Better Transit, Better Chicago
By: The People S Lobby
Tags: Public Transportation, Chicago, Climate Change, Public Transit, Environmental Justice

By Aaron Messner, leader with The People’s Lobby’s Environmental Justice Task Force

Last summer, I went for a run on the Lake Shore Trail, but was stopped in my tracks just south of Fullerton Avenue where the water had been so high for so long that it had eroded the sidewalk into a wet patch of crumbled asphalt. In January of last year, a polar vortex swept through the city that dropped the windchill to -50°F, keeping us all indoors. Although we are currently stuck inside due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change has been quietly changing our way of life for a while. The signs are all around us. Along with the rest of humanity, Chicago is faced with a crisis that will fundamentally alter the way we as a species exist on the planet. Increased occurrences of tornadoes and destructive weather events, heat waves erasing crop yields, the aforementioned beaches disappearing under rising water levels in Lake Michigan and more frequent polar vortexes are just some of the ways that the city and surrounding areas have been negatively impacted in the last few years. Scientific studies show that without drastic action, soon, these formerly once-in-a-lifetime catastrophes will be happening more frequently and with increasingly dire results. So what kind of action can we take? How can we put our broad shoulders to work — to show the rest of our nation what it means to make a better future for our communities?

In 2018, transportation accounted for 28% of total US greenhouse gas emissions — the largest impact by economic sector. Of the four main areas that the US Department of Energy has outlined to address transportation pollution, Chicago’s city government has the most direct impact over transportation demand. By expanding public transportation options and ridership, the city can help reduce the reliance on small passenger vehicles and in turn reduce carbon emissions by 23%. Not only will it have a positive impact on the environment, it will also have a positive impact on the wellbeing of Chicago’s working class. According to a study from the US Department of Energy, public transit “increases accessibility to economic and social opportunities and helps physically and economically disadvantaged people access public services, education, and employment.” All of this is accomplished simply by expanding our existing transit technologies. Imagine the benefits if the city upgraded to an electric fleet of buses with dedicated lanes or provided “L” service to more neighborhoods. Instead, since 2012, Chicago has purchased 550 new “clean diesel” buses that are far more polluting than electric buses.

The working class are hit hardest by climate change and are crying out for cleaner, safer, greener neighborhoods. We need opportunities to provide for our families without damaging the physical places we inhabit just by traveling. Where I grew up, the only way to run errands or to see friends was with a car. A car that would only move myself and burn fossil fuels at an unreasonable rate in order to do it. A major reason I moved to Chicago was so that I would never have to own a car ever again. I know I’m not the only person who has made the decision to make a life in this city because of the existence of good public services. But, I see opportunities for it to be improved for my future and everyone else’s. I also know that I’m part of the privileged few that were able to choose the neighborhoods we moved to — the ones that have access to multiple bus and “L” options. These neighborhoods are often predominantly white and affluent, whereas the racially diverse and working class neighborhoods often have no access to “L” lines and bus service can be unreliable. We can also expect better prices than what we’re currently offered. Seoul is often lauded for its public transit system and costs half the price to riders. If Chicago wants to show other cities what can be done, we need to not only upgrade the existing technology, but make sure that it is accessible to all.

Expanding the Chicago Transit Authority also means expanding employment opportunities. CTA directly employs 10,000 people, many of which hold union jobs with solid living wages. By upgrading the fleet and expanding train and bus service, CTA can hire more people into skilled jobs. Electric bus manufacturers are also looking for new homes for their expanded manufacturing facilities, and where would be better than a large shipping hub expanding its electric fleet?

Chicago can do this. Chicago needs to do this. Now is the time for Chicago to lead the world towards a more livable future.