The Urban Transportation Center at UIC

12/29/2020

Forecasters warn of poor visibility as first major winter storm hits Chicago area: ‘We’re expecting conditions to get bad very, very quick’

Be careful out there tonight! The first real snowfall of the season is here. https://www.chicagotribune.com/weather/ct-snow-chicago-winter-weather-20201229-do5ew2kp4ba2vlbttedihb3lqi-story.html

Most of northern Illinois is expected to get at least an inch of snow when a winter storm hits Tuesday afternoon, though areas to the north and west of Chicago could see as much as 7 inches from the season’s first major snowfall.

12/23/2020

What’s the future of public transit in Chicago?

Chicago area transit agencies will need to consider transportation modes that transcend trains and buses in the future due to the loss of fare box revenues and ridership declines brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj offered that comment in an article, "What's the future of public transit in Chicago?" The just-published Time Out Chicago article was written by Emma Krupp and includes thoughts from other area transit leaders. https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/whats-the-future-of-public-transit-in-chicago-122120

The city’s transit agencies need federal cash and new ideas to stay afloat in a post-pandemic economy, experts say.

12/22/2020

Research Roundup reports on UTC studies that focused on the impact of quiet zones at grade crossings and methodologies that can be employed to improve access to healthcare facilities. And, that's just the first page! Yes, the UTC Fall 2020 Connector newsletter is now available for download. You'll also read briefs on the three Seminar Series presentations and the October 21 AV webinar. Plus, get updates on two UTC RA alumni and read an inspiring year-end message from UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj.

12/21/2020

Even with stimulus, US mass transit faces a death spiral - City Monitor

Billions in financial support from the federal government is needed for metropolitan transportation agencies to provide adequate service next year. UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj offered that perspective in an online article, "Even with stimulus, US mass transit faces a death spiral," just published by City Monitor. The report by Jake Blumgart also addresses political factors in Congress that have an impact on the future of public transit. https://citymonitor.ai/transport/even-with-stimulus-us-mass-transit-faces-a-death-spiral

The fear is that service cuts today could reduce the constituency for public transportation later.

12/21/2020

What role will autonomous vehicles play in the years ahead? This topic was addressed October 21 during the UIC Urban Forum Webinar. The zoom recording featured presentations by Dr. Stan Caldwell and Dr. Austin Brown, with UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj moderating. Recently, we prepared a synopsis of the Q&A portion of the webinar. Visit this link to get access. https://uofi.app.box.com/s/0oyg8zbjgd2zy912e62k6ek7q56erkny

12/18/2020

Analysis of Supply and Demand for Public Transit Availability to Chicago-Area Healthcare Facilities Results in Next Steps on Improving Access for Disadvantaged | Urban Transportation Center | University of Illinois at Chicago

A recently completed UTC study analyzed deficiencies in public transit accessibility to healthcare facilities in metro Chicago. The research team compared demand and supply sides to identify potential transit gaps. One result: The methodology employed can be used in other markets. Learn more by reading this news story, which provides a link to the study, "Deficiencies in Public Transit Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Chicago." https://utc.uic.edu/news-stories/analysis-of-supply-and-demand-for-public-transit-availability-to-chicago-area-healthcare-facilities-results-in-next-steps-on-improving-access-for-disadvantaged/

Analysis of Supply and Demand for Public Transit Availability to Chicago-Area Healthcare Facilities Results in Next Steps on Improving Access for Disadvantaged Edward Bury | Posted on December 18, 2020 Study Completed by Urban Transportation Center at UIC Led to Methodologies That Can Apply to Other...

12/18/2020

The impact of the pandemic on transportation is among the topics addressed in the 2020 Annual Report video just prepared by our friends and colleagues at CMAP. View this compelling three-minute production to learn updates to the ON TO 2050 regional plan and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJulNb9T7o&feature=youtu.be

12/17/2020

One of the leading transportation research events in the world will be virtual in January, and the UTC will make its presence known. Yes, the Transportation Research Board 2021 Annual Meeting will be held online during January. UTC faculty and staff will be active through participation in more than a dozen committee and subcommittee meetings. Visit this link to learn more. Are you participating in TRB 2021? If so, please share details. https://utc.uic.edu/news-stories/utc-participation-at-2021-trb-virtual-annual-meeting/

12/15/2020

The City of Chicago just completed a second e-scooter trial. Do you have thoughts and observations to share? If so, please consider this survey from the Chicago Department of Transportation. https://lnkd.in/e-ymT9C

12/12/2020

Media Briefing Video 12-08-20

Some great news for motorists in and around Chicago: As noted in this one-and-a-half minute video from the Illinois Department of Transportation, four more ramp openings that are part of the massive Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project are scheduled for completion this month. Learn more from this IDOT video, which features cool graphics and a pulsating soundtrack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95rFx4WVNI&feature=youtu.be

12/11/2020

Pandemic presents opportunity for communities to embrace biking and walking - CMAP

Want evidence that more people took to biking and walking in the months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? Read this report posted by our friends and colleagues at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. You'll learn about records for Divvy use, pop up bike lanes and more. https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/updates/all/-/asset_publisher/UIMfSLnFfMB6/content/pandemic-presents-opportunity

COVID-19 has affected northeastern Illinois’ entire transportation system since March, with residents showing increased interest in biking and walking as one example. These travel modes provide...

12/09/2020

The CTA faces big service cuts in 2021 unless the federal government provides emergency funding. In a CBS Chicago Channel 2 report aired during the 6 pm news tonight, UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj shared thoughts with investigative reporter Megan Hickey on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on rapid transit and bus service in Chicago. View the segment from this link. https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/12/08/cta-warns-of-massive-across-the-board-cuts-if-federal-funding-doesnt-come-through/

12/08/2020

Crain's Daily Gist podcast: How transportation drives workplace equity

In today's Crain's Daily Gist podcast, reporter Alma Campos addresses how some local companies are taking steps to improve transportation options to help employees living in low-income and primarily minority neighborhoods. Listen to the presentation, moderated by Amy Guth, then share your thoughts. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-daily-gist/crains-daily-gist-podcast-how-transportation-drives-workplace-equity?utm_source=editorial-promos&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20201207&utm_content=hero-headline

A lack in access to transportation limits job options for many in low-income and predominately minority communities. Crain’s Equity reporter Alma Campos joins the podcast to discuss what local companies are doing to address the problem.

12/07/2020

Registration is open for the December 15 Information Session covering CUPPA graduate degree offerings. CUPPA staff will break down the curriculum per program and offer admissions / application advice. Candid insight about the student experience will be shared directly from current graduate students. The event kicks off at 5 pm. Visit this link. https://uic.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrcu6hqj0jEtK3_on63sGtg3i77sf5V3b5

12/01/2020

Pandemic could force drastic public transit cuts across US, officials warn

Transit agencies across the nation will have challenges maintaining a basic operating schedule in the near future unless Congress offers financial support. UTC Director Dr. P.S. Sriraj offered that comment in an article just published by the Sinclair Broadcast Group on the impact of the pandemic on public transit. The report by Stephen Loiaconi also provides insight from transit agency leaders, the American Public Transportation Association, and other transportation professionals. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/nation-world/transit-agencies-weigh-drastic-service-cuts-as-they-seek-aid-from-congress

Public transit systems throughout the United States are weighing severe service cuts as they grapple with dramatic drops in revenue and ridership due to the coronavirus pandemic, and experts warn the fallout from those changes could be felt across the economy unless Congress provides new stimulus fu...

12/01/2020

The Fall 2020 UTC Seminar Series had to go virtual this semester; but that didn't stop us from hosting three outstanding events that addressed evolving mobility options, public/private partnerships within supply chains, and analyzing "transportation happiness." If you missed a presentation, please note that all Zoom events were recorded and PowerPoint slides are saved for download. Here's the link to the September 17 event featuring: Erin Aleman, Executive Director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning; Gia Biagi, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation; and, Amy Rynell, Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance. https://uofi.app.box.com/s/8gwikgixs27b5ji4fkeojx4mt7qry4q6

12/01/2020

Last week, Crain's Chicago Business published an outstanding online commentary series on the topic of enhancing equity within metropolitan Chicago. One article, "We need a transportation ecosystem for those who can least afford cars," was co-authored by former UTC Executive Director Stephen E. Schlickman Visit this link to access that and other commentaries in the Equity online series. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/equity

11/30/2020

The Freshwater Media Festival tomorrow at 4 p.m. is an event to mark the launching of The Backward River, a digital storytelling experience about the Chicago River. Two MUPPs, Becky Lyons and Anish Tailor (a former UTC Research Assistant), were part of the team behind the project. Visit the group's page to watch the presentation. https://www.facebook.com/events/736790110257203

11/24/2020

UIC Chancellor Dr. Michael Amiridis will participate during the announcement of the Drive for Disability Inclusion (D4DI) Award Ceremony December December 2. Entrants are UIC student organizations who submitted the best pitches for creating a disability-friendly student organization. The whole event will be live on the D4DI official page. Visit this link for details. www.facebook.com/CDISquad

11/23/2020

Darl Hall Scholarship Fund | Urban Transportation Center | University of Illinois at Chicago

Learn more about the Darl Hall Scholarship Fund, named for the father for former UTC Research Assistant and CUPPA PhD student Em Hall. The fund will provide $1,000 grants to UTC research assistants pursuing advanced degrees in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy.
https://utc.uic.edu/news-stories/darl-hall-scholarship-fund/

Darl Hall Scholarship Fund Posted on November 23, 2020 Honors Father of UTC Research Assistant Em Hall The Darl Hall Scholarship was announced in 2020 to honor the father of UTC Research Assistant Em Hall, who is now pursuing her PhD Studies in the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. T...

11/21/2020

Chicago's gridlock leaves the region at a congestion crossroads

The latest Crain's Chicago Business tackles a transportation subject that helps define Chicago: Its freight trucking and rail infrastructure. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-freight/crains-forum-freight?utm_source=editorial-promos&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20201119&utm_content=hero-headline

Get ready for shipageddon this holiday season as an increase in truck and rail traffic creates even greater gridlock and pain for the region's already congested expressways and industrial corridors.

11/20/2020

The outlook for public transit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain. In a Financial Times article re-published in the Los Angeles Times yesterday, UTC Director Dr. Ps Sriraj offers commentary. The article, written by Gregory Meyer, centers on ridership declines and funding challenges facing the New York, New Jersey and metropolitan Chicago public transit systems.
RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden is also quoted, and statistics from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) are included. After reading this well-written and researched article, please share your thoughts on the short and long-term outlook for public transit. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-11-19/new-york-coronavirus-covid-19-crisis-mass-transit-systems

11/19/2020

Capturing travel behavior and experience can be done with a hybrid approach where the power of a smart phone and human interaction augment each other. That summarizes the focus of today's UTC Seminar Series presentation, "Measuring, Managing, and Maximizing Transportation Happiness Using Smartphone-Aided Day Reconstruction Method." Thanks to Dr. Yingling Fan, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Minnesota, for leading this final Seminar Series event of the Fall 2020 semester. Visit this link to download audio or visual recordings and Dr. Fan's presentation. https://uofi.app.box.com/s/xem6lj84bif1azft21kwzp0ife752bkv

11/17/2020

UIC distributes biking survey as part of Bike Friendly University re-certification | UIC Today

The UIC campus currently maintains a silver certification as a Bike Friendly University. Have a few minutes? Then visit this UCI News story to learn more and get a link to a survey where you can share thoughts on the cycling environment at UIC. https://today.uic.edu/uic-distributes-biking-survey-as-part-of-bike-friendly-university-re-certification?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=today%2B11.17.20

With bike parking at nearly every campus building, a Divvy membership discount for student and employees, and many additional resources available to cyclists, the University of Illinois Chicago has maintained its certification as a “silver level” Bike Friendly University by the League of America...

11/16/2020

Dr. Yingling Fan, the featured speaker at the November 19 UTC Seminar Series presentation, also is the lead inventor of the Dynamica technology, which features an app to measure and shape human behavior and well-being. Have you registered for the presentation, "Measuring, Managing, and Maximizing Transportation Happiness Using Smartphone-Aided Day Reconstruction Method?" Well, there's still time. Visit this link to learn more and register. The event kicks off at noon, and there will be time for questions. https://utc.uic.edu/events/measuring-managing-and-maximizing-transportation-happiness-using-smartphone-aided-day-reconstruction-method/

11/11/2020

The October 16 Virtual Transport Chicago lives on. Yes, you now can watch Vimeo recordings of the outstanding lineup of the eight Red Line/Blue Line hour-long sessions, the keynote presentation from the legendary Sam Schwartz, and the plenary session: "Shaping the Cook County Transit Plan." Visit this link to get access. http://www.transportchicago.org/agenda.html?mc_cid=08cedd3b15&mc_eid=b0a4c32adc

11/06/2020

CMAP Rail Grade Crossing

Our friends and colleagues at CMAP have just posted a very cool short video on a subject very well-known to the UTC: The freight rail network in Northeastern Illinois -- and its value to our economy. Here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQXbZBC6Lg8&feature=youtu.be

10/30/2020

Here's a great way to get some outdoor exercise and maybe even win a prize. Our friends at the Active Transportation Alliance kick off their Walk Challenge today, a two-week initiative to, well, encourage walking as a way to get around. Yes, there's still time to register. https://activetransreg.org/event/94/individual/registration

10/29/2020

Quiet Zones and Site Refinements Can Help Alleviate Challenges Borne by Rail Grade Crossings in Two South Chicago Suburbs, Study Says | Urban Transportation Center | University of Illinois at Chicago

Dolton and Riverdale are two suburbs south of Chicago that contain a significant number of railroad grade crossings. In a just-finalized research report, "Quiet Zone Study for Dolton and Riverdale," UTC researchers analyzed 10 at-grade highway crossings in order to identify ways to reduce the number of required train horn blasts and improve safety for pedestrians and motorists. Visit this link to read a news story on the study and get access to an abstract and the complete report. https://utc.uic.edu/news-stories/quiet-zones-and-site-refinements-can-help-alleviate-challenges-borne-by-rail-grade-crossings-in-two-south-chicago-suburbs-study-says/

Quiet Zones and Site Refinements Can Help Alleviate Challenges Borne by Rail Grade Crossings in Two South Chicago Suburbs, Study Says Edward Bury | Posted on October 29, 2020 UTC Researchers Analyzed 10 Sites in Two Heavily Industrialized South Suburban Chicago Communities CHICAGO, October 2020 -- A...