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Kyle Whitehead

@ktwhitehead.bsky.social

330 followers 310 following 190 posts

Advocate for public transit and healthy, sustainable + equitable communities. Work in government affairs for Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in metro Chicago. Village trustee in Brookfield, IL. Passionate about cities, sports, politics, and pizza.

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · Jun 1

"Balancing regional interests is challenging, but we are ready to continue our work to achieve consensus and deliver a solution.” @rtachicago.bsky.social @tfas.bsky.social @chi.streetsblog.org chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/01/c...

About last night: Chicagoland transit funding hit a roadblock after House's non-vote. The RTA confirmed 2026 budgets must reflect $771M deficit. - Streetsblog Chicago

Good morning Streetsblog Chicago readers. I hope that as you read this, you’ve got a cup of strong coffee, or whatever your favorite morning beverage is, while we face the sobering outcome of Saturday...

chi.streetsblog.org

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Audrey Wennink @awennink.bsky.social · 2h

The transit reform bill gives communities more tools to shape their communities around their transit stations. We need more people living and working near transit so more people can ride it. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/08/o...

Juan Sebastian Arias: Transit reform bill strengthens local decision-making on development

This is not about taking control away from communities. It is about giving them more tools to shape growth around transit.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 1d

There is often public and media conversation framing Chicagoland’s transit fiscal cliff as a fight between the city and the suburbs. CTA, Metra, and Pace have different needs, but a thriving system requires sustainable funding for all three agencies.
www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 5d

The Trump admin says this project should be paused because the CTA followed *federal rules* requiring them to meet goals to give contracts to qualified Black-, Latino- & female-owned firms

The federal government now say those rules - imposed by the feds - are discriminatory

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 5d

President Donald Trump’s administration will withhold $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects, the White House budget director said Friday, expanding funding fights that have targeted Democratic areas during the government shutdown.

Trump Pauses $2.1B for Chicago’s Red Line Extension and Other Infrastructure Projects, Citing ‘Race-Based Contracting’

The pause affects a long-awaited plan to extend the city’s Red Line train. The money was “put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting,” budget director Russ Vought wrote on...

news.wttw.com

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 5d

This situation is patently absurd: US DOT claims that New York City & Chicago's transit projects need to be put on ice because they developed DBE goals *in line* with federal policy.

Now the Trump admin says they don't like the federal policy—and it's New York City & Chicago's fault, apparently.

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 5d

This morning the RTA met with agency leaders at CTA, Metra, and Pace to discuss the approaching fiscal cliff, budget gap numbers for the next few years, and the ongoing need for transit funding and reform. www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file...

Long thread below! 🧵👇

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 6d

There is an meeting of the @rtachicago.bsky.social Board's Ad Hoc Committee on Transit Funding tomorrow morning that will delve into the timing and impact of the transit fiscal cliff for the Chicago region. www.rtachicago.org/about-rta/bo...

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 6d

Really excited about the potential to revitalize Ogden Ave in Brookfield by rebuilding the street with a focus on people and productivity - not fast moving cars. Grateful to be working with a board/staff that's embracing a long-term vision for change and progress. www.rblandmark.com/2025/10/01/b...

Brookfield talks ‘next generation’ Ogden Avenue improvements - Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Brookfield’s village board gave its approval to the current direction of the first phase of its project to improve Ogden Avenue.

www.rblandmark.com

Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Leanne Redden @lreddenrta.bsky.social · 6d

Yesterday's conversation on the looming transit fiscal cliffs facing Philly and Chicago was both timely and insightful. Big thank you to Jody Holton for sharing your expertise, and to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion during the webinar. youtu.be/6-p-BL6GGYo?...

Transportation Tuesday 2025: What’s next for the transit fiscal cliff?

YouTube video by RTA Chicago

youtu.be

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 7d

Excellent commentary and anlaysis from @jeffreytumlin.bsky.social and @yonahfreemark.com

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 7d

This is such a good piece on why the politics of transit operating revenue and costs never work out.

"Politicians and voters tend to resist virtually any way of closing the funding gap, whether it be higher fares, higher taxes, or higher tolls or fees for cars." www.planetizen.com/features/136...

The Wave of Transit ‘Fiscal Cliffs,’ Explained

Covid and inflation played a role. But for many agencies, the crisis goes much deeper.

www.planetizen.com

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 7d

With additional transit funding and reform, the RTA is advocating for new service standards — clear, measurable benchmarks — that would set expectations for how transit should serve people across the region. www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

Regional Transportation Authority | How service standards could ensure all communities benefit from the transit system

These standards would include required levels of coverage for each transit mode tailored to the communities it serves and available funding, which would…

www.rtachicago.org

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 8d

"Of course, CTA, Metra + Pace have different needs, but a thriving system requires sustainable funding for all 3 agencies. A sustainably funded + reformed system could better serve riders across modes and city limits. More frequent, reliable service would be a boon for all Chicagoland communities."

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 8d

"With the fiscal cliff approaching, there is often public and media conversation framing the issue as a fight between the city and the suburbs. The reality is the transit system has been chronically underfunded for both the city and the suburbs for decades." www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

Regional Transportation Authority | Addressing Chicago’s transit fiscal cliff should not be a city vs. suburbs issue

Each service crosses jurisdictions to cover a diverse region where community size, density, and travel demand vary greatly, which has led to different…

www.rtachicago.org

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Alderman La Spata @aldermanlaspata.bsky.social · 9d

Today marks the start of #WeekWithoutDriving and the forecast looks great for walking, biking, & public transit!

WWD is a chance to challenge yourself to cut back on vehicle trips and try other ways of getting around.

Let’s build communities that are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

Week forecast featuring pedestrian signals, bikes, trains, and buses in place of odds of precipitation

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 9d

This is not accurate. "Data shows 5% of eligible ADA Paratransit riders use RAP and TAP more than 30 times per month currently; the average number of trips taken using RAP or TAP is 12 rides per month." www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/08...

Regional Transportation Authority | ADA Paratransit budget shortfall explained

At the RTA’s May Board of Directors meeting, staff shared details on an ADA Paratransit budget shortfall for the 2025 fiscal year that will require…

www.rtachicago.org

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Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Abundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · 12d

On September 30th, RTA is hosting a webinar on the fiscal cliff. 🚂

rtachicago.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Transportation Tuesday – What’s next for the transit fiscal cliff: A conversation between Chicago and Philadelphia. After registering, you will receive a co...

Beginning in 2026, the RTA system is facing a fiscal cliff, growing to 20% of the operating budget in 2027 and 2028. On May 31, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned its spring legislative session w...

rtachicago.zoom.us

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 13d

Agreed, my other nitpick would be many of what we call neighborhood greenways are side streets with paint and signage for bikes, and plenty of cut through car traffic. Traffic diverters are needed to make many of these routes truly low stress all day long.

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 13d

So much progress has been made but still want to see a citywide PBL network and unclear how we get there with aldermanic prerogative

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Michael McLean @mclean.bsky.social · 14d

There have been over 100 miles of bike infrastructure improvements made in the past two and a half years in Chicago

There's still a long way to go (see those huge gaps, hello Aldermanic prerogative!)

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 14d

“Real, secure, protected bike lanes throughout the city is the ultimate goal. I don’t want there to be any section of the city that doesn’t have secure, dedicated bike lanes.” - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/24/m...

Mayor Brandon Johnson calls more Chicago protected bike lanes ‘ultimate goal,’ touts milestone

The River West infrastructure project Mayor Brandon Johnson pedaled upon Tuesday marks the 100th mile of bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure built by his administration.

www.chicagotribune.com

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 14d

"The reforms proposed in Transforming Transit stand out by empowering the RTA to leverage discretionary funds to ensure providers deliver the frequent, reliable service that has been agreed to and funded." www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09...

Regional Transportation Authority | How service standards could ensure all communities benefit from the transit system

These standards would include required levels of coverage for each transit mode tailored to the communities it serves and available funding, which would…

www.rtachicago.org

Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 15d

The US DOT is on an all-out campaign to defund city-designed projects that prioritize pedestrians and bikers.

To explain why it was cancelling a San Diego project, the US DOT complained that it “appears to reduce lane capacity and [has] a road diet that is hostile to motor vehicles."

Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 15d

Trump is rescinding road safety grants all over the country, in blue states and red ones.

The reason: those projects are "hostile" to cars.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump Cancels Trail, Bike-Lane Grants Deemed ‘Hostile’ to Cars

The Trump administration canceled grants for street safety measures, pedestrian trails and bike lanes in communities around the country this month, each time offering a simple rationale for yanking ba...

www.bloomberg.com

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 15d

"A smart growth approach to housing aims to build more homes in the right places at the right price so everyone can live in a community that supports them at every stage of life. For too long, housing has sprawled, costed too much, + offered little choice."
www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-ce...

The smart growth approach: more homes in the right places, at the right price - Smart Growth America

www.smartgrowthamerica.org

Reposted by Kyle Whitehead

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 16d

Fully agree. Paratransit -- and shared micromobility in general (vanpool, dial-a-ride, bike-/scooter-share, etc.) -- is an important component of a universally-accessible transportation network, but is also fundamentally different from fixed-route operations.

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 16d

State of Illlinois covers only 4% of the total $250M annual cost of ADA paratransit service. Time for lawmakers to step up and fully fund paratransit, which would free up resources to provide more frequent and reliable bus and train service. Sign a letter to your electeds at RTAChicago.org/SaveADA.

RTA Chicago @rtachicago.bsky.social · 18d

Chicago's transit system is facing a fiscal cliff that could mean drastic reductions in paratransit service across the city and suburbs. The RTA is advocating for additional funding to ensure our transit system can not only survive but thrive. 🚉
We need your help, visit
RTAChicago.org/SaveADA

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Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 15d

"Why are transit operations so expensive? Why is transit in an endless emergency? Why do biz leaders assume transit’s financial situation is hopeless? Bc our transportation funding streams make transit costs visible, while the costs of car dependence are concealed." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Should We Let Public Transit Die?

Urban-rural hostility is fueling a public transportation crisis in US cities. But demands to abandon bus and train riders ignore the economic and social costs of cutting service.

www.bloomberg.com

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