Latest news with #NoraLeerhsen
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Chicago City Council committee urges CTA to crack down on smoking on trains and buses
Interim CTA President Nora Leerhsen on Wednesday faced questions from members of the Chicago City Council who are seeking to crack down on smoking on trains and buses. Members of the City Council Transportation Committee gathered at City Hall to discuss a proposed resolution to step up enforcement of the mass transit agency's smoking ban. Leerhsen told aldermen smoking complaints are down compared to last year, and the number of citations issued by police is up. She also pointed to the success of weekly anti-smoking missions involving police officers boarding trains to seek out smokers. "These missions are a part of a larger effort that's been underway to combat smoking on CTA, including prerecorded audio messages in stations and vehicles, 'no smoking' posted signage, as well as newly created digital messaging," she said. Leerhsen pointed out the locations of those anti-smoking missions are based on where customer complaints are coming from. Ald. Bill Conway (34th) proposed the resolution urging the CTA to step up enforcement of its smoking ban. It's separate from an executive order issued by Mayor Brandon Johnson aiming to curb smoking on the CTA by directing the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the mayor's office to work with the CTA to end smoking on public transit and improve public safety. The mayor's order directs city departments to partner with the CTA to "explore possible areas of collaboration," including deploying the Chicago Department of Public Health Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement teams and the Department of Family and Support Services Homeless Outreach and Prevention teams to curtail smoking on trains. In the order, the mayor also calls for exploring whether a team could be assembled, possibly including community violence interrupters and mental health professionals, to engage with people found smoking on the CTA system and offer "on-site counseling, smoking cessation resources, and long-term treatment." Johnson's announcement of the order focused more on the health risks of smoking and the dangers of secondhand smoke than the nuisance issue of smoking specifically on 'L' trains and other CTA property.
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Time Out
Four new CTA stations will open on the Red Line next month
Part of what makes Chicago so great is our public transportation: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the nation's second largest public transportation system, serving not only Chicago, but also local airports (O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport) and the surrounding suburbs. The Red Line—which provides valuable 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service between Howard, way up north, and 95th /Dan Ryan, way down south—could use some updates, however. And thankfully, those upgrades are on the way: After being closed or partially closed for renovations for a troublesome four years, four shiny new Red Line stations are set to open on Sunday, July 20. The Red Line's north branches—Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Argyle, and Lawrence—are part of Lakeview's $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Project. Planned upgrades include not only a fresh coat of paint, but also important improvements like escalators, elevators and wider platforms for ADA-accessibility. All Chicagoans will love the enhanced lighting, real-time travel information displays (imagine that!), and overhead canopies to protect commuters from Chicago's sometimes less than ideal weather. Plus, CTA has replaced the tracks, support structures, bridges and viaducts between Bryn Mawr and Lawrence stations. 'We are proud to bring new, accessible Red Line stations to our customers, which will provide a more comfortable and convenient commuting experience,' said CTA's acting president Nora Leerhsen in a news release. 'By opening these four stations that will be accessible to customers with disabilities, we move closer to our goal of having all of our CTA stations fully accessible.' And if you want to give your own feedback for future CTA improvements, the transit authority has recently rolled out its " CTA Chats" program, a series of interactive pop-up events at rail stations and bus terminals that aim to connect commuters with CTA leadership to share insights on how they'd like to see things improve onboard.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CTA hosts pop-up events to solicit rider feedback
CHICAGO (WGN) — Transit riders this month have an opportunity to speak with Chicago Transit Authority personnel to offer feedback that will be used by the agency to plan for the upcoming budget and help prioritize future investments and strategies. The CTA this week announced a series of pop-up 'CTA Chats' at several rail stations and bus terminals, with the first being held Tuesday at the Union Station Transit Center. The recently passed budget for Illinois' 2026 fiscal year did not include reform or additional funding for the state's transit agencies. In Chicagoland, the Regional Transportation Authority faces a $770 million fiscal cliff and has warned of transit cuts on an 'unprecedented scale.' 'We are in a unique time for transit in our region, and it important that decisions we are making and projects and programs we are prioritizing are grounded in our riders' priorities and vision for the future,' acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement. Union Station Transit Center 6/10/25(Tuesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Illinois Medical District (Blue Line) 6/11/25(Wednesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Garfield (Green Line) 6/12/25(Thursday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Navy Pier Bus Terminal 6/14/25(Saturday) 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Loyola (Red Line) 6/17/25(Tuesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Paulina & Howard Bus Terminal 6/18/25(Wednesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Belmont/Kimball (Blue Line Bus Terminal) 6/19/25(Thursday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. 95th Dan Ryan (Red Line) 6/21/25(Saturday) 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Jefferson Park (Blue Line) Bus Terminal 6/24/25(Tuesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Roosevelt (Red/Orange Green Line) 6/25/25(Wednesday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Midway Orange Line Bus Terminal 6/26/25(Thursday) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Out
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
CTA's rainbow-bright Pride Train is back on the Red Line tracks this month
Chicago's Pride Month celebrations are legendary, spreading LGBTQ+ culture, history and community at the best gay bars, the top drag brunches and, of course, the annual Pride Parade. (This year's parade festivities kick off on Sunday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. with "United in Pride" as the 2025 theme.) But a far more everyday way of honoring the historic legacy and continuing vibrancy of Chicago's queer and trans communities is by simply hopping on a CTA train—yes, the annual eight-car, rainbow-hued Pride Train is back on the city's Red Line tracks during the whole month of June, this time sporting a snazzy new design. Expect to see multi-hued vertical waving bars on the train's cars, with the words 'Ride with pride!' emblazoned on the sides. Bookending each train, black and brown stripes represent LGBTQ+ people of color, with transgender and classic Pride flag colors filling in the middle. But it doesn't stop there: On the inside of each car, passengers can read not only inclusive and supportive affirmations, but also facts about local LGBTQ+ history, which is a new addition for this year. The first major transit agency to publicly support the queer community with a Pride Train, this beauty has been chugging along since 2017. 'The CTA is excited to continue the tradition of celebrating the LGBTQ community with the unveiling of the 2025 Pride Train and Pride signature Ventra Card designs,' said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen, in an official release. 'CTA stands ready to take you to all the fun events that Pride month has to offer.' Along with the festive choo-choo, the transit authority's Pride festivities include a special-edition Ventra Card, featuring triangles in a rainbow pattern that cover the entirety of the card. You can purchase one here. Happy Pride!
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
CTA to clean up 6 stations as part of Refresh & Renew program
The Chicago Transit Authority has begun spring cleaning. The transit agency has started work on its seasonal Refresh & Renew program. The CTA will spend $6.5 million on repairs and maintenance this year at rail and bus locations citywide. Through Memorial Day weekend, improvements will be made at six specific 'L' stops and three bus turnarounds: 63rd Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway on the Red Line. Pulaski, Austin, and Kedzie-Homan along the Eisenhower Expressway on the Blue Line. Oak Park on the Lake Street branch and Halsted on the Englewood branch of the Green Line. Bus turnarounds at 63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, 79th Street and Western Avenue on the Southwest Side, Chicago Avenue and Austin Boulevard on the West Side along the boundary with Oak Park, and 67th Street and Oglesby Avenue in South Shore alongside Jackson Park. The work includes plumbing repairs, replacing lights and signs, and removing outdated equipment. "The Refresh & Renew program provides our riders and employees with a cleaner, more comfortable CTA travel experience," CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a news release. "This important program ensures that rail station repairs and upgrades are made proactively and quickly, and is a vital and effective supplement to the day-to-day cleaning our crews do." Recently, Refresh & Renew work was completed at both baseball stadium Red Line stops — Addison and Sox-35th — as well as the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stop on the Green Line just the other side of the Dan Ryan — in time for the Cubs and White Sox home openers. More bus and rail locations will undergo Refresh & Renew work at later dates. The Refresh & Renew program was created in 2019, and is intended to keep CTA station sin good repair with routine maintenance. The work enhances the safety, security, and aesthetics of the system, the CTA said.
