Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
Transit Cash Hits West Side, Phone Ban Heads to Pritzker
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 · 7 min
Chicago Transit Authority funding is moving into West Side bus service and cleaner trains as NITA takes shape, while Illinois lawmakers send Gov. JB Pritzker a classroom device ban with real implementation stakes for schools.
Listen
Show notes
Chicago Transit Authority funding is moving into West Side bus service and cleaner trains as NITA takes shape, while Illinois lawmakers send Gov. JB Pritzker a classroom device ban with real implementation stakes for schools.
Got 60 seconds? Tell us what you think and help shape the show:
In this episode
- New transit funding boosts West Side bus service, cleaner el trains - Austin Weekly News — Austin Weekly News
New transit funding boosts West Side bus service, cleaner el trains - Austin Weekly News ## The best of local news and things to do Sign up for our weekly roundup of headlines, happenings, and breaking news in Austin — curated and delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up Chicago Transit Authority is getting extra funding for security and service improvements – including bus and el train…
- Step Back — Chicago keeps getting transit funding announcements, but riders care whether the bus actually shows up: what’s the chain from new state money to more reliable CTA, Metra, and Pace service — and who is accountable if it doesn’t happen?
Background sources
- What happens next: Key dates and deadlines as RTA transitions to NITA in 2026 | Regional Transportation Authority — Regional Transportation Authority
- NITA Act advances to next phase, transit riders to see public safety, service improvements this summer | Regional Transportation Authority — Regional Transportation Authority
- RTA releases semi-annual project management oversight report highlighting more than 100 capital projects | Regional Transportation Authority — Regional Transportation Authority
- How the NITA Act can advance a regional transit network across six counties | Regional Transportation Authority — Regional Transportation Authority
- RTA May 2026 Board of Directors Meeting — RTA Board Meetings
- Pritzker-backed cellphone ban coming to Illinois schools after lawmakers pass bill - Chalkbeat — Chalkbeat
Pritzker-backed cellphone ban coming to Illinois schools after lawmakers pass bill - Chalkbeat Skip to main content # Illinois lawmakers pass cellphone ban in classrooms. Here’s when it goes into effect. Expand Illinois students will be largely banned from using their cellphones in schools starting in the 2027-28 school year. (Getty Images) Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily…