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By Robert Channick
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is suing the Chicago Transit Authority for allegedly violating the Freedom of Information Act after the transit agency failed to turn over records related to the 2023 Yellow Line crash, among other requests.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, cites six FOIA requests made by Tribune reporter Sarah Freishtat over 14 months in which the CTA did not respond promptly, fully or at all.
"The CTA has engaged in a pattern of violating FOIA, requesting extensions of time in response to the Tribune's proper FOIA requests, then failing to produce the requested records, which reflects a complete disregard of its obligation to provide public records," the lawsuit states. A CTA spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
The first of the six FOIA requests was made Dec. 22, 2023, seeking correspondence between the CTA and federal and state transportation agencies after the Yellow Line crash, which happened one month earlier.
In the November 2023 incident, a Yellow Line train, also known as the Skokie Swift, hit a snowplow on the tracks while approaching the Howard station in Chicago, injuring two dozen passengers and causing $8.7 million in damage.
Under the state's Freedom of Information Act, public agencies have upto10daystocomplywithor deny an information request. They may also ask for additional time to compile and provide complex records.
The CTA took until July 2024 - nearly seven months later — to come up with a "partial response" to the Yellow Line request, providing communication records related to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Transit Administration. However, Freishtat never received promised information regarding the CTA's communications with the Illinois Department of Transportation, according to the lawsuit.
In addition, the CTA has failed to fully comply with subsequent FOIA requests, including overtime spending, use of CTA vehicles by agency officials, and personnel records of employees involved in the Yellow Line crash. The most recent request was submitted Jan. 13 seeking all severance payments made to CTA President Dorval Carter, who announced he was stepping down at the end of January. The request was extended to Jan. 28, but the CTA has yet to provide the information, according to the lawsuit.
This is the fifth lawsuit brought against the CTA in the last year for failure to comply with its FOIA obligations, including one by the Chicago Sun-Times.
In recent years, the Tribune has prevailed in several lawsuits against the city of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department for failing to comply with FOIA requests made by reporters.
The lawsuit against the CTA is seeking to compel the transit agency to promptly produce all requested non-exempt records, without charging processing fees, as well as awarding the Tribune attorneys' fees and costs.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2025 Contact Information: Ride Illinois Dave Simmons, executive director (630) 216-9282 dave@rideillinois.org
Illinois Bike & Walk Summit coming to Springfield
Creating Connected Livable Thriving communities: Illinois Bike & Walk Summit Fosters Learning and Lobbying Among Advocates and Practitioners
Ride Illinois and its partner organizations are pleased to announce the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Three hundred advocates, professionals, and public officials will gather in Springfield (May 7-8, 2025) for an important conference to help shape the future of biking and walking across the state. The conference will take place over two days in Springfield. Day One - May 7 ● A welcome from Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher ● Breakout sessions with topics including: ○ Completing the Great American Rail Trail ○ Developing Low-Stress Bike Networks ○ Bike/walk legislation at the state and federal level: 2025 and beyond ● Keynote Speaker: Tom Flood ○ A bold and visionary advocate who uses striking design and messaging to challenge car-centric culture, and a champion spokesman of safer streets for all. ○ Flood's Presentation Topic: Reframing Road Safety. This presentation will highlight his work and its importance in challenging the narrative around active transportation and road safety.
Day Two - May 8 ● Lobby Day ● Workshops focused on: ○ Advocacy training ○ Trail development ○ Best practices for the planning, design, and incorporation of complete streets into transportation projects. ○ CM and PDH credits available. Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, emphasized the new format of lobbying and advocacy: “It’s important that elected officials hear from their constituents. Lobby Day is an opportunity for Illinois residents to voice their concerns related to biking and walking in their community.” The legislative goals of Lobby Day include advocating for bills that will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher shared, “I am honored to greet attendees to the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. I look forward to the summit and also look forward to making Springfield a more bike/walk friendly community.” With a strong foundation built on the educational and empowering sessions of day one, the day of lobbying will bring a buzz to Springfield with the hope of creating safer, more accessible active transportation options for all ages and backgrounds. The end goal being that active transportation becomes a viable and welcoming choice for everyone. Conference Details ● Illinois Bike & Walk Summit to convene in Springfield, May 7-8 with a focus on creating connected, livable, thriving communities. ● Highlights of the event include: ○ Keynote speaker Tom Flood ○ Inaugural lobby day ○ Breakout sessions ○ Workshops ○ Networking opportunities ● The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit will take place at the Wyndham Springfield City Center, conveniently located in the heart of Illinois’ state capital. ● Registration for the conference starts at the affordable price of $20! ● For more information and to register for this event, visit IllinoisBikeWalkSummit.org.
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