CTA and Metra

  • Aldermen spread Red bread at year's end

    4 January 2023

    Length 13 minutes standard, 63.4 minutes premium.

    In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council in December of 2022—which saw approval of major tax-increment financing for the Red Line Extension.

  • Aldermen, after transit/gas plan blast, pass it

    10 May 2022

    In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated parts of City Council meetings that took place in April and May of 2022.

  • A bonanza of Mayor Lightfoot's text and e-mail messages

    14 January 2022

    An open-government bonanza revealed e-mail and text messages to and from Mayor Lori Lightfoot spanning the years 2019 to 2021.

  • Crossing Metra on TIF, Council has tiffs on maps and carjacks

    9 February 2021

    In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben scrutinized January 2021's meetings of the Chicago City Council finance committee, public safety committee, and the full council.

  • October City Council: aldermen pump brakes on contracting and TIF

    25 October 2020

    In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Dave and Ben deconstructed audio from October 2020's meetings of the Chicago City Council finance committee, and the full council.

  • Mr Bike: Trains, planes, and cyclist pains

    8 May 2018

    In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Mr Bike talks about unpredictable and unlawful biker behavior, and more.

  • Dave and Ben dissect voting, transit, and development

    21 March 2018

    In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave reflect on their respective primary-election voting experiences, and more.

  • Mr Bike: winter tips, and Emanuel's "cocktail train"

    26 December 2017

    In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave "Mr Bike" Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Dave and Ben discuss Mayor Emanuel's plan for an O'Hare express "cocktail train," winter cycling tips, and more.

  • Mr Bike: Transit assets bring biking boost

    15 August 2017

    In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Mr Bike describes how better transit could boost bicycling in Chicago

  • Red Line TIF district could suck in $5B in property taxes

    8 December 2016

    A new transit taxing district surrounding the Red Line on the North Side could generate at least $5 billion in revenue—far more than the city had previously claimed.

  • We goofed on reporting TIF revenue for RPM Phase 1

    21 November 2016

    The original version of our Nov. 17, 2016 interview with Ben Joravsky, "Trump and transit: Rahm railroads Red Line appeal," contained an error.

    Reporter Dave Glowacz said that the city's consultant estimated that the Red Purple Modernization Phase 1 TIF district will generate $17.6 billion in tax-increment revenue. That was incorrect.

    The consultant's report says that the district will create a total increase in properties' equalized assessed valuation (EAV) of about $17.6 billion over 35 years.

    To calculate the amount of tax revenue associated with the total EAV, multiply by the county's current tax rate, .0687 (6.876 percent), by the EAV in each year of the district's 35 years.

    That yields a very rough estimate, as the county's tax rate changes year to year.

    We've corrected the audio tracks for the interview.

  • Trump and transit: Rahm railroads Red Line appeal

    17 November 2016

    Interview with the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky on the Emanuel administration's scramble, after the presumed election of Donald Trump as president, to secure federal funding and TIF designation for Red Line reconstruction.

  • Report clears former Metra executive director

    25 September 2014

    In a report long held confidential by Metra, an investigator finds no wrongdoing by ousted executive director Alex Clifford.

  • Metra has copy of Clifford investigation

    25 September 2013

    Metra has revealed that it has a written report of an investigation into the claims of former executive director Alex Clifford.

  • Just how many Metra investigations are we paying for?

    26 August 2013
    Leading up to and in the wake of Metra executive director Alex Clifford's resignation in June of 2013, a number of public and private bodies investigated or are investigating Metra. All of these efforts are being paid for by taxpayers and Metra riders. Here's a rundown.
  • Obstacles to a Regional Fare Card

    10 March 2010

    Interview with transit professional Derrick James about what stands in the way of a single, regional fare card for Chicagoland.