(StatePoint) Demand for public transportation is on the rise. In fact, 10.7 billion trips were taken on public transportation in 2013, the highest in 57 years, according to the latest statistics from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA.)
Even those who drive should take note of these statistics, which show that communities that invest in public transportation stand to gain. APTA figures point to a four-fold economic return on investment for every dollar spent on public transportation.
“Where public transportation goes, businesses thrive, property becomes more attractive, and tax revenues increase,” says Michael Melaniphy, President and CEO of APTA.
Substantial and robust public transportation infrastructure is one key innovation that helps to support economic growth in local communities, say experts. With federal funding for public transportation poised to be a critical issue for Congress this year, public transportation advocates are calling for funding legislation that is reliable and sustainable in order to plan, build, maintain and repair these systems.
“As we approach the May 31 deadline for a new surface transportation bill, it is critical that our national leaders come together to create legislation that will ensure years of economic growth and opportunity for communities across the country,” says Melaniphy.
Here are several ways such investment in public transportation could affect an individual community:
• If you are a homeowner, public transportation in a community could spell financial security during times of economic uncertainty. Residential property values performed 42 percent better on average during the last recession if they were located near public transportation with high-frequency service, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors and APTA.
• Seventy percent of millennials prefer a city or town that features a multimodal transportation option that includes public transportation. By investing in public transportation infrastructure, a community increases the likelihood of attracting new talent and industry to the area, especially as public transportation systems adopt technologies like smartphone charging stations on vehicles and facilities and fare collection via smartphone.
• Public transportation is a 61 billion dollar a year industry that puts people to work – 1.1 million jobs are created or sustained annually. As such, public transportation advocates say that by supporting measures that improve these systems, local residents will be doing their community a favor.
Information about the impact of public transportation on local communities is available at www.publictransportation.org.
No matter how you get around your community, a robust public transit system stands to impact you and your local economy.
Check out the Groundhog Day celebration featured in the classic 1993 film of the same name starring Bill Murray. Attendees gather to see area groundhog Woodstock Willie leave his tree trunk home and predict if winter will stay or go. Should he see his shadow, winter will last for six more weeks, and if not, spring will arrive early. Or at least that's what the legend says.
Though February 2 is the official Groundhog Day Prognostication, Woodstock is holding a whole week's-worth of events leading up to Mardi Gras. Check the website for further details.
Event website:http://www.woodstockgroundhog.org/
Ah, Valentine’s Day: When the pressure is, in fact, truly on. If you’re taken, you’re weighing whether to dish out at Chicago’s best fine dining. If you’re single, you’re probably out at your favorite bar trying to get laid. And if you’re somewhere in-between and don’t know whether you’re “doing” Valentine’s Day, well, best of luck. Regardless of your situation, we’ve got a slew of ideas to make celebrating this manufactured holiday one of your favorite things to do during the winter in Chicago. Or, at the very least, you’ll survive it.
Handmade Market Chicago returns to beloved Ukie Village club The Empty Bottle for an October–April market. More than 30 sellers will ply their homemade arts and crafts for this monthly celebration of the local and artisanal.
| Venue name: | Empty Bottle |
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| Contact: | |
| Address: | 1035 N Western Ave Chicago |
| Cross street: | at Cortez St |
| Opening hours: | Mon–Wed 5pm–2am; Thu, Fri 3pm–2am; Sat noon–3am; Sun noon–2am |
| Transport: | Bus: 49, 66, 70. |
| Price: | Free |
| Event website: | http://www.handmadechicago.com/ |
Stave off the winter blues inside the Chicago Botanic Garden's Regenstein Center, where the greenhouses and gallery will be packed with more than 10,000 in-bloom orchids, featuring an array of hybrids. On Saturday and Sundays, the Orchid Marketplace allows you an opportunity to purchase the plants.
| Venue name: | Chicago Botanic Garden |
|---|---|
| Contact: | |
| Address: | 1000 Lake-Cook Rd Glencoe |
| Opening hours: | Daily 8am–sunset |
| Transport: | Train:Union Pacific N to Braeside. |
| Price: | $10, members $8, kids and seniors $8 |
| Event website: | http://www.chicagobotanic.org/orchid |
Motorheads, here's your chance to check out what's new in the world of cars. At this annual showcase, close to 1,000 different vehicles will be on display, along with accessories, auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles and collector cars.
Bring your appetite for the 10th annual Chicago Restaurant Week and get an introduction into Chicago's extraordinary culinary scene. Enjoy top fare at value pricing at restaurants throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.
There are multiple cuisines to choose from and many neighborhoods to explore. Visit EatItUpChicago.com for the full list of participating restaurants and their special menu offerings.
Please note that participating restaurants may not serve all meal options (brunch, lunch & dinner), so we suggest you browse your options in advance.Photos: Nellcôte, Gemini Bistro, Prasino, Quartino
The 2017 Black Creativity program, an annual tradition at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) kicks off on January 16 with a Family Day event, the annual Juried Art Exhibition and an Innovation Studio experience. The program, which is centered around Black History Month, invites students, teachers, families and the public to explore the legacy of rich contributions and achievements made by African Americans, while encouraging deeper interest in science and technology among youths.
The programming focuses on innovation, inspiring children to develop their creativity and become the inventors of tomorrow.
Family Day
Join us for the Black Creativity Family Day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, a free day for Illinois residents. Guests can participate in a collaborative art project, led by art educator Anayansi Ricketts. They can choose designs that represent science, technology and arts depicted in African culture that will be stamped onto one large group piece. This will be displayed in the Innovation Studio throughout the run of Black Creativity. Family Day also includes opportunities for students and families to meet and interact with STEM professionals in workshops called Jr. Science Cafés. The Juried Art Exhibition also opens to the public at noon on Family Day.
The Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition opens January 16, 2017 and features more than 100 dynamic works - including paintings, sculpture and mixed-media - from African-American artists across the country, chosen by a panel of five jurors.
This longest-running exhibition of African-American art has been displayed annually at MSI since 1970. For the sixth year, a youth component offers opportunities for high school students to have their work shown in the exhibition. The Juried Art Exhibition is included in Museum Entry and is open through February 19, 2016.
From the exhibition, the panel selects first, second and third place overall show winners, as well as a winner in each medium category and overall in the youth category. The winners are recognized at a Juried Art Reception, held on Wednesday, February 15 from 6-8:30 p.m.
The Innovation Studio, which provides a creative space to inspire young inventors about future possibilities and opportunities in STEM, is another element of Black Creativity. Powered by guests' own curiosity and inspired by science-related challenges, guests will have access to a variety of materials and tools to create and prototype their solutions to issues in space travel, sleep and more. A gallery highlighting past and current African American innovators serves as inspiration.
The space will be open to the general public daily beginning January 21 through March 4; facilitated session times are offered at various times throughout the day. The Innovation Studio is included in Museum Entry.
Hamilton is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation's first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 13, 2017 |
