Evanston's Transportation Future

Evanston's Transportation Future promotes Evanston mobility in ways which will be environmentally sustainable, correcting the dominance of the auto.

Goals

1. Improved air quality within our region.
2. Adequate, convenient, affordable transportation for all citizens.
3. Public transportation that is planned and administered from a regional perspective, yet sensitive to the unique needs of the city of Evanston.
4. Transportation that effectively serves all sectors of life (schools, shopping, government buildings, hospitals, industrial centers, recreation areas).
5. Public policy that actively encourages alternatives to one person/one car and promotes/facilitates capital improvements (public and private) toward that end.
6. Citizen participation in the decision-making processes of governments, planning organizations and transit service providers that affect public transit investment, operations, funding and ridership.

Specific Recommendations

1. Build an effective citizens' constituency for improved Evanston transportation. Such a constituency can then motivate elected officials, city staff, providers, and others to advocate and implement responsible non-auto transportation measures.
2. Promote improved public transportation and increased ridership in Evanston and the Chicago Region
   a.      Improve quality and availability of transit information (signs, maps, electronic, RTA phone)
   b.      Advocate transit passes such as Transit Check and the U-Pass
   c.      Investigate “specialty services” (trolleys, paratransit, round-trip weekend fares)
   d.      Evaluate street furniture/transportation amenities (shelters, benches)
   e.      Review bus stop policies and procedures (signage, courtesy stops)
   f.       Advocate increased off-peak service on CTA, Pace and Metra routes
   g.      Seek integration of existing Evanston bus services (CTA, Pace, NU, hospitals, etc.)
   h.      Identify and examine alternatives to fixed-route buses (e.g., dial-a-ride)
   i.       Improve east-west bus and rapid transit service between Evanston, O'Hare and other suburbs
   j.       Add an Evanston stop on the CTA Yellow Line
3. Legislative Issues
   a.      Support zoning codes which encourage transit-oriented development
   b.      Oppose government subsidies that encourage the use of the automobile in Evanston
   c.      Support generous provisions for non-auto initiatives in the six-year Federal Highway and Transit re-authorization bill
4. Regional Public Transportation Issues
   a.      Review multiplicity of overlapping regional/state planning agencies with the aim of consolidation
   b.      Advocate integration of CTA, Pace, Metra (fare structures, services, facilities, information)
   c.      Examine fairness/effectiveness of RTA structure and statutory funding allocations to CTA, Pace, Metra
5. Encourage Walking and Biking
   a.      Improve facilities/routing for bicycle riding
   b.      Review pedestrian-oriented facilities, such as crosswalks
   c.      Advocate pedestrian/bike-friendly legislation (crosswalk safety, bicyclist standing)
   d.      Encourage students at all levels to walk, bike or use public transit to get to school

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