Explainer Reality Check Time for Metra: The Downside of Frugality A reluctance to spend has led the suburban rail system to cars decades out of date and a bottom line that has never appeared bleaker. Jun 14, 2018 6:00 AM
Explainer How Much Would You Pay To Avoid Traffic? Illinois and 'Congestion Pricing' An approach that borrows from Uber’s fluctuating pricing strategy and a theme park express pass is being eyed by experts to finance long-overdue improvements on the Eisenhower and other roads. Dec 1, 2017 6:00 AM
Explainer As The Nation’s Rail Hub, Chicago Is An Expensive And Dangerous Bottleneck Nearly $1 trillion in goods chug annually through the city on a severely tangled network of rails, prompting some industry leaders to weigh ways to bypass Chicago entirely. Aug 23, 2017 3:00 PM
Explainer Why The Online Threat To Big Retail Means Bigger Holes In Illinois Budgets The take from sales and property taxes, key revenue sources for local governments, often takes a hit as brick and mortar stores reel under Internet competition. That puts a strain on paying for municipal services. May 10, 2017 5:00 AM
Investigation Resignation, Hazy Details Dog Rauner’s Move To Take Economic Development Private CEO leaves Intersect Illinois after just a year, as questions swirl over its funding, transparency and success in luring new investment in the state. Feb 10, 2017 5:00 AM