/family
My Home, Friends’ and Extended Family’s Homes, Certain Schools or Colleges or Offices for Job Coaching/Hiring Events, etc, anywhere in Chicago itself (I can’t navigate the city-every building looks identical and the maps are useless)
Major intercity transit hubs. Would love smoother and more frequent access to Union Station, O’Hare, and Midway
The Sheridan EL stop is not accessible. Just walking and crossing Grace Street near Wrigley Firkd is dangerous with bikes and scooters not stopping for pedestrians trying to cross. And they gin the wrong way in one-way streets. And they ride on sidewalks.
O'Hare airport. There is not public transportation available from the suburbs. A west side entrance was needed years ago.
1.) hard to go to O'Hare airport or Midway airport with a public transportation, 2.) will also need a simple transport between the O'hare and midway airports.
Not for myself, but for seniors.
Visit family
Airport - ORD
social/friends/family. everyone's a 20 minute drive or a 60-90 minute transit trip.
East/west travel on public transportation is very slow. Buses take forever with all the stops and traffic so I don’t see my friends out there as much as I’d like.
I would like to have safe cycling routes for all of the above destinations. If we invest in safe cycling routes more people will feel comfortable with this healthy, low impact means of transport. Particularly in light of the popularity of electric bicycles.
Inter-county destinations (e.g., DuPage to Will, DuPage to NW Cook)
Recreation meaning forest preserves and state parks. And limited access (very long walk) from bus to Montrose Bird Sanctuary off of beach season.
Mixed to all of the above. If they are along my travel corridor, yes. If they are not, public transit takes 3x as long as driving. Cycling would be 1.5-2x as long, but is dangerous in some parts.
Visiting family members in neighborhoods that have long transit commute times. Also, getting to far areas of the city for work and cultural events that take twice as long on transit than in a car
Suburban family
Visiting family in the Chicagoland area
To a limited extent, I have options for how to get to shopping. For everything else driving is the only viable option.
Natural areas? The collar counties have beautiful public lands. Would love some better connections between nearby Metra stations and the forest preserves, arboretums, etc, since those areas are not the most walkable. OR expanded divvy/bike share.
The best mountain biking in the region is in Palos Trail System but the nearest Metra station isn’t served on weekends when my friends can come with me.
Employment via transit
Going across neighborhoods in Chicago. For instance, there's limited bike routes that go East-West from the North side to the Northwest side. Often, the buses are so slow that it's faster to ride a bike.
O’hare, as someone on the north side
Family members houses
once in the burbs options drop precipitously and cars become only viable option. which will be a massive issue in the coming years with the silver tsunami coming with Seniors on the road that should not be but the built environment forces them to drive.
Access to ORD could’ve improved from where I live. The Metra NCS line should be a great option but it barely runs.
Airports.
Anywhere in the suburbs. Also connections to union station are poor from the CTA system.
O’Hare
I live in Humboldt Park and it can be difficult traveling north-east. It can also be difficult traveling to nature preserves north-west and south-west
Other written responses:
Regional Rail
More L lines and trains, please!
pace bus or connectivity to neighbor community
Transportation for the elderly and those in wheelchairs
Buses that take you to vacation cities, i.e. Door County
accessibility for people with disabilities both the transit options and also infrastructure of streets and sidewalks at stops
Train routes to Union Station vs LaSalle St
Transportation to MDY Airport
More frequent train service to McHenry , IL
Metra
Running
Bike share - too expensive
I would like to see horse trails added parallel to walking/biking paths, like you see in California and Florida. Illinois is extremely unfriendly to horse riders relative to other states, even though Illinois has a significant horse industry.
Bring back Pace bus route 827 please
Rollerblading
golf cart
Can’t connect to bike trails from our road because no safety lanes for bicyclists.
Metra and CTA
We need a safer crossing of the Great Western Trail at County Farm Rd in DuPage County. According to the IL Department of Transportation 3 people have been seriously injured attempting to cross County Farm Rd . A pedestrian activated flashing light or a new traffic signal at a nearby intersection would be helpful to slow down the 24,000 + motor vehicles traveling 45 miles per hour on average everyday of the week.
In grateful for the local PACE senior services. They are always extremely pleasant, kind, accommodating, and very timely. However ... the service which brings you to Healthcare Appts, out of the immediate vicinity , is poor, and unreliable! Not enough transport available, and important Appts should be able to be made much more in advance. Waiting for the very least minute, to find out if you can actually go to a medical appt is impossible!
I’d like the UP-N to run consistently on weekends so I could do downtown or even out to Glencoe to see the gardens.
I drive. They're is virtually no public transport in my town. I do not want a single cent of my taxes to pay for public transport. Let those that use it pay for it, like I do with my cars. Raise the rates to ride our shut it down if those using it aren't willing to pay for it
Please stop building bike lanes.
Bicycles
Rail
Water ferry
Train or Buses to be specific
Public transit, specifically rail options.
Ebike paths are going to be needed especially if bikes aren't allowed on other paths.
to know my options would be nice. i walk to work but have a car, it's difficult to walk in the summer because it's too hard, and in the winter the streets aren't well taken care of. mainly the issue is that walking is always faster than anything else. parking... public transport.... so i'm always going to walk but it would be nice to have a backup plan
Community electric Rail/Tram
Bike share
Township bus- but IT IS FULL - I go to Harper. and can't get a ride that's affordable.
Car renting (Zipcar, Turo, especially for EV options), high speed rail, intracity rail, water taxi, and regional rail that connected the suburbs
Cars are out of control in how they drive and out of control MASSIVE. This must be addressed as well, Taxes on big, heavy cars, revoke driving privileges, speed and red light cameras everywhere. Then it will be safe to walk and bike in our community,
Train Wish there was a station in Gurnee
Bus
e-bike/scooter
elder medical appt help.
train
Buses
dial a ride or then you know he’s got like the pace van that I could sign up for and call to my house to go to my doctors appointment so . I don’t see that available in Skokie to nile’s and NW Chicago
free, reliable public transportation for seniors who no longer can drive to take them to appointments.
Uber/Lyft
Like to be able to use Demand Responsive services but scheduling is not efficient and general public access is not available.
Where are my flying cars! lol
Bus Rapid Transit
Other written responses:
Planning the time required to walk or ride to my destinations, not just for commuting
availability of reliable service.
Better multi-modal connections and connections between transit modes.
Land use
I would walk/bike more if the built environment was more pleasant and inviting.
Need for cheaper, more ample parking.
I would rather drive my car than take public transport ration because the public trans is not safe and very unreliable. I don’t trust public transportation to get me to work on time no matter how well I prepare. My biggest deterrent for not using public transit is safety. It is very unsafe and I will not use it pass 6pm.
Busses that don't get stuck in traffic.
1. bike access to Crystal Lake paths Unable to cross rte 31 safely from Cary 2. less congestion and speeding on Cary Algonquin Road in Village
Don't understand question. I currently use car and Metra and am satisfied with their services.
wheelchair accessibility and more options in the suburbs
I can't transfer to anything besides a bus from the Metra at Union station. Improve transfers to the L.
Need more sidewalks, bike paths to dow town area
For the bus, I need the schedule to be reliable if I am going to take it to get somewhere on time. As it is, I only use it if I don't have a set time OR I can leave way earlier than one would think necessary to ensure extra travel time. This week, I've had to wait 25 minutes for a bus on Foster twice when normally there is one coming every 10ish minutes. I get that things happen, but the unreliability of it is brutal. For the bike, I need more routes that are safe for me to take my kid on with me in our cargo bike. There is definitely an improvement but we need more dedicated bike lanes and stricter penalties for people who violate the lane or interfere with the bikers.
driverless car transport
More affordable public parking at an affordable price
Safety, too much crime on blue and red lines
Improved and widened roadways
Sidewalks & Croswalks needed rt 34 & wolf's crossing & 71 It would be nice to feel safe crossing the street or walking along side of these streets!! Literally a hs student was hit a few years back!!
Better parking options
Senior Citizens need access to transportation (bus and train) within and outside of Kendall County, especially Oswego. Many healthcare providers are in Aurora, Naperville, Warrenville, Downers Grove, Plainfield, Yorkville, etc. There’s no access via public transportation, despite growing population and the extremely high rates of Kendall County’s property taxes.
No access to sidewalks or bike lanes from my subdivision. There is no safe way to access bike lanes or sidewalks without getting into a car.
Easy Access to destinations I want to travel too
Faster and more efficient trains, like they have in Europe
Pace bus route 827
physical fitness to ride my bike and walk more
Fragrance-free public transit would make it truly accessible to me. Currently, it is often not accessible.
I am 73 years old, severely disabled, and largely housebound due in large part to the complete absence of usable transportation options. Options that exist for disabled people are inaccessible to me, as are the standard public transportation options. I am stranded
Sometimes I can't take the bus to work because the first bus is too late fort the second bus.
It can be challenging to transfer between CTA and Metra. Metra station infrastructure in Chicago is mediocre and access can be challenging. Strongly prefer a unified transportation system under a single agency to improve access to different modes of transportation and to have a single form of payment.
There are no busses that run throughout Geneva/Batavia/St Charles
Highway 173 has been ignored for decades. It is now terrible. There are so many backups. The train crossing in Antioch is a horror show.
See above
When biking, there are some "unnatural" barriers like highways that are difficult to cross on a bike. Similarly, there are some stretches of roads in the area that are simply not safe for bikes, but there isn't a good alternative to use. IE, a busy stretch of road without a sidewalk or trails nearby,
I drive. They're is virtually no public transport in my town. I do not want a single cent of my taxes to pay for public transport. Let those that use it pay for it, like I do with my cars. Raise the rates to ride our shut it down if those using it aren't willing to pay for it
More car lanes
Protected bike/bus lanes, speed cameras on all of Archer/Pulaski, pedestrian islands, slower speed limits, etc. & not just in Chicago - all of Illinois, too
Bus lanes so the bus goes faster than the cars that cause all the traffic
Fewer gaps (gaps in bike paths along streets, crossings over major roads, gaps in transit times, etc.)
Traffic calming and enforcement for cars.
travel time
Not enough time
There are no clear directions or signage for platform use at the Palatine metra station.
The buses in my neighborhood are too slow. Please rebalance the stops, and aggressively implement bus lanes.
Better connections between agencies (Metra, CTA, Water Taxi, etc.) For example, the transfer between CTA and Metra often involves a 4 block walk from Union Station to the Quincy L stop.
For transit, reliability is the biggest issue. I can't count on a bus/train to show up on schedule. Bus travel speed (because they get stuck in car traffic) is second. Between these two, I can't rely on transit to get me places on time without planning to get there well in advance and kill some time if I arrive early. For biking, safe bike routes to the places I need to go, completely separated from cars. Ideally, this means completely separate streets. Protected bike lanes can be ok (but still aren't great at intersections). Paint alone is useless.
Accessibility - working escalators and elevators
Ability to cross roads safely on foot, ability to bike safely with cars around
Reliable transit service, BRT, interconnected transit between different agencies, much more pedestrian & bike safety infrastructure, more off-street trails
more reliable bus schedule
I cannot see well enough to watch for a bus route, especially if I have to get on one bus get off and transfer to the next bus line. I’m only 62 but I could use inexpensive right options for my home to my doctors office
Safe places to lock my bike at my destination
Not safe to walk streets or to drive due to scooters snd bike blithely unaware of pedestrians and the rules of the road. Sheridan EL station is not accessible.
Don’t have much access to public transportation in the area of coal city.
More train routes that connect metra lines north to south.
Suburban public transit- not just the PACE bus
Alternate route over the tracks of the MWD Metra line at Belmont. I literally don't visit shops or walk south of Belmont due to the potential of being stuck by a freight train with no way around while on foot. Driving, I can go to Mannheim, but walking means me or my dog can be stuck for 20 or more minutes, which is not a chance I'm willing to take.
Better train schedule at North Glen because no available parking in Glenview
Open system of dial a ride and demand responsive services to general public, provide same day scheduling and inter-county one seat options
Can we please have both plowed bike lanes AND plowed sidewalks for maximum access for all?
Removal of obstacles such as utility poles or street signs from sidewalks.
CTA is loop centric so if im trying to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, I have to do a bus transfer which is a pain. I usually ride my bike in this case.
Less smoking and human waste on the L
I would bike ride more in the winter if the bike paths were more reliably maintained and plowed
More service! The bus I use to commute does not run late enough and sometimes it stops running for the day after I clock out.
Other written responses:
less distracted driving and use of cell phones while driving
I'm not interested in using my car more.
Angry and erratic drivers are my biggest concern on the road.
More affordable parking options. More car sharing services.
Better road surface conditions. Especially on Rt 53. Lombard/Glen Ellyn area. and Roosevelt between Rt 355 and Nicoll Way. IDOT needs to do more pothole filling and shoulder maintenance.
enforcement of antisocial behavior with real consequences like license suspension and vehicle forfeiture for egregious behavior
Parking in this neighborhood is horrible, I live in a block that have parking meters on it. That is unfair because this block is a residential block. I feel that the city should remove meters on residential block. We should have full access to the whole block we live on no matter the time of day- A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME AND THE CONSTANT HAVING TO MOVE MY CAR IS FRUSTRATING. People who live on this block have 2 cars household and their is not space for everyone. Removing parking meters on residential block would help this situation in a big way
Lower tolls
If I didn't have to rely on my car, that would make me the most happy.
Narrower roads, more one way streets. More automated traffic law enforcement (speed and stop cameras, etc)
Better maintenance of lane markings and signage
less potholes
The rise of delivery services has made it almost impossible to find street parking outside a lot of Chicago restaurants.
less having to use it, focus on transit experience
EV chargers
Nightime improvement of roads to limit congestion to getting downtown
Cyclists getting out of the middle of the road.
None
More enforcement of not using handheld mobile phones while driving
Vehicle crashes cleared quickly.
None
Condition of roads, potholes, detoriating
parking options at destination
Fewer traffic signals/signs/stops. Less unnecessary construction - too much work is performed just for the sake of giving people jobs - RETRAIN THEM!
Rt 14 at Main st in Cary - a train type gate for southbound traffic at 14 would ELIMINATE most accidents there. A little unconventional but so is the intersection…!
Less unnecessary traffic signals. Too many stop traffic on the main arterial Road (IL Route 59), for PARKING LOTS. WHAT?!
I don't want to make my (or anyone else's) driving experience more likely, I want to make it less likely because other options are available and better than driving.
Stretch on Rte 22 between Old McHenry Rd and Rte 83 need 1-2 additional lanes. reasons: 1. It’s the only real way to get to the Lincolnshire area from FRG/CaryCL area. 1. Rte 22&Old McH Rf intersection usually takes 3-4 lights to pass thru. 2, Rte 22/Rte 83 lane narrowing to Old McH Rd brings out daily aggressive drivers and bottleneck and is a major traffic time waster. 3. Somehow Rte 22 is the Landscapers Highway that clogs the drive on 1-lane each direction Rte 22.
What would really make my personal driving experience better is if I wasn't forced to drive everywhere by having better public transit/walking/cycling options available. More access to public EV charging stations.
accessible public parking
Lack of dedicated turn lanes at misaligned intersection results in crashing and chaos / honking at Residential lined intersection that leads to Palos Park Metra Station, Park w Municipal Pool, Post Office, Regional Trails access. It is chaotic and hazardous in an area where people pay a lot of property tax for higher valued homes. Repeat crashes onto the corners where children/pedestrians/cyclists/seniors/Metra Commuters stand to cross at this unmarked crossover at the misaligned intersection of SW Hwy/121st/Timber Ln. The outdated unsafe misaligned hazardous intersection provides convenient access to Village amenities including a Park w Municipal Pool, Post Office, Metra Station, Hospital, & Regional Trails Access. Constant speeding: vehicles are running daily at 50-70mph along a 40mph residential lined outdated arterial. Cars crash (recurring every 4-6wks) onto the corners where people stand to cross (crash rate trending for the last 4 years). 25 crashes are documented illustrating the hazard (see link to crash reports): MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume1_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S0v8jnJ_pqAwd-JQyqIQz2OGaqXXQFiG/view?usp=drivesdk MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume2_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KXIIzfHFQ_QEjQ1Q0YWH4PZw3zjW3dx/view?usp=drivesdk Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link Lack of sidewalks or safe crossing where people cross: Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Repeat crashes: Crashes / Collisions https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhSodZr8JiSf3PlVNbPeP0m Cars over 70mph in 40mph Area Metra Station, Park, & Two Major Regional Trail Systems https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfjctZ2JAq2MQ4X3Gqch2tG3 Cars Racing In Residential Area https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhIdd_slxdvUSsNglyBJF_T Kids Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiC8j0o4t-C1b6D0-AnlpEZ Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Walkers & Joggers Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhMHPnXuD1FJmg4FFnCDRNI Cyclists Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiXKag2SIgr6--a3ZPk0rIt Cars Who "Punch It" Aggressively After Having To Wait Behind Turning Cars Due To No Turn Lane https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiKOcXHbEEV-T7aU5q2P0Lf Metra Commuters Crossing SW Hwy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfi4fgcd0lpf7B5G4PEv6O5Z Constant honking due to lack of turn lanes or "safe" intersection features: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfgHXM15gYsXJLELlxokrrNu&si=rQntG6NTDEBzNpAx Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link
Addition of traffic signals at certain intersections
Road repair on pot holes
Need more parking
Fewer roads
I do not want to drive more
More nearby free parking options
Electric vehicle chargers
1) TELL PEOPLE TO TURN ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS DURING RAIN, SNOW, EARLY MORNING, EARLY EVENING. 2) VERIFY THAT THERE ARE STREET NAMES POSTED IN ALL DIRECTIONS AT EVERY INTERSECTION! (Add signs wherever they are missing!)
Our access to leave our village is hindered by the trains that block our crossing to easily access the highway. There are times when train block the crossing for over 24 hours. So you have to guess which direction to travel to the next town and hope they are not blocked as well.
Better parking availability and clearer/simplified pay to park options. There are some private parking lots in Oak Park that I absolutely avoid because it requires a different, very confusing app to park there that doesn't always work and oten issues tickets in error that are then difficult and frustrating to contest.
Drivers using turn signals and stopping at signs and lights.
Fewer train delays
I don't want driving to be easier. We should prioritize making transit and alternative transportation easier/safer/cheaper.
Less construction during the day which increases congestion.
I would prefer not to have to drive for all trips, to emphasize the need for viable and safe alternatives to driving.
Better roads - so many potholes in Cook and DuPage counties (where I drive most)
safer intersections for all users.
This is a strange way to ask this question - you're asking how you can induce more VMT.
I need a driver. My personal vehicle is unfortunately my only medically acceptable transportation vehicle. But I need a driver and that poses many difficulties. As far as I know, there are no services from any source that identify and screen drivers who would meet my medical needs.
Access to public transit so I didn't need to own and pay for a car
Difficulty parking at my destination. I prefer public transit but it’s often unsafe, so I drive and can’t find parking/pay a lot for it.
Ability to park when I arrive at my destination
More parking in the city and not as expensive
LESS TRAIN AND METRA STATIOINS BLOCKING EVERYTHING
We have a beautiful community and state. Let’s get true filth/garbage cleaned up. Start with open garbage trucks.
More electric charging stations/options. We only own electric vehicles so this is important to us.
Alternative routes from Randall
Smart lights. More circles where appropriate.
The train tracks at 173 in Antioch need to go over or under 173.
Better shoulders. The narrow gravel shoulder on 45 north of Grand Ave. past Sterns School has pot holes and drop offs. The kids can’t walk to Walgreens safely and can’t cross over to Wendy’s or Dunkin or park on west side safely
Local roads in dire need or repair.
turn lanes not bike lanes, higher speed limits
Police actually patrol and pull people over for drag racing, aggresive driving
I do not want to drive more, I want to be able to drive less. When I'm forced to drive due to poor transit availability I hate the traffic and lawless unsafe behavior by fellow drivers
More time and traffic congestion to go to chicago downtown from yorkville
I live in a CITY, I'm trying to drive LESS.
I don't own a car, but I've driven on the freeway a few times, & I loathe it. Would rather take public transit or bike (if it was safer), than drive.
I think a lot of intersections need to be re-evaluated. There are so many six-corner and busy intersections that would be so well served by a roundabout a la the one at Clark Adam Square in Budapest
Lower/no fees and taxes. Get the stupid trains out of the way of roads. Stop taxing me so others can ride trains and buses.
I own a car and I want car lanes reduced in the city with alternative transportation options expanded. There should be bus only lanes. This will help reduced traffic in the long haul
Illinois must deprioritize cars in transportation planning to save lives and build healthier communities. In 2023, over 1,200 people were killed and nearly 88,000 injured in vehicle crashes. Pedestrians made up 17% of fatalities despite only 1.5% of crashes showing how deadly our car-first system is. To reduce this harm and create safer, more inclusive streets, Illinois should: Prioritize protected bike lanes, wide sidewalks, and reliable public transit instead of more lanes for cars. Lower speed limits, implement road diets, create car-free zones, limit car access in other. Ensure every community, especially those without access to cars, has safe, affordable, and connected mobility options. In 2023, Illinois saw about 1,700 deaths and nearly 5,000 injuries from gun-related incidents. During the same period, motor vehicle crashes caused over 1,200 deaths and almost 88,000 injuries. Death should not be the default. Safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation must come first.
Road quality, faster construction
No bikes in the streets. They are safer on the sidewalk
Better alternatives so that less people are on the roads.
Fewer accidents on Route 20 that make traffic unbearable. Also adding a North to South expressway from Crystal Lake to Naperville area.
Roadway construction being completed more efficiently and not impacting multiple major roadways at similar times.
Since Covid, speeding enforcement is nonexistent the police don"t seem to think speed control is part of their perview.
Get rid of the roundabouts!!!!!
I used to drive my parents' truck
less self driving cars
Removal or improvement of traffic lights on Randall Rd. Randall was built as a major corridor but retail over-development has prompted communities to build too many lights that stop traffic before it can get up to speed.
More direct routes between suburbs and broader Chicago area.
Parking is too expensive.
Lights along River Road from Kelsey to Roberts.
A bridge across the canals
Improve transit options as well. Impose traffic calming all over the city instead of piecemeal
Drivers obeying the rules of the road, using turn signals, not texting while driving or waiting at a red light.
I use my car as little as possible and walk or take the bus to many locations.. I also don’t drive at night, which means that public transportation at night (until 10 PM) is important to my enjoyment of continuing to live in my community
Fewer delivery drivers and Ubers parking in driving lanes
Street maintence
Dangerous intersection Cambridge and Keslinger roads. Cannot see around fence for traffic coming from east if coming out of Pepper Valley subdivision. Need stop sign for westbound traffic before proceeding to stoplight , east bound is ok
Improved sign visibility and legibility, fresh reflective lane stripes so they are visible at night and in poor weather
More parking options in the downtown area.
parking availability
reliable travel times
I feel incredibly unsafe in my vehicle because people are distracted, speeding, and driving inappropriate vehicles.
Better East/West travel options
I don't think we should be encouraging people to drive more
Stop designing the city for cars.
Please don't make car commuting any easier or better. All focus should be on other forms of transit - if driving gets worse so that buses and bikes flow freely and safely, that's a win.
Toll ways are cost prohibitive
If I didn't have to drive, I wouldn't.
Raised crosswalks. People blow stop signs ALL THE TIME on the South Side - dangerous for everyone.
Better timing if lights
More effective intersections around the railroad tracks. Especially at Palatine Rd/Plum Grove Rd. There are also some areas that really need turn lanes (like Palatine Rd/Rohlwing Rd) or extended turn lanes (like Palatine Rd/Kennicott)
Many drivers seem to disregard the rules of the road treating stop signs and speed limits as optional
More durable asphalt
Mode parking at stations
Consistent adequate clear signage.
Automobile transportation is completely optimized in our community with abundant roads and parking. What's needed are more pedestrian and bike friendly routes as well as encouragement of the local population to walk or bike instead of driving everywhere.
I do not want to drive more, and although I sometimes drive improving the driving experience is not a priority to me
This is a city- we should be more like Tokyo, cars cost the city a lot, just by existing. We need to discourage their use and ownership by shifting more of the cost burden to those that choose to drive. i.e. currently we subsidize driving a personal car, that isn't sustainable (and everyone bitches about traffic, while sitting in a car). Noise pollution, actual pollution, pedestrian injuries, etc, all are issues.
I want to get rid of the cars and rely on walking and biking.
Traffic calming infrastructure so all the other drivers are calmer and more predictable
My car is my last choice and I only use it when transit fails me
I don’t want to drive a car for everything. This is my last choice
I don't own a car but sometimes rent one to get out of town. I want better infrastructure so I am safe when I do drive and I know where peds/bikes are.
I don't want my car commute to be easier
There’s no reason to do anything to make driving easier in Chicago. We should be taking space away from cars and giving it to transit, walking/rolling and cycling.
Automated enforcement
I want Faster Road & Highway Speeds and More Tolls on roads to keep traffic off -> force more people to take transit.
Get the chronic bad drivers instead of letting them kill people and keep on driving
Traffic calming and slower traffic in general would make the roads so much safer for everyone. There are too many unnecessarily wide roads without bike lanes and proper pedestrian crossings.
parking
More roundabouts
A crackdown of cars using shoulders to drive on the interstates. It is dangerous and lately it seems like drivers consider it to be just another lane to use.
Traffic lights to use sensors to avoid idle wait for the green lights especially at finger streets. I don’t have to leave home extra early to work because of the unnecessary long traffic lights. Also help solving the decarborization and speeding
Public train station: Forest park blue line extended to Westchester, Ill.
Less driving = less stress. I want less stress in my life. Therefore, I want to drive less. Much less.
Fewer train crossings, fewer lights
Smoother roads
Congestion pricing / toll roads on highways into/out of downtown Chicago
Greater predictability and responsibility from bike and scooter riders. We no longer shop along Milwaukee south of Fullerton and farther south because we cannot into a parking space along the curb because there is no safe way to get across steady stream of bikes without risking hurting bike or scooter riders. So we don’t chance it.
Leaving earlier to avoid traffic
Not having to drive at all. Having public transit, biking, or walking as viable options.
Need more parking available.
Traffic lights configured in a sensible way. See my comment above.
By making the Elgin O'Hare a tollway it has increased traffic on other alternative streets like Irving Park and Lake Street. Should have left it a freeway.
No red light cameras
No cargo trains, they make a lot of traffic it’s ridiculous.
A big problem is road etiquette-- using signals, slowing for merging vehicles, etc.
lower speed limits with enforcement and compliance infrastructure.
I don't have any concerns with driving in Franklin Park. Why isn't there an option for "no issues"?
More use of public transportation to ease the congestion and other driving ills.
Synchronized light control to smooth traffic flow.
More parking options
Safer drivers, bike and ped roadway users respect for traffic laws and regulatory signs
I own a vehicle, but I think we can make roads significantly better by having fewer cars on them. When streets close to car traffic, they are transformed into beautiful community spaces. I support more pedestrian only streets. I also think drivers can bear more of the cost to improve transportation for everyone. Congestion pricing seems like a great option to consider.
Every time I get in my car, I get incredibly annoyed at how easy it is to drive, e.g. I’d much rather take an ebike to Home Depot, but the roads are too dangerous for bikes and transit is over triple the time Would be more likely to drive if fiscal cliff had happened
I don’t want to drive more!
Shouldnt prioritize this. City is too dense for cars to be an effective transportation option fir all residents
i dont think i should drive more
Safer concrete protected bike infrastructure to reduce conflict points
Alternative options so I don’t have to use my vehicle as much.
My spouse and I are aging in a single family home. Eventually, we will not be able to drive a personal vehicle. At that point our independence and ability to do everyday shopping and get to medical appts. will be impaired if access to public transportation is not improved.
More public transit options! I want to choose "less congestion" but I fear that will have a connotation of "more lanes". Increased public transit = less cars on the road = less congestion!
Better stop light systems, especially in McHenry on 120
Other written responses:
The bus I would take to work is often so crowded that it is uncomfortable
A wider service network.
cleaner facilities, kids ride free, dedicated bus lanes
Implementing BRT with photo enforcement
CTA/Metra/Pace need better coordination for connections
Better access to nature opportunities. Better access for trips not to and from the Loop.
More L lines and trains!
Please put smoke detectors on the trains
connections between routes can be improved. for example, the 74 fullerton bus does not connect to the 36 broadway or 22 clark bus, which makes my commute more arduous.
Metra only public transit and bicycle accommodation is improving.
More heated areas (NW line has some nice timed heaters at Irving and Clybourn that are so useful in the winter.
Connections with other routes, easy one-stop ticketing, universal fares, comfortable shelters with security.
Waste of taxpayer money.
parking
Bus service is nearly non-existent in my community and difficult to navigate. Train service only good for commuting or errands in very specific places of neighboring towns.
Better maintenance/cleaning of train cars
Better connections between Metra and CTA. I've lost count of the number of times tourists in Union Station have asked how to get to the El.
Connection between metra and the L.
I am satisfied with public transportation in 60422
More options on where public transportation goes to (currently extremely limited)
I love taking CTA when possible, but it needs to be reliably on time and move faster. The bus takes 3-4x as long as driving a car b/c it is so slow and stops so much. I dont' know how to get around that other than maybe having more frequent busses so that there's not always someone waiting at every single stop at every single block.
Better handling of nuisance behavior - not for safety, but for general unpleasantness (smoking, loud music, solicitation)
Everything, trains in particular, are focused on getting to the city and not around the suburbs.
wifi
Better routes and connections to popular entertainment venues
I would like have a way travel by train to other suburbs that are not on my metra train line that does not require a trip all the way downtown Chicago.
More routes/better ease of getting to different places without having to go downtown to transfer
More routes
Metra is my sole use of public transportation. Improvements to the Elmhurst train station will be wonderful.
Best east-west routes
No smoking on trains
Add Clyborne stops on metra Express on UW-NW Barrington to Chicago
Need bus rapid transit to achieve "less commute time."
Connections to places I frequent.
Repeat crashes onto the corners where children/pedestrians/cyclists/seniors/Metra Commuters stand to cross at this unmarked crossover at the misaligned intersection of SW Hwy/121st/Timber Ln. The outdated unsafe misaligned hazardous intersection provides convenient access to Village amenities including a Park w Municipal Pool, Post Office, Metra Station, Hospital, & Regional Trails Access. Constant speeding: vehicles are running daily at 50-70mph along a 40mph residential lined outdated arterial. Cars crash (recurring every 4-6wks) onto the corners where people stand to cross (crash rate trending for the last 4 years). 25 crashes are documented illustrating the hazard (see link to crash reports): MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume1_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S0v8jnJ_pqAwd-JQyqIQz2OGaqXXQFiG/view?usp=drivesdk MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume2_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KXIIzfHFQ_QEjQ1Q0YWH4PZw3zjW3dx/view?usp=drivesdk Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link Lack of sidewalks or safe crossing where people cross: Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Repeat crashes: Crashes / Collisions https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhSodZr8JiSf3PlVNbPeP0m Cars over 70mph in 40mph Area Metra Station, Park, & Two Major Regional Trail Systems https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfjctZ2JAq2MQ4X3Gqch2tG3 Cars Racing In Residential Area https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhIdd_slxdvUSsNglyBJF_T Kids Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiC8j0o4t-C1b6D0-AnlpEZ Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Walkers & Joggers Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhMHPnXuD1FJmg4FFnCDRNI Cyclists Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiXKag2SIgr6--a3ZPk0rIt Cars Who "Punch It" Aggressively After Having To Wait Behind Turning Cars Due To No Turn Lane https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiKOcXHbEEV-T7aU5q2P0Lf Metra Commuters Crossing SW Hwy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfi4fgcd0lpf7B5G4PEv6O5Z Constant honking due to lack of turn lanes or "safe" intersection features: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfgHXM15gYsXJLELlxokrrNu&si=rQntG6NTDEBzNpAx Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link
Comfortable seating.
Satisfied with all.
It's insane that entire Metra lines lack robust service 7 days a week.
More destination options
Better sanitation and ventilation so eL cars don't reek of bodily fluids and cannabis. More suburban Pace routes that are direct north south instead of the east west hub & spoke system
on trains - more cleanliness; more enforcement of non-smoking rules; less homeless people sleeping on trains.
Clean up and beautify the train stations and trains and buses. Monitor what is happening on them as well. It is pretty chaotic and passengers do whatever they want to.
Stop the pot and smokers
Having access to public transit in general. There is no train option and I’ve never seen a bus in the 10 years I’ve lived here.
Montrain
I don’t take public transportation BECAUSE it isn’t available in Kendall County, Illinois. To go to Chicago, I’d have to drive at least 20 minutes to the BNSF station in Aurora, Illinois, pay a lot for parking—if parking is available, take the Burlington train to Chicago for quite a sum. There should be buses to the train station and Senior Citizen discounts.
As we currently have no true access this does not apply.
Less slow zones. The forest park blue line is barely (and sometimes not at all) faster than traffic, which makes taking the train a worse option than it should be.
Put benches and shelters at all bus stops.
Easier connections between some destinations, ie Lakeview to Bucktown. Cannot get to a lot of Forest Preserves and natural areas via transit
The Pace bus stop near me is in a ditch on Clarendon Hills Road, without even a sidewalk, so the walking infrastructure around stops is also essential.
Cleanliness of equipment. Metra is filthy
Modern trains - we are so far behind the curve compared to Europe
Bring back Pace Route 827
I would like the Pace Bus in McHenry Count to be able to travel into nearby Kane County (Woodstock to Gilberts). this is for visiting relatives. I am very satisfied with MCC Senior Services transportation to my medical appoints outside of my county; but, don't feel visiting is warranting enough to request transportation.
Cleanliness of the public transit - the CTA train cars have steadily gotten dirtier, smellier and unpleasant.
More routes, not just east/west.
More bus stops and more frequent buses.
actually having bus service, bikes on trains 24/7. Bike share to business parks.
More bus routes
See above
LESS PUBLIC TRANSIT
there are no viable and reliable north-south routes
Improved coordination among different transit systems, like CTA and Metra. Creation of a single transit system for CTA, Metra and PACE for improved access and a single payment system.
Wasteful buses polluting the air day and night with no one on them. Come up with a different system. Link with uber. Something. It would be cheaper and better for the environment. What a waste of money. Safer too
More extensive coverage, particularly for the western extents of Metra's lines.
Shelters at high pedestrian waiting areas
there are zero bus routes to take you throughout Geneva. If you don't drive you're screwed.
More options to get to a station. The only good option I have is to drive and park a car.
I don't have access to public transportation other than Uber and Lyft.
North-to-south fixed rail options in the western suburbs that allow transfers between Metra lines without going all the way into the city.
cleaner trains that aren't rolling mental hospitals and homeless shelters; the conditions on our trains are deplorable post covid. I'm a subway nerd from way back, have gone around the world checking out subway systems and I ride the cta trains as a last resort for the last few years. I'll still take busses but the trains are disgusting and I avoid
Praying we could one day do something similar to the Circle Line
Please make CTA transit safe. Bring back conductors on CTA trains.
Increased connectivity beyond "hub & spoke"
Public transportation is NOT in my area at all!
Seating. Increased reliability Increased security
I drive. They're is virtually no public transport in my town. I do not want a single cent of my taxes to pay for public transport. Let those that use it pay for it, like I do with my cars. Raise the rates to ride our shut it down if those using it aren't willing to pay for it
There needs to be rapid transit outside of the loop. An outer loop should have been created many years ago.
Something needs to realistically be done to keep people from smoking on the CTA.
Too many public transit systems use a hub-and-spoke design. If you had to drive into the city center just to reach a nearby neighborhood, you probably wouldn’t do it. But that’s how our transit works. Forcing riders to make long, indirect trips instead of direct connections, which makes transit less convenient and less attractive.
Ring train lines, so getting to another suburb doesn’t require going into then back out of downtown
I don’t use public transit enough to have an opinion
Non-hub and spoke designs. Bus priorty
Increased and less costly parking at train stations
Better direct service to OHare
Fix the train accountments on Pulaski orange line. & fix the station to look modern.
Bus rapid transit
Concerning Metra, more connections in between cities that do not go into Chicago. A spider-web type infrastructure that connects the suburbs would enable me to use Metra.
No suggestion offered.
In the old days, the conductors actually”walked” thru each car and not when just collecting tickets. Now, stops are called out by a speaker system instead of a person. Also a concern for safety and customer service when conductors no longer walk thru. This was NOT the case years ago.
Do not merge the transportation RTA (METRA/PACE) with CTA to bail out the CTA. This is the WRONG approach for suburbanites; combining all these into one agency is a farce and is only a coverup to bailout the mismanaged CTA.
Improved user-interface on the Ventra app, better built-environment (TOD), decreased subsidized private vehicle parking for developments near public transit (parking maximums = incentivizing lower overall car ownership)
Because I don’t drive at night, the longer wait times and safety issues atmajor transfer points (Howard Street, Bevis Street) limit my ability to enjoy evening performances in Chicago narrower each year.
Faster trains.
No busses in my area (Plainfield /oswego) getting to trains (Aurora) 25 min; Joliet 37 min; Naperville 30 min. Note: Plainfield tracks connect directly to Joliet and Naperville 95th st. A spur commuter connect train would be trivial to start and benefit would be immediate and significant.
Public transportation is not offered in Wilmington
We are missing rapid transportation on the West part of the city. There needs to be a new subway / rail or BRT. Right now if I want to go directly north from my house I am stuck on a bus that gets stuck behind poorly behaving motorists that clog the roads or I have to go all the way downtown then back out.
Please put small stores and restaurants back in L stations. There are so many vacant places that would do so well. The Dunkin at Loyola seems to do well
More bike cars on Metra, better/safer bike routes (paint is not protection), more train lines and trains!
Longer spans of service and more destinations reachable via transit
accessible heavy rail to the south side and downtown. faster bus trips going west. Without traffic and a quick transfer I can take the bus from diversey and clark to cermak and damen in 35mins
Would like to have more local bus and shuttle services connecting shopping, business and residential areas
It's all about access- and door to door service for folks with disabilities- why do I have to call 3 days ahead to get a ride from Township- and why is it ALWAYS FULL- WHY do they run only 9am to 3pm- when I have to be at school at 8am and my classes go till 4pm. WHAT THE HECK?! Do disabled people have to always get a parent to drive them? WHY?????
New and longer routes. As mentioned prior, transit from Hyde Park stops in the Loop (one bus goes to Navy Pier), then you have to transfer. So taking Metra in is great, but then you have to walk a half mile to get on another train or bus going north - that's not realistic for a lot of people.
More convenient options like light rail/tram.
Bus priority on major streets including bus rapid transit at least during periods of peak congestion. The fact that CMAP continues to fund street designs that result in our buses being becalmed in backups of private single occupancy vehicles is a real failure of CMAP leadership. CMAP is way too accommodating of roadway designs that continue to prioritize SOVs over more efficient forms of transport. CMAP's failure to speak up about IDOT/CDOT's failure to include bus priority lanes on North DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago/Halsted project and failure to back up RTA when RTA spoke up on behalf of transit is really troubling. CMAP is supposed to lead the region in progressive transportation planning and investment decision making and, instead, it seems to push paper on behalf of the road builders and status quo approaches to roadway design/operations. CMAP's studies are nice and often helpful--but investment decisions and policies with some teeth are where it really counts...and CMAP comes up short.
Bus access to O'Hare from Harper College
I am located very close to probably the best metro station on the UN line. That is a great pleasure. I don’t really even try to take the bus locally, but I am not a fan. The L as I get more for the city or in the city seem as safe or well-maintained as it used to be, such that I don’t want to use it
Elburn metra train stop does not have a bench for people waiting to get picked up by the curb. Also, the ekburn train station neighborhood doesn’t even have a sidewalk connecting the neighborhood to the train. People dangerously walk along the winding path
Our system is not integrated at all (ie Metra, Pace, CTA). That must change. Metra needs to become a European style 15 min frequency service that has level boarding so people with strollers, wheelchairs and bikes can actually get on easily. We need to EXPAND our transit in Chicago. N/S bus rapid transit or light rail on Ashland, Western, Pulaski, etc. We need to tear down Lake Shore Drive and replace it with biking and a light rail train. No cars running north/south. It will be not only cheaper in the long run but will re-connect our community to the lake and to the south side. The Better Streets Chicago Plan is the way to go. We must take space away from private cars so buses can more more quickly and on time. The era of the private car in cities is ending. Lets speed up its end.
Honestly I feel safe- but I can understand why others don't. I brought my mum in through Midway and the Orange line, her plan got delayed so long that the orange line closed, so we had to take a bus to the red line. The bus station was covered in trash, the "transfer" was crossing a multi-lane road over an interstate, and then we had a ghost train (while sitting between the VERY loud highway), finally get going. Swap cars because someone starts smoking, then a few stops in someone gets on in a subway station, having already been smoking.
Better neighborhood-to-neighborhood connections - east-west buses are unreliable and don't come as often. I would love to see a circle line L or BRT and extension of the brown line to Jefferson Park. I would also like to see better transit service in inner-ring suburbs.
Bus lanes, priority signaling, more frequent rail service, and fewer bus stops.
More CTA train lines
Busses need dedicated (and enforced!) lanes as well as signal priority. There is no reason we should allow them to get stuck in car traffic. This will improve both speed and reliability.
CTA needs to have bathrooms at L stations and major bus hubs (like Jefferson Park). Their currently policy of no bathrooms is totally unacceptable.
Train station in Gurnee.
Rapid transit routes on various east/west and north/south corridors that don’t go through downtown. Either Bus rapid transit, new elevated lines or subways.
More Late night service. One major reason I don't take Metra on weekends is because there is no late night service past midnight. We need a 2:30 AM bar train.
Not in my hometown keep it out
speed of transit
<10 minute headways. Bus on Madison in Oak park.
A beverage car.
More trains. Better connections in the suburbs. Better multi-agency connectivity. Sensible, consistent multi-agency pricing for all trips, not just monthly passes. Stations where train lines currently cross, like in Des Plaines. Massively improved public transit from suburbs to O’Hare and Midway. Increased effective frequencies (possibly achieved with a transfer). Cause connectivity between Metra lines to exist in downtown Chicago. Electrify Metra lives. In short, behave like we’re a European city, not a post-WW II southern US city.
I would seldom use public transportation. Don’t want to have to go places on their schedule or ride with a bunch of talking strangers.
More routes that go where I want to go
Cleaner trains/stations
I used to take public transit more but now I need better accessibility for myself snd my family. And I do not feel safe of public transit. My ElL stop is not accessible.
Better maintenance of transportation (cleanliness of vehicles, addressing smoking on trains)
Cleaner and smell good!
I do use public transportation quite a bit by I do not have any suggestions regarding this except the survey wants an answer. Please get smarter designing these questionnaires.
Better acces to the airport. Smoother and more patrolled subway.
I do have 2 local stations but they do not go near my job at all so it is unfortunately not an option although I would like it to be.
Improved or better maintained infrastrucutre along route to walk to train station. In Willow Springs, I am one of lots of people who walk along Archer Ave to reach the metra station. The sidewalk is not maintained, the shoulder is extremely small and made of gravel for cars and trucks who frequently travel out of lane on to the gravel/sidewalk area. Its uncomfortable yes but also feels very dangerous. If there was better walking and biking infrastrucutre, it would mean so much to our community.
consistent revenue sources that don't rely on piddly little taxes and fees at the margins. rta needs a millage on property taxes and toll revenue from drivers, especially those coming into the city for work
Crosstown (non loop oriented) rapid transit like BRT, dedicated ROW light rail or new L lines.
Metra has been pretty unreliable lately I wish there were better / more frequent options for NCS. That said, Franklin Park residents are lucky, and I being one am well aware. We have two metra lines in town and several options if one train is late or missed. Our stop is often an express stop, while other towns like River Grove are much less fortunate. I'm thankful to live in Franklin Park!
Bus intersection priority, more pace routes in the suburbs, more train routes (CTA and Metra)
I make occasional use of Metra. Not often so I don't have strong opinions.
Access to medical facilities
Pretty satisfied
More diversity of service type, better accessibility of wider variety of destinations.
More bus rapid transit, east-west L lines, extensions into the suburbs, regional rail on Metra and infill stations with strategically placed transfer to the L
Express bus routes, or BRT of some kind. Making the X9 all day and adding bus lanes on Ashland would be a massive improvement.
bad behaviors (music, smoking, sleeping, smelliness) of other riders
Bus rapid transit with aggressive automated enforcement to keep cars out of the lane. Transit signal priority. Remove car parking to accommodate the bus.
Increase metra frequency to regional model. Increase south side metra lines to L frequency. Build more lines connecting outer neighborhoods to each other (circle line). Enforce rules of no smoking and using train as a homeless shelter
Being able to park overnight at our Metra station would allow me to take Metra and stay downtown. Our station has many, many unused spots.
hub and spoke just plain isn’t enough
Cleanliness
Wider variety of single seat destinations
Other written responses:
less distracted driving, driving while using a cellphone
I would love to bike from Oak Park to the loop, but that ride necessitates travel through crime ridden communities.
more bicycle parking facilities
better signage and awarenwess
In addition to providing destinations worth walking to, make the journey pleasurable. Why do parking lots need to be placed along the sidewalk along a street? Where's the dignity in walking along a busy thoroughfare between often speeding traffic and parked cars?
More divvy stations. More affordable divvy subscription options.
enforcement of antisocial behavior with real consequences like license suspension and vehicle forfeiture for egregious behavior
More crossings over major barriers, limited-access roads and rivers, in particular.
More traffic calming especially on IDOT roads. Bump outs, speed tables, etc A connected bike network/grid. Car free/car-lite neighborhood streets that make it impossible to speed.
More protected bike lanes and more trails similar to the 606 or LFT.
Chicago NEEDS a comprehensive protected bike lane network. Western, Ashland, Fullerton need protected bike lanes.
Move bike lanes to side streets. Would make riding safer and still offer routes to popular destinations
repeat less speeding, and safer intersections as cars turn across sidewalks and side paths, right on red is critical.
Less free parking in heavy pedestrian downtowns, less free parking in arterial commercial areas, better zoning approach to site design, IDOT willingness to provide "complete streets" on major routes, addressing decades old curb ramps that violate ADA guidelines...
Enforcement of road rules, such as red lights, stop signs, cross walks, turn signals, speeding, etc
Fix uneven or broken sidewalks
I have no opinion on this topic.
Sidewalks along Wheeling Road
Infrastructure that encourages walking or bicycling as a mode of transportation and not simply recreation.
Automated traffic law enforcement to make roads safer. More routes to connect economic zones and neighboring towns.
Bike connect to Crystal Lake Unable to cross Rte 31 safely
We moved here in November so I'm not fully sure how the biking/walking trails are
Sidewalk maintenance
Expand the Divvy rentals! They'd be great in Berwyn. Its weird to me that they don't have a Divvy station outside every CTA and Metra station.
None
Sidewalks!
I walk every day I Flossmoor and am satisfied with options!
Cyclists in the road are a hazard. They weave through cars. So not allowing them on the road and back onto the sidewalk is a much safer choice. I absolutely will never allow my children to cycle in the road.
Fix more sidewalks with portions raised. I had a bad fall two years ago because of a sidewalk square that was significantly raised.
Over road bridges instead of crossing busy roads to link bike paths
I would ride my bike more often if I could get where I wanted in a dedicated bike lane. I often have my child with me and don't feel safe going down main roads like Damen or Clark with her b/c there's nothing separating us from the distracted and speeding drivers.
More crossing options of major roadways
Better bike lanes
Street lights
Plenty of people seem to walk their pets around the area. Main issue of this is that a handful of these daily walkers don't pick up after their pets.. it’s a frequent problem. If you take a walk along the neighborhoods, you will see pet waste every couple of blocks along the right of way. It’s ridiculous.
n/a
Access to sidewalks.
A running and biking trail that goes for more the a quarter mile and how about some cross walks and speed bumps. People speed through our town and never stop for pedestrians.
Stop lights at school crossings due to too many close calls with cars running the stop signs
More lighted trails
Less cars on the road. More parks. More pedestrian oriented infrastructure. Road diets.
safe east-west routes
Feeling safer in bike lanes (less parked cars)
Fewer electric bikes on trails
Repeat crashes onto the corners where children/pedestrians/cyclists/seniors/Metra Commuters stand to cross at this unmarked crossover at the misaligned intersection of SW Hwy/121st/Timber Ln. The outdated unsafe misaligned hazardous intersection provides convenient access to Village amenities including a Park w Municipal Pool, Post Office, Metra Station, Hospital, & Regional Trails Access. Constant speeding: vehicles are running daily at 50-70mph along a 40mph residential lined outdated arterial. Cars crash (recurring every 4-6wks) onto the corners where people stand to cross (crash rate trending for the last 4 years). 25 crashes are documented illustrating the hazard (see link to crash reports): MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume1_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S0v8jnJ_pqAwd-JQyqIQz2OGaqXXQFiG/view?usp=drivesdk MAJOR Community Traffic Hazard SW Hwy IL-7 at Timber Ln in Palos Park_Current_Volume2_90Percent.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KXIIzfHFQ_QEjQ1Q0YWH4PZw3zjW3dx/view?usp=drivesdk Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link Lack of sidewalks or safe crossing where people cross: Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Repeat crashes: Crashes / Collisions https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhSodZr8JiSf3PlVNbPeP0m Cars over 70mph in 40mph Area Metra Station, Park, & Two Major Regional Trail Systems https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfjctZ2JAq2MQ4X3Gqch2tG3 Cars Racing In Residential Area https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhIdd_slxdvUSsNglyBJF_T Kids Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiC8j0o4t-C1b6D0-AnlpEZ Kids & People With No Safe Sidewalks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiZtumbPzkIUyndNiGewLmt Walkers & Joggers Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfhMHPnXuD1FJmg4FFnCDRNI Cyclists Crossing SW Hwy https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiXKag2SIgr6--a3ZPk0rIt Cars Who "Punch It" Aggressively After Having To Wait Behind Turning Cars Due To No Turn Lane https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfiKOcXHbEEV-T7aU5q2P0Lf Metra Commuters Crossing SW Hwy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfi4fgcd0lpf7B5G4PEv6O5Z Constant honking due to lack of turn lanes or "safe" intersection features: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfgHXM15gYsXJLELlxokrrNu&si=rQntG6NTDEBzNpAx Exisiting Bikeways & Trails Plan from 2018 identifying this intersection as 1 of 3 Priority Projects: Palos Park 2018 Bikeways and Trails Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gr7vnmnwur3IN0HV7F8WU3_4SF1YaTQQ/view?usp=share_link
Fewer cars.
I am a senior and don't walk her bike
Parking space for bike
Infrastructure. Many streets in Lansing do not have sidewalks and the ones that do need repairs.
Uneven sidewalks
Walking access excellent. Better bike protection needed.
SIDEWALKS ON HARVEY ROAD FROM TREASURE TO THE ROUND ABOUT NEAR OSWEGO EAST HIGH SCHOOL
Put in sidewalks and cross walks so we can walk down town!!!
More sidewalks along walking routes to schools like Oswego East high school
Plowing and salting walking paths during freezing temperatures. Having more visibility of park district personnel and more frequent police patrols. PICK UP TRASH—DAILY IF POSSIBLE! I pick up trash along State Route 31 to the U.S. 34 bridge, on the bridge, and all through Hudson Crossing Park and the Veterans Memorial Park. I’m 67 years old and I do it keep this area clean AND to (hopefully) set a good example! So far, I haven’t seen anyone else actively picking up trash—not even Oswego Village employees or Park District employees. With the high winds we’ve had over the past few months, trash is everywhere.
Being such a small village, having the roads in a safer condition.
More policing of automobile drivers.
Bikes not being used at excessive speeds especially on sidewalks by adults
Vehicles using turn signals and obeying speed limits. Restrictions on tinted glass so I can see if a driver is looking at me or not.
Brighter lighting on paths near station
Parking at access points
fewer gaps in trail and path networks.
Fewer cars on the road. They drive in separated bike lanes, turn dangerously at intersections, don't stop at crosswalks, and run red lights/stop signs.
Walking is very difficult for me, really I just need the bus to show up and also run on week and especially evenings
More grade separation from vehicles and sidewalks. The practice of car lane, bike lane, then car parking, then sidewalk should not be recommended. Bike lanes should not be in between travel lanes and car parking spots.
no right turns on red!
Reduced cost for Divvy bikes, when not using my personal bike.
sidewalks in Frankfort IL
None.
Stop people from parking on sidewalks.
Having benches at more locations along walking paths.
Sidewalks in better condition.
We need a safer crossing for users (pedestrians and bicycle riders) of the Great Western Trail at County Farm Rd.
There are tons of biking and walking options near us.
Local communities picking up the torch and taking the lead on infrastructure. Too often the response is well that’s a state route so they have to take that on. No that’s not how it works from being in the transportation industry. Local communities need to take the lead on filling in gaps in the system and not rely on the state or county tondeliver
A multi use path on 45 from Grand to School Sterns a safe crossing or a pedestrian underpass
Fix the sidewalks.
separate paths
We have plenty and don't need more.
As mentioned previously, I'd love bike safety to be kept in mind in busier intersections... there are plenty of areas that are difficult to cross on a bike, but are necessary for bike travel.
Better pavement condition!
Dedicated bus lanes & speed cameras,
traffic enforcement-- cars run red every light cycle at many intersections around me, and less than 10% of cars actually stop at stop signs
Reckless drivers endanger me daily. Cop enforcement for breaking laws (especially speeding and reckless driving), and please build infrastructure that makes cars slow down (raised crosswalks, speed cameras, red light cameras, bus bump outs, protected bus lanes)
Just the fact that bikes have to follow the laws that cars follow but are lumped together with walking as part of your survey is a huge issue. Bikes are not cars, bikes are not pedestrians, they should have their own infrastructure and their own set of rules/laws.
There are many many crosswalks in Chicago that have no traffic signals. These are extremely unsafe. Every crosswalk should have either a stoplight or a stop sign, otherwise they are just institutionalized games of frogger. Especially the crosswalks that cross 4 lanes of traffic with no signal, such as at Fullerton and Spaulding! These are so so dangerous, it's criminal that these are allowed to exist.
Separate MUPs from roadways.
Everything is good
Bikes on roads are a menace. They almost universally ignore traffic laws and generally just get in the way. How about they start getting cited for all the laws they break
All multimodal trails should be officially designated as infrastructure and receive the same legal protections, maintenance standards, and liability responsibilities as other transportation facilities. They are not recreational facilities. Just as sidewalks aren’t considered recreational simply because people sometimes jog on them.
Real infrastructure not paint
More sidewalks
Fewer tinted windows and less phone usage from drivers.
Multi use paths treated as transportation network not just recreational facilities
Road upkeep, on every single one of my routes which are city-designated bike routes no less, the roadways, specifically in the area where a bike would need to be when there is vehicular traffic, the city has allowed EGREGIOUS potholes to form. Some are half a foot deep. That is DEADLY!
My area has many great walking and biking paths that are well maintained
We have enough biking and walking infrastructure.
More bike racks or areas to park bike
Protected bike/bus lanes, speed cameras on all of Archer/Pulaski, pedestrian islands, slower speed limits, etc. & not just in Chicago - all of Illinois, too
Wider sidewalks and a ban on all temporary road signs from being placed on sidewalks.
I've been hit by a driver who was not even looking where he was going (on his phone) and I've had two other near misses, all of these events have happened in the last year. Reckless, unsafe, and aggressive driving has made me fear even short trips on my bicycle. We need to hold drivers to a higher standard and get unsafe drivers off the road.
None - Satisfied with the current options and experience
Fewer cars
fix the sidewalks.
More bike lanes. Heightened awaresness of bike safety for riders and drivers,.
Bike lanes are stupid! They are not the solution. Bicyclists get killed by right turning vehicles. Bike lanes offer no opportunity to turn out of them or enter a sidewalk to our destination. Thewhole road infrastructure--signage, signals-assumes and caters to automobiles.
I walk a lot and it is pretty good inEvanston. I drive into Chicago multiple times a week. Congestion is terrible. Narrowing roads to accomadate bikes is not working well making intersections narrow so no one can go around a left turner is causing so many traffic jams at intersections. It now takes me twice as long to get home from work inChicago.
More connections over major highways (83, 294, Roosevelt Rd, etc.)
Motorized bikes and scooters sometimes are carelessly ridden on the I&M Canal Trail making me feel unsafe.
Install traffic calming all over instead of being piecemeal
More places to lock a bike safely.
Vehicles actually stopping before the crosswalk instead of in it.
Better lighting at all corners and longer crossing times all lights at major intersections. MORE “no turn right on red“ at major intersections, where drivers tend to be looking for other cars and not on the lookout for someone in the crosswalk where they don’t come to a full stop for proceeding.
None, we have plenty, what's used isn't utilized enough already. No need for more.
maintaining the sidewalk
better smarter traffic signal between walk signals and turn arrows.
So many roads on the south and west side are way too wide. There is no reason to not at least put buffered bike lanes in and then eventually upgrade to protected. There is so much missed opportunity and what exists causes extremely dangerous behavior from distracted motorists.
State controlled roads in Chicago are barriers within neighborhoods since drivers dont really yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
By far the worst environmental impact is proximity to cars!! Air pollution, tire pollution, noise pollution. Bring back more benches, too
Drivers should actually face consequences for unsafe driving, speeding habitually, reckless driving, abusing infrastructure
More ped streets without car traffic (I.e. state steeet downtown or neighborhood greenways)
Just having a saidewalk would be great
More bike lanes in Palatine!
Intersections, even newly paved ones, constantly flood and remain impassable for days on end. Better crossings at intersections - drivers CONSTANTLY blow stop signs even on small neighborhood streets.
Wide protective lanes for bikes that avoid keeping bikes near cars.
Increased fines for texting while driving; better and more frequent repair of potholes
Sidewalk access at SouthEast corner of Euclid and Roselle - providing walk and bike access to Harper at a more user friendly intersection than Roselle and Algonquin which is often dangerous with the volume of traffic.
The bicyclists who are in large groups ignore road signs
My area in the North Shore is actually better than most places and often good to quite good for biking separated, hike and bike trails. But it could still be better and the main roads should definitely have bike lanes and very preferably separated from the dangers of cars and trucks, etc..
Continuous sidewalks on both sides of Main Street in downtown Elburn so that residents can walk to the local grocery store!!!
Honestly, just copy the Dutch, not just for city level infrastructure but also for regional off street bike networks. The cool thing is we do not need to reinvent the wheel, just do what the Dutch have done and try and do it as quickly as possible, Cars have become massive over the last two decades resulting in increase carnage on our roads. They must be reigned in. Taxes on cars based on vehicle weight and hood height are a must. Automated speed and red light cameras everywhere is a must. DC has done the weight tax, ours needs to be even more aggressive.
Honestly two main annoyances, which are noise and shade. A lot of pedestrian paths are halfway decent, if dated, but they are just fully exposed to the elements, in the summer they are ROUGH haha. Bathrooms would also be nice, i.e. people complain about the homeless peeing all over the city, but like, all the stores won't let them use the bathroom and we don't have many free standing ones (esp in winter), so people are going to use the restroom somewhere.
Better traffic circulation planning. Neighborhood streets should not be used by cut-through traffic. Aggressively implement new parklets to replace roads, and traffic diverters and modal filters.
Build bike lanes in ONLY ONE STYLE ACROSS THE CITY. Extend the curb. Never use plastic flexiposts.
The bike network is disjointed and leads cyclists into dangerous streets. Car drivers do not stop for pedestrians.
Vehicle speeding is not the only issue. Failure to stop, yield, outright aggression toward pedestrians are all issues. As a pedestrian, I experience these things from cyclists as well as vehicle deivers.
More enforcement of reckless drivers, more density of buildings
Less exposure to drivers who do not follow the law
We just need less cars and less space dedicated to cars in general. Bikes and pedestrians need their own dedicated spaces, far from cars. People bike on the sidewalk because biking in the street doesn't feel safe. We also need better laws to encourage biking safety. Eliminate right turns on red for cars. Implement the Idaho stop. Etc.
Cars have gotten HUGE in the last 20 years. We need to tax big, heavy dangerous cars. DC has done this. They also tear up our roads more. Also need speed cameras and red light cameras everywhere. Take away people's cars if they cannot use them safely. Cars are weapons. We need to regulate them like one.
Bollards. Also, literally any way to slow down cars and take the skyrocking pedestrian death rate like the crisis it is right now. If you’re more concerned that the infrastructure you build will damage cars if they run into it, than you are with how that makes pedestrians more safe, you’re doing it wrong. A car can be repaired. I can’t come back from the dead if I’m hit.
Automated enforcement (particularly cars using bike infrastructure)
Destinations closer / more amenities in walking distance
Prioritize safety at major intersections (e.g. North Ave). Current design treats pedestrians and cyclists as an afterthought. Crossing distances are long, with no signals, and multiple pedestrian deaths on the corridor. Treat bike and pedestrian networks as core infrastructure, not recreational facilities. The Salt Creek Trail closure has had no detour for years. That would never be allowed for a roadway. Treating bike/ped facilities as “optional amenities” results in long-term gaps that cripple the network. Rules and expectations must be set for the level of continuity required. It is possible to end up at a closer sign with no viable alternative for miles. Fix the data problem. Sidewalk and bike infrastructure data is fragmented, outdated, and often locked in bespoke municipal maps or PDFs. Drivers don’t have to dig through PDFs to find out where roads go, and transit riders don’t need to guess which routes exist. Everything is integrated into public routing platforms. Cyclists and pedestrians should have the same baseline. State law should require villages above a certain size to maintain standardized, open data on sidewalks, bike lanes, and crossing treatment in mapping software (e.g. OpenStreetMap, Google Maps) to be eligible for state funds. Mapping software of a certain size should require to have such accessibility data to be integrated into their mapping. Without this, residents cannot plan safe, efficient trips. Reject flawed metrics like IDOT’s Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS). BLOS rates corridors like North Ave as “high service” for bikes because its formula prioritizes vehicle flow and lane width. Yet Strava and other real-world data show cyclists rarely ride there. The facility is hostile, not high-service. This mismatch between modeled outputs and actual rider behavior is a policy failure that perpetuates false expectations. Require impact assessments. Projects that reduce sidewalk width, or narrow bike access are pushed through with no transparent accounting of trade-offs. Integrate maintenance. Bike lanes and sidewalks are cleared late, if at all, after snow. Pavement markings fade and are left for years. Meanwhile, roads are prioritized automatically. This unequal treatment signals that non-drivers are second-class. Provide consistent wayfinding. Current signage is inconsistent and often misleading, such as dead ends without “except bikes” markers, trails with no direction to on-street connections, sidewalks that simply vanish. Drivers and transit users get standardized, reliable navigation; cyclists and pedestrians are left guessing.
Too many trucks passing through downtown Lemont. It is extremely unsafe for mothers with multiple children to walk through downtown Lemont safely. We avoid the shops in downtown Lemont due to this reason.
limiting the use of "E" TYPE vehicles on bike paths and public streets
People never stop at crosswalks. In other cities and states people are much more aware of the laws but in Chicago and suburbs they will never start, even in areas near trains and small city centers.
a lot less cars on the road, raised crosswalks, wider sidewalks, wider bike lanes, traffic calming, less wait times at 5 way/6way intersections, scramble crossing, being able to make tax-free contributions to for Divvy, more Divvys, being able to park blue Divvy at public bike rack, more pedestrianized places, more greenery, more public places
Too many dog walkers don’t obey laws to keep their pets in the short leash, clean up after them. Too many motorized scooters
Street lamps that light up the sidewalk at night. As someone who walks a lot the new street lamps are awful for pedestrians.
Greater enforcement of traffic controls. Distracted drivers, pedestrians, bikers ignore traffic controls.
Cannot walk anywhere from our house since our small neighborhood has no sidewalk access to anywhere.
protected east west bike lanes on Roosevelt Rd, Cermak Rd and 31st connecting to Du page county. Getting across 294 on a bike safely.
pedestrian only streets
Bikes and scooters paying more attention to pedestrians, both when crossing the street and dhrn pedestrians are in the sidewalk - with the bikes and scooters. I wish everyone would slow down snd golliw rules of the road znd rules if the sidewalks.
fix the sidewalks. many are damaged and they are never included in the infrastructure plans. Also, please stop holding road repairs hostage unless we agree to add bike lanes. Drivers should have to endure potholes and worse unless we take grants for bike lanes to get what should be regular road repairs done.
Almost anywhere I walk requires crossing a very busy road. It isn’t safe to be near such high speed busy roads.
NO electric scooters or bicycles on sidewalks
Walking should always be top priority.
Better access to forest trails. Better, safer trail infrastructure. Better bike parking at shops and restaurants. Train under/overpass.
Better sidewalks that dont make bike riding rough
More stoplights to cross grand avenue
rules of the road are not followed. Vehicles that do stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks.
Maintenance on bike/walk infrastructure
pavement quality, availability of shade, antisocial driver behavior
I have not ridden a bike since living in Franklin Park because there is no room for a bike on the main streets, so I would have to ride a lot on sidewalks. The streets are pretty tight. I would get hit by a car for suire.
Large groups of bikers on trails can be aggressive and rude to walkers and bikers.
pedestrianized roads
None
no changes are needed
Better knees and hips!
Bike lanes need to be separated from traffic. I appreciate when bike lanes are put in, although when done incorrectly it seems like a waste of effort. A road in my community Busse Highway just had a road diet. I'm excited there are bike lanes, but they are not protected. Cars park at the curb, and the bike lane is in between where cars park and where cars drive. With this set up, cars interfere with the biker activity and bikers interfere with the car activity, when a simple layout change will give both modes of transportation their own dedicated space. This road connects lots of multifamily housing to two UP-NW stops. Some efficient, safe, convenient bike lanes here could have served as an example for the rest of the area
People drive through my neighborhood and speed through stop signs. There is so little parking that people park everywhere and block visibility at cross walks.
More east-west bike routes, more protected bike lanes, fewer space for cars--driving into the city cannot remain a standard travel choice for suburban drivers.
Sidewalks are too narrow for the amount of pedestrian traffic on Clark st. in andersonville. There should be public bathrooms in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Additionally, business corridors should all have protected bike lanes. All bike lanes should be protected if they are on major streets.
Less drive lawbreaking, e.g. running red lights and stop signs
Protected bike parking to deter theft
Sidewalks are not cleared after snow. Im slipping a week after it stopped snowing because they arent being plowed. Same with the protected bike lanes. Build more protected bike lanes. Reduce the footprint of IDOT roads like North, Western, and Fullerton to be complete streets instead of highways dividing the community and where pedestrians are most exposed to being hit by cars.
Bike infrastructure treated as infrastructure. Too many multi modal paths are treated as recreational facilities and not as part of the infrastructure. They are not cleared in winter. They do not connect to neighborhoods instead just go by them. Salt creek path under 290 has been blocked for 3ish years now with no detour, no other option. That could serve as a major piece of infrastructure. No such road would ever get that treatment.
speed bump cut-outs for bikes, better road surface in bike lanes
Protected intersections with longer pedestrian crossing times
Crosswalks are often blocked.
I borrow a family member's car and have limited access to a personal vehicle
More sidewalks
Other written responses:
More Overnight parking at the glenview Amtrak station.
Faster train service. and a route that goes up to Green Bay
Upgrades to destination stations. Some are in very poor condition.
More emphasis on public transportation, including seamless connections with other modes of transportation at stations.
Improved Union Station user experience.
Amtrak to Michigan - would love to have my daughter take a bus or train to/from college at Michigan State in East Lansing, but the timing does not work well with students' schedules.
I never know the time, schedule and route. They are very hard to understand and where to find them
A stop on Amtrak north of the Loop, between Union station and Glenview would be convenient. I love the Amtrak options for where they go but they are so slow and often not competitive with other modes. That being said, the Hiawatha and Lincoln Service are two exceptions with their competitive travel times and frequent service. Use that on other routes and continue to upgrade these routes as well!
Overnight parking in our little-used Bartlett Metra parking lot would be great. It would be nice to be able to drive to our Metra lot, take Amtrak to our destination for a few days and then return and drive our car back home. One-night parking in our Metra lot seems short-sided. It isn’t even possible to do an overnight in Chicago.
Cleanliness
direct commuter train access to commercial airports. A general need for north/south commuter train service
union and olgilvie are difficult to get to by public transportation
bikes on trains, bikes on bus, bike share. I use my bike every chance I get.
ambiguous question. Having high speed rail to other cities within 250-400 miles would be helpful as an alternative to high priced flights.
Remove wasteful public transportation
High speed rail
More Intra suburb highways and trains. Extend route 53 past Long Grove into Mundelein, etc. It takes so long to take surface streets because Long Grove will not let the highway through. Metra is great but it only goes downtown. It would be great to take a Metra train the more or less parallels 294 so one can take Metra to go to suburbs without first having to go all the way downtown and then change trains.
We need train service to Madison, and it's weird that we can't take the train to the largest train museum in the country (IRM).
Better quality of service. I don't see the service quality of these modes of transportation makes sense for me to use over driving or flying.
Some transportation available to MDY. Even if I have to wait for a flight.
Amtrak is simultaneously more expensive and less convenient than driving. I would pay more if there were more frequent departure times and more amenities on Amtrak. Many routes only run once a day, if that.
more bicycle routes
High speed rail
The Greyhound station is very run down. And we hear it may be sold so where would buses go then? Intercity buses are very important. I love using Amtrak, but the trains are often late and sometimes get canceled in very cold weather. Amtrak should be the best option in inclement weather. We also need to make the environment in Union Station. Much better for Amtrak passengers.
We’d prefer to take the train to visit family in Milwaukee, but the cost makes no sense for a family of 4
Increased access to train (Amtrak) vs bus with more express runs between major metro areas and options for rider safety including perhaps women-and children only cars or family cars, etc.
better customer experience
better schedules
cleanliness
Cleanliness of transportation busses, trains, and facilities. Better lighting in some stations. More visibility of police and security personnel.
Better quality stations that are well maintained and have amenities. Frequent and reliable service.
Cleanliness
More routes or high speed rail.
Better (or in some cases any) station facilities. Promote bus travel as a safe and efficient form of travel, reducing individuals in cars. Wish there was more attention paid to having a comprehensive bus network in the US, it's the only option for inter region travel for many low income persons.
high-speed rail service
Faster service
Improved care and quality of buses and trains
See above
Trains to indiana, kentucky and ohio
Connections and travel times to Metra is the main reason I do not use Amtrak. If Metra ran more frequently with faster travel times, I would be more inclined to take Amtrak.
Why do you need to connect me to places? Adults are accountable for their own transporation. STOP
Faster services that beat driving times.
The region needs high speed trains to neighboring cities like Indianapolis, Milwaukee, etc. The country needs a high speed train infrastructure initiative like the interstate highway initative.
Allow EBikes on trains and not boxed up in a baggage car. I was in italy last summer using trains and every train i was on there were people with bikes. Here i might be ok going chicago to Milwaukee but then find out they wont let the bike on to go Milwaukee to Minneapolis. And you are stuck!
High speed rail between regional cities with frequent service.
Driving into downtown Chicago is a big challenge due to the amount of traffic. But driving is still the best option, generally.
More routes to other destinations
Bike accommodations have really grown on all trains and I'm grateful for that. Would love to see the Borealis Amtrak train start allowing bikes.
Easier ability for bringing a bicycle with
High speed rail to Milwaukee, Madison, Twin Cities, St Louis, Cleveland
BUILD 53! We voted on it a decade ago and overwhelmingly passed
Nothing. IL is dying. Only the dredges of humanity want to be here. Anyone capable of leaving is. Obey the laws. Get rid of illegals and freeloaders and stop stealing from working citizens.
There should be high speed service and higher frequency.
Things like the St.Charles air bridge need to be funded. Expanded connections go CTA and pass through stations.
More destinations
I have a folding bike that cannot be treated like a "regular" bike - I want to keep it with me while traveling as I cannot lock it and leave it unsupervised
High-speed rail to other Midwestern cities should be a priority.
Cleanliness
Not to sound like a broken record, but Protected bike/bus lanes, speed cameras, pedestrian islands, slower speed limits, etc. & not just in Chicago - all of Illinois, too can improve our major roads. And improve traffic congestion as well
Amtrak gets stuck in freight traffic too often. And for Metra, please purchase the UP-N from the railroad and electrify it.
Need to be realistic.
I would love to take the amtrak everywhere but it is often times more expensive than flying and the trips take so long. I have gone to Memphis and Denver by train it the experience was good but it took many hours and was pricy. Though the legroom was amazing as was the observation car.
Updated trains.
lights to be onn a system where you can continue through them rather than stop at every single one
Service to downstate Illinois Universities (U of I and ISU) is very good.
Connections to OHare from the suburbs Suburb to suburb connections
We need faster modes like high speed rail to connect to cities outside of the state. And they need to be separated from freight traffic! Intercity trains and buses need to run more frequently to be useful. The Hiawatha is great but it stops running too early to be useful to attend late night events in Milwaukee.
More capacity for multi-modal transportation (e.g. bring bike on Metra or Amtrak)
electrify every Amtrak route in Illinois (try to get the Wolverine, too) and enforce the laws giving Amtrak precedence over freight traffic
Timing of Amtrak options. I took Amtrak to Ohio, and the only options to get on or off there were in the middle of the night. Crazy to see so many people lined up to get on a train at ~3 am. Kind of wild that’s the only option. Also, as mentioned previously, I need a rail route to Iowa.
I wish I could use Amtrak more. In my view it's often unreliable, delayed, expensive, infrequent, and lacking in amenities
Unsnarl freight traffic from Amtrak and actually have a legit intercity bus network.
I wish the train went farther north than Milwaukee. I wish there were a train route to Madison
Higher-speed rail services for medium-distance trips (like Milwaukee).
Schedule sucks for parents. Want to take my toddler to visit friends in Pittsburgh? You get in at 4 AM. Want to visit friends in Cleveland? You're getting in at 1:30 AM. That's barely feasible for a solo adult, let alone with a family in tow. Getting out of downtown to travel south (to Effingham, for example) takes 45 minutes just to get moving at speed.
Amtrak is too slow
There is so much to be said about improving adequacy and optimization of longer distance, public transport, and for that matter, driving oneself, etc. Such as removing air pollution, high-speed, trains, and on and on.
We would love to take Amtrak to places is Southern Michigan instead of renting a car but the timetables are HORRIBLE. This must change.
It is insane to me that we do not have CTA train connections to Union station. One of the lines I'd like to see is one that runs from museum park, to Roosevelt, to the Willis tower/Union tower as a major station + retail/restaurants, to connections on other lines all the way to Fulton Market, down ashland, and all the way up to North/Damen.
I need the Amtrak to extend from Indianapolis to Louisville Kentucky so I can visit my friends and family there.
More transit lines and rapid transit (see Europe).
Amtrak should runa service through Wisconsin to Minneapolis on the I-94 line, via Eau Claire and Menomonie, to allow more frequent service that doesn't conflict with rail freight on the La Crosse service line.
More reliable bike bookings
Easier to get to and from the rail stations (like Union Station) and my home.
The last Amtrak Illini 392 train from Champaign to Chicago arrives at 9:45 PM sometimes 9:30 PM. However, connecting out-bound UP-W trains and BNSF trains depart at 9:40 PM and 9:33 PM respectively. We need these connections to align!! For students traveling to the western suburbs, this is a missed connection to heavily used lines. Instead, we must wait an hour or more. Most students resort to ride share or travel by car to return home; this is a sorely missed opportunity.
Train station in Gurnee
Connect the Blue and Brown Lines! Make a cross-town line from Midway to O'Hare
More destinations like Indy, Rockford
Metra that isn’t solely focused on commuter rail. Regional rail is a better catch all I think
Amtrak train are too infrequent and too slow
HIGH SPEED RAIL. America is in the stone ages in regards to regional transit compared to most other developed countries
Buses
More cross-region options.
need new corridors throughout the Midwest with many trips per day. Amtrak is very expensive, slow, and unreliable. and many routes have crazy schedules.
More information about services. Different hubs, I don't only want to go downtown to catch an intercity bus.
Greater Metra ownership of tracks
Amtrak still fails to make transporting with a bicycle (i.e. bringing a bicycle on the train) easy. Metra has made great improvements for cyclists on trains in ten years.
no changes are needed
How do we not have high speed rail yet? It’s embarrassing.
Service that is cleaner, more comfortable
More trains with quiet cars
Amtrak Illinois and Metra should work closer together to provide more service, better transit connections to Ogilvie and Union Stations, additional alternative intercity hubs outside the Loop, ORD and MDW (e.g., additional coach bus terminal at 95th, Jeff Park, Howard for example), new Amtrak stops in the city (like Mayfair on Hiawatha allowing L/bus transfers, or a Lincoln Service stop at 35th/Archer or Ashland to connect to Orange Line). Also need a Metra/Amtrak/Pink Line transfer somewhere in the vicinity of Pilsen/Humboldt Park (Kedzie or Western).
I can't bring my dog or a bike trailer, which means I'm not likely to use this as an option for regional travel unless I'm paying for expensive boarding. More bike and ride options?
High speed rail, no freight traffic, higher frequency (they are all sold out!)
Increase frequency and run later Hiawatha trains. Also more frequent routes to ST Louis, Indianapolis and Detroit. We need these to be faster too and more affordable.
State owned right of ways. Suing freight for failure to give right of way to passenger trains. Amtrak should be the provider going union to rockford not metra. State using emanate domain to build train station even if the city does not want them (look and you Huntley)
higher capacity on existing services
Please consider Indiana South shoreline and the opportunity that presents itself from Carroll avenue North to New Buffalo
Cleanliness on Amtrak Hiawatha is a problem.
Investment Priorities
Other written responses:
Loading Zones (even on residential streets) to discourage delivery drivers from illegal parking that endangers pedestrians/cyclist/all road users.
Regional rail service
Not buses--trains!
Metra trains. Pace and CTA don’t operate in my area.
None come to mind
EVs specifically, not cars generally.
Transportation to MDY
More enforcement of not using handheld mobile phones while driving
EV charging. More chargers need to be installed along interstate highways instead of in metro areas. Look at the EV charging infrastructure along I-88 west of Aurora all the way to Iowa. Look at EV charging options long I-55 south of Joliet and I-57 south of Cook County.
None! Stop spending money and making government investment bigger and bigger. Just maintain the roads and bike paths that you don't maintain.
Just public
Train
Scooters
I also want to note that I think we should increase investment in public transit, walking, biking, and access for people with disabilities while simultaneously investing LESS in cars. We have been disproportionately investing in car infrastructure for over a century. It's time to invest in things that are better for people and the planet.
Would love to see a walking bridge across Broadway and Main (Rt. 12) in Richmond. And a walking bridge at corner of Rt. 173 and Rt. 12 in Richmond. Or at least a Stop light at Broadway and Rt. 12. With NO RIGHT TURNS ON RED ALLOWED
fleets of small electric self driving cars that bring people door to door.
Build a bridge at Caton Farm Road connected to Archer Avenue.
Electric vehicles. This could include scooters, e-bikes, small electric cars, etc.
Train transportation
Specifically trains and rail based transport.
Electric vehicles
passenger train like Amtrak
Access for people with disabilities is not a mode of transportation. People with disabilities use all these forms of transportation.
NONE, STOP IT
T R A I N S
golf carts to be used within certain guidelines
instead of alarge bus, that are usually empty. Perhaps vans would be more useful and profitable. Also something like uber for doctor visits and grocery shopping. But it must be afforable to seniors.
public bus route throughout thought Geneva
Pace senior options
NONE
Bus lanes, speed cameras, pedestrian islands (make walking easier and safer for kids & senior citizens).
electric vehicles
Electric vehicle infrastructure
We should stop over investing in cars
Train
Rideshare meaning carshare not ridehail.
None - Maintain or reorganize current levels of investment; Increased investment ultimately translates to higher cost and decreased affordability for residents.
Water ferry
shuttles
Public Transit via Rail/Tram
Access to OHare from western suburbs
High speed rail, congestion pricing
Improve the durability and quality of road surfaces; enforce traffic laws
All of the above.
EV stations
Stop investing in private car infrastructure is enviornmentally (yes even IF everyone switched to EVs) and its financially unsustainable. Just stop period.
Extend the water taxi north and south
Anything but carS
High speed rail, regional rail, water taxi, carshare (like ZipCar)
Regional trains
Stop investing in car infrastructure. Its expensive, inefficient, destroys our communities, peoples lives and the planet. Also we can "EV" our way out of the climate and traffic violence crisis. We must invest in walking, biking, and transit first.
Gurnee Train station
Metra and CTA Subway/EL. NOT BUSES
Cars are over invested in. All other forms are under invested in. The state or county should claim currently unused right-of-ways. As they are not being used for the intended purpose. Such as abandoned rail. This would open up other opportunities for commuter rail, or bike infrastructure.
Ebike and escooter
Municipal electric car charging points
Specifically adding more yellow line stops along the tracks in Skokie
Invest in msking various modes of transportation compatible with each other. RULES OF ROAD FOR ALL. PRIOITIZE WALKING AND STOP BUNDLING WALKING WITH BIKES - THEY ARE NATURAL ENEMIES. LOWER SPEEDS. AND IF WE HAVE DELUVERY TRUCKS EVERYWHERE FIND A WAY.
It seems to me that sometimes congestion is caused by stupidly configured traffic lights. Instead of adding lanes, sometimes you can just fix the traffic lights.
regional bus/rail
Help moms with stroller to access Metra.
Micro transit
High speed rail and regional rail/s-bahn
Make drivers directly pay for transit investments via mainline tolling on the Dan Ryan, Ike, and Kennedy. And subsidize bikeshare like we do transit (the fares are too high)
Bus Rapid Transit
Electric, driverless rideshare like Waymo
Other written responses:
Noise pollution from highways
Join the 3 service boards and get rid of the bloated RTA.
Better transportation addresses all these by default
Questions presume that we can fix issues through transportation. Some can be, but we must really put the screws to local agencies to modernize thinking in development, development permitting and whole development approaches. We must also stop the 1950s thinking that transit has to wait to implement a route until there is a specific residential density. If transit (buses in particular) works hand in hand with local agencies, the density will come with frequent, reliable, comfortable service.
All of these things are important, but no one project can or should address everything. I'd rather see real progress in one area than spend time/resources researching a perfect project and end up with nothing to show for it but a proposal.
No opinion
Cut government wasteful spending
None come to mind
Rte. 14 and Main St. Curve
Just make the roads better
None
Doing well in 60422
The transportation system, which all tax payers contribute to, should go to support the needs of ALL residents. Not specific social classes or particular racial groups.
Infrastructure Maintenance
More enforcement of not using handheld mobile phones while driving
just do their job
The transportation system needs to keep up with the development in the communities. The current infrastructure is nowhere near what is needed.
None of these
Resilience to weather events, the extreme delays during ice and snow are concerning, giving that this is a cold climate, that is unavoidable.
Properly fund metra
Equitably for the region
None of the above.
Stop this nonsense! Why are you looking to spend more money all the time. The climate has always been changing. Just get a life and get out of everyone else's!
north/south suburban rail system
A strong and used public transportation system will do all of the above
Availability to access groceries, close store
Rolling back 2nd amendment restrictions.
1. Speeding up and reducing the cost of transportation capital investments. 2. Encouraging transit-supportive land use. 3. Treating traffic congestion as a function of personal choice and a strong economy and not as a scourge that must be eradicated at all costs. 4. Treating telework and virtual connections to all sorts of life activities as an important form of transport. 5. Improved energy efficiency/GHG reduction in the transportation sector. 6. Use of private capital via public-private partnerships. 7. Building expertise inside transportation agencies and reduce reliance on outside consultants. 8. Treat the time of transit/bicyclists/pedestrians as being of equal value as the time of motorists. 9. Reorienting IDOT and local DOT planning priorities away from the "build out of congestion" approach that still prevails.
Land use (more walkable communities near transit instead of parking lots & highways)
Housing justice! Transportation and housing go hand-in-hand because they are both so closely tied to land use patterns and regulations. Transit needs higher density housing and higher density housing benefits from transit. We should not have suburban train stations surrounded by single family housing. We need ETOD policies outside of Chicago.
Transportation needs to just deal with transportation, not social issues
None
i don't understand how any of these are tied to transportation
Reducing crime is high priority
Reduce crime on CTA trains. Remove homeless.
N/a
More disability services offered.
Stop putting facilities that require major traffic access right in residential areas
Slow zones/maintenance.
Safety and cleanliness
Make public transportation pay for itself. Use gas tax to fix the roads,not subsidize public transportation.
airport access
I don't understand this question.
NONE. WTF
noise pollution. Safety. Think outside of the stupid CTA/RTA bus. Waste of money, clean air, and taking up huge space on roads.
Stop the DEI, CRT, climate change nonsense.
none
Really? Environmental and racial justice? And climate change? Who writes this stuff?
Disability justice. I personally rely on transit to get to work, but if buses don’t run or leave me stranded in the heat with no water, shade, or restrooms, it’s not safe for me to use it.
Efficiency in service delivery - merge CTA, PACE etc.
Please crack down on corruption. There's no reason for our transportation infrastructure to cost as much as it does.
Enforce traffic laws!!!
Pitch all that liberal garbage out and just allow people to live. No one else is my problem and I shouldn't be forced to pay for them. If someone likes an initiative, let them write a check or shut up
None of these identity politics. Just build transit that is not for cars and you cover all of these. Trains need to go places and move people affordable. Not be tied to other shit that just slows down the process.
Prioritize improving existing transit and small connectivity projects (i.e. bike network, rebuilding broken Congress branch of Blue Line, and adding missing bus routes cut since Covid) over massive expansions (i.e. Red Line expansion)
Trains that actually run instead of ghost trains and buses
Noise pollution
better controls on population growth
Safety
Reducing the size of roads
Happiness and mental health. Research shows that driving makes people depressed and agitated. We need to fix this by making driving the last choice that people have to get around. Countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have some of the happiest people in the world, and it’s largely due to the amount of walking, cycling, and transit that people use. They aren’t stuck in the cars all day like we are here.
AirBnB/ VRBO rentals in residential neighborhoods should have restrictions to protect the children living in those communities from potential dangers of violent or sex offenders renting in family neighborhoods without having to register
Accelerate transition to electric vehicles.
Reliability
Why are all these options ("resilience to climate change", "racial justice and equity", "environmental justice" all WOKE GARBAGE??! And what do they have to do with TRANSPORTATION???
Improve land use around transit stations
None of these above. Keep local tax dollars local, stop using suburban tax dollars to fix Chicago RTA/CTA mismanagement and corruption
Condition of roads, truck trafficPlease
add more crosswalks on sheridan road, add more stop signs and spped bumps in neighborhoods so drivers slow down
None of the above
None
Transit-served real estate. The key to long term sustainability of transit is to densify the land use around it. We need to aggressively build more real estate around transit. Ban drive thrus, and parking lots around transit stations.
Many of these can be accomplished simply by making existing sustainable transportation (biking, public transit, etc) more convenient, faster, and expansive. I think it may be a distraction to focus on any of these topic areas without seeing the bigger picture of giving residents more options beyond cars. For example, if we tried to take a step forward on environmental justice by electrifying buses (an admirable goal by itself) it may unintentionally take us two steps back if the buses are expensive and unreliable to the point that there are fewer buses running compared to diesel buses. This would exacerbate transit inequity and cause more people to drive their personal vehicles, which would add to congestion and pollution. Therefore, I don't think we should let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Focus on expanding sustainable transportation access, and let it solve these issues.
Most of these things are tied closely together. Improving access in transit deserts reduces reliance on cars, which creates opportunities to reduce pavement coverage, which reduces urban heat island effects and flooding. Any good plan is going to improve all of these issues.
All of the above are improved by investing in transit and divesting in cars in city settings.
More trees - they keep the city cool, and they help slow down vehicles, and they protect pedestrians. Take some room out of the road used for parking and make it a place for trees and bioswales.
The RTA’s joint development plan should passed and be used to build RTA owned transit supportive development to both drive ridership and generate revenue for the RTA and the service boards.
?
Nothing else. Don't try to do 10 different things at once. Regional transit should focus on regional transit.
End Highway Expansion, Safe and Productive Streets, Financial solvency, Land-value taxes, End parking mandates and subsidies, transparent local accounting, focusing on Return on Investment
Regulate and enforce the variety of small motor vehicles (minibikes, electric bikes, motorized small modes of transportation.
Trains. Trams. See Tokyo, Berlin, Zurich, London’s Elizabeth Line, Paris.
No buses, more walking.
Add speed bumps around schools
Better accessibility for people who need it.
Try to make them all compatible by slowing speeds, making street sugns (stop! One way!) more prominent. And make sure everyone on the road kniws sbdvibets the rules of the road, with lights, no cell phone use in the street by anyone, consideration for others in the public way including sidewalks, And stop making bike/scooter riders feels that they are the top priority and they can do anything including Tun down pedestrians and endanger everyone else by their self-centered behaviors. Keeping bikes safe is dangerous for everyone else.
Maintenance of busses and trains
Block off portions of downtown to car traffic. Biggest example is Magnificent Mile — Michigan Ave between Wacker and Oak Street. Turning this stretch into a pedestrian-only zone will improve life and boost local businesses. This can be implemented in phases, starting with weekends, when the stretch is off limits to cars. See how Paris and Brussels have done it. Divert cars to State Street and Lake Shore Drive
NO OTHERS. EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE ONLY
Integrate regional systems better
value of human life. drivers kill thousands per year. evs won't fix this.
The RTA’s joint development study can accomplish a lot of this while also funding transit ops or capital expansion.
Why on earth would I need the transportation system to address any of these things? Is this serious? All we need is to get from point a to point b reliably and quickly.
Greater Metra ownership of tracks in order to make services more efficient and optimal. Maybe further planning into the electrification of Metra, as in the Metra Electric District. Batteries are nice, but I think overhead electrification should be something to consider for the long term. Greater pedestrianization efforts.
No comment. I dislike surveys that require an answer to every question.
spend less
More enforcement of existing traffic laws (speeding, noise, etc.)
To be so honest, it just needs to be easier to live a car free life in the outer neighborhoods of Chicago/adjacent municipalities.
Innovative transportation - experiment with new revenue systems in managed lanes, peak pricing, increase regional involvement in autonomous vehicle pilot programs. Willingness of transit agencies to implement routes in advance of residential and commercial density - use of transit investment as a way to spur development (a la Minneapolis). Expand fleet diversity and flexibility where agencies build a range of vehicular options to put into service including light rail Develop a plan to replace century old technology with more efficient and comfortable passenger carriages.
Housing affordability
We need to build transit where there are lots of people already. A circle line would be a huge deal.
Improving public transportation affects all this so weird question
none - if we focus on making transit fast, extensive, and frequent, many of those other topic areas are addressed as well. for example; increasing our transit mode share to 20% would have a WAY better effect on the environment than having the same mode share but 100% electric busses
Mortality and mobidity of the current system.
Frequency!
Safety on public transit
More housing near transit.
Accessibility and convenience.. more places that i can access in a reasonable time and a larger network
Housing affordability/transit oriented development via elimination of exclusionary zoing which would increase density and public transit ridership.
getting people from place to place (it is a transit system! it does not need to address "other topic areas"!)
I would click community development, but it is also put with economic development. That is often used a justification for putting in developments that are counter to the other issues I see as important. While good government and public finance is important for our transit as well, I will not click it because good public finance has been used as a justification to reduce public transit
Sexism. Most transportation systems are designed by and for men, ignoring safety issues that affect women, and the ways that we travel (we don't just go to and from the loop every day -- we need to travel between neighborhoods).
Ideal System
