Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Juan Sebastian Arias emphasized how ETOD policies are creating inclusive growth. “ETOD is more than just affordable housing,” Arias said. “When we reduce parking mandates and invest in public infrastructure, we also make room for small businesses and community amenities to thrive.”

Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Wyllys Mann's affordable housing development was made possible through previous TOD planning and investment in the Harvey Transportation Center. “It’s not just the trains and buses that make a place desirable; it’s the investment in planning from agencies that makes developments possible.”

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Drew Mitchell cautioned: “It would be absolutely tragic if our transit system lost funding…if the same thing that opened up the Chicago suburbs to population growth and business and entertainment is the same thing that took it down. It scares me.”

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Quintin Primo III illustrated how transit drives redevelopment using a high-profile example: the James R. Thompson Center. Google’s decision to acquire and rehabilitate this iconic downtown building connected to six of the eight CTA rail lines, was driven by its unique transit accessibility.

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Paula Worthington underscored the evidence behind the economic value of transit. Research consistently shows that robust transit systems increase accessibility, land value, and job access while lowering transportation costs.

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 17h

Recap of recent @metroplanning.bsky.social webinar (linked) on the importance for the Chicago region of transit and transit/density-friendly policies around transit assets such as rail stations and corridors with frequent bus service. metroplanning.org/what-are-the...

What Are the Stakes For Developers in Transit Funding and Reform? > Metropolitan Planning Council

On October 9, 2025, Metropolitan Planning Council convened a virtual discussion to discuss the economic implications of Illinois’ transit funding crisis and the opportunities that reform could unlock.

metroplanning.org

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 18h

"Targets w/out any incentives or penalties has led to our current performative system, where safety is only given lip service. For states and MPOs that fail to meet these new safety targets, where improvements are required, there should be penalties that hold them accountable for improving safety."

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 18h

A call to hold state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations financially accountable for the safety performance of their roadways. Safety performance standards without accountability may help explain why US crash/fatality rates are 2x-4x higher than peers.

Transportation for America @t4america.bsky.social · 18h

Many states set safety targets that are not grounded in reality or are even worse than the status quo.

The next surface transportation reauthorization can enforce measurable safety improvements and hold states and MPOs accountable.

Learn more👇
t4america.org/2025/10/08/h...

Holding states and MPOs accountable for road safety - Transportation For America

Everything in the federal transportation program has the word “safety” plastered all over it, but the program fails at nearly every turn to actually require safety improvements from those who are pick...

t4america.org

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 20h

Perhaps @ilblackadvocacy.bsky.social will kindly share its position on ADUs and other efforts to increase population density and affordability by increasing the amount and variety of the housing stock around transit. Saw no mention of such on a quick review of its website. www.ilblackadvocacy.org

Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative

The Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative is a Black-centered advocacy organization building power across Black communities in Illinois utilizing the foundational principles of justice, equity and abunda...

www.ilblackadvocacy.org

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 20h

Vehicle automation could have pandemic-like impact on public transit systems as currently structured and operated. This article, based on a newly released book, identifies two ways public transit agencies can productively respond to vehicle automation. www.changinglanesnewsletter.com/p/driving-au...

Driving Automation and Transit

Automation could kill transit as we know it, or make it even better

www.changinglanesnewsletter.com

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 21h

Updated fiscal cliff numbers and an outline of what comes next if the Illinois General Assembly fails to address the funding gap facing the transit system(s) in the Chicago region. www.rtachicago.org/transit-fund...

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Reposted by Thomas Bamonte

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 21h

As part of our commitment to transparency throughout the budget process, RTA has updated the projected 2026 regional transit fiscal cliff to $230 million — up from $202 million presented by the Service Boards at the Oct. 3 Ad Hoc Committee meeting. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

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Reposted by Thomas Bamonte

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 22h

Apparently the Chicagoland transit fiscal cliff for 2026 went *up* quietly yesterday, now up to $230 million. A week and a half ago it was $202 million; two weeks ago it was $771 million. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

www.rtachicago.org

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 21h

Op-ed by Adam Slade @ilblackadvocacy.bsky.social makes the case for the @chicagocta.bsky.social Red Line Extension to Chicago's far South Side and stresses the value of high-density development near transit service. #ETOD www.chicagobusiness.com/elevate/tran...

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Reposted by Thomas Bamonte

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 1d

This law will enable a transit funding referendum to be placed on the ballot in Nov 2026 in 3 to 5 Bay Area counties. The funding plan will be developed by MTC over the next few months.

Senator Scott Wiener @scottwiener.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: The Governor signed our legislation to authorize a Bay Area regional funding ballot measure for transit.

SB 63 is critical to avoid massive service cuts at Muni, BART, Caltrain & other systems. We need to stabilize & modernize these systems for the Bay Area’s future.

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

The @chicagocta.bsky.social has released its proposed 2026 budget. It has "baseline," "growth," and "reduced" operating budget scenarios. The reduced and growth budgets paint starkly different futures for transit riders and workers.

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

More information here: calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Gavin Newsom signs law overhauling local zoning to build more housing

After weeks of waiting, California’s governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.

calmatters.org

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

California Gov. has signed SB 79: Allows for much more housing construction near transit as a way to alleviate the state’s housing shortage and its resulting affordability crisis, while also steering more residents towards cash-strapped public transportation systems. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/10/g...

Governor Newsom builds on this year’s historic housing reforms, signs legislation to accelerate housing and affordability | Governor of California

www.gov.ca.gov

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

Op-ed by Erin Aleman, the executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: "We cannot afford a strategy that only helps our system scrape by. We must fund a transit system that thrives — not just survives." www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/what...

Opinion: This fall is Illinois' chance to ensure transit not only survives — but thrives

We must go beyond survival and work toward building a strong, truly regional transit system, writes Erin Aleman of CMAP.

www.chicagobusiness.com

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

Veto session: "Perhaps the most significant item on the to-do list is deciding whether to implement sweeping changes and secure much-needed funding to keep buses and trains in the Chicago region running on time." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/13/i...

Illinois legislators poised to grapple with trains, insurance and the Bears

Perhaps the most significant item on legislators’ veto session to-do list is whether to implement changes and secure funding to keep buses and trains around Chicago running on time.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

It's been two years since CMAP released its Plan of Action for Regional Transit, a comprehensive report on transit governance and funding commissioned by the ILGA that has been a valuable resource for all parties involved. cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/u...

cmap.illinois.gov

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 1d

A look at the prospects for the transit reform package in the veto session of the Illinois General Assembly, which kicks off tomorrow. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning speaking up with a menu of transit funding options. www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/spr...

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 2d

Chicago Marathon.

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 3d

"Vacationers rarely return gushing, 'What a wonderful city — it was so easy to park!'”

Yet, "Untethering society from the automobile will be a Herculean task. [T]he first step toward reversing the damage is getting more people to recognize the problem."

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 5d

Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.

Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?

My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

www.bloomberg.com

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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 7d

It’s the 20th anniversary of the second DARPA Challenge, which was the catalyst for the development of automated vehicles, from semi trucks to sidewalk delivery bots. Good overview. www.rdworldonline.com/darpa-grand-...

DARPA Grand Challenge: 20 Years of Autonomous Vehicles

Twenty years after the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, Stanley's desert victory sparked the autonomous vehicle revolution from Waymo to Tesla. Here's how.

www.rdworldonline.com