Kate Lowe –

Amtrak trains line a maintenance rail yard south of West Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River near the Loop on Sept. 10, 2026, on the Near West Side. Amtrak has proposed relocating the rail yard to unused rail land on the South Side. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Professors: Amtrak’s proposed rail yard would add to the area’s already sizable environmental burden

October 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

We predict the neighborhood around the site of Amtrak's proposed rail yard would see greater future negative cumulative health impacts.

A food delivery robot from Serve Robotics traverses West Grand Avenue on April 14, 2026, in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood near where a food delivery robot previously crashed through bus shelter glass. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Kate Lowe: Delivery robots are shiny technology in search of a problem

July 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Robots are getting attention and space when human street safety is a crisis.

A CTA “L” train passes through Chicago's Loop on June 17, 2025. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Jackson Potter and Kate Lowe: Public education and transit benefit Chicagoans but aren’t being fully funded

June 24, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Fully funded public schools and public transit are fully possible in Illinois.

A CTA Blue Line train heads west as the sun rises behind the Chicago skyline on July 7, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Kate Lowe: Chicago’s public transit fiscal crisis needs more attention

August 19, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The effects of the Regional Transportation Authority's projected 2026 $730 million operating deficit could be devastating.

A Red Line train travels along the Dan Ryan Expressway on Aug. 30, 2022, near the 95th Street station in Chicago.

Kate Lowe: Debate over TIFs should not delay a critical extension of the CTA’s Red Line

November 9, 2022 at 2:26 p.m.

A proposed transit tax increment financing district for the South Side Red Line extension has recently raised questions about TIFs generally and CTA service, leadership and conditions. These topics deserve...

A Gruv scooter is parked on North Bosworth Avenue in the Noble Square neighborhood of Chicago on June 15, 2019.

Commentary: Put scooters in their place: Don’t let this shiny object distract from Chicago’s serious transit issues.

October 14, 2019 at 10:41 a.m.

Chicago's shared electric scooter pilot ends Tuesday, and early findings suggest this new mode of transit won't take us far in addressing the most urgent transportation issues — inequity, safety...

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