In 2025, the Transportation Equity Network (TEN) increased awareness, understanding and involvement in transportation issues, and elevated community voices to local governments.

Our 2025 Impact Report recaps last year’s achievements on bus rapid transit and other issues as well as providing a report based on mixed-methods evaluation — including survey results as well as anecdotal data from members.

We learned that awareness & understanding, collaboration and influence, and trust and capacity were key areas where member organizations valued their participation in the Network:

Awareness & understanding

TEN provided a welcoming space for CBOs and NPOs to learn about transportation topics alongside transportation professionals deepening their expertise. Being a part of TEN gave members greater visibility to the decision-making processes and dynamics of transit/transportation agencies and revealed where members might have influence.

Another aspect of awareness that members appreciated included a consistent platform for sharing information on transportation topics relevant to members and their communities.

Collaboration & influence

TEN members recognized their collective voice is stronger and more influential together. They appreciated that the coalition created a metaphorical big tent for members to successfully mobilize on critical campaigns advancing state policies and infrastructure investments.

Trust & capacity

TEN laid out the groundwork for relationship-building both within the network and with government and communities in Chicago. Members appreciated opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and partnership among community-based organizations and non-profit advocacy organizations on shared advocacy efforts.

The report also highlights major achievements, including helping to pass historic legislation creating the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) and Future of Transit Town Halls planned by 8 member organizations to advocate for the Better Streets for Buses Plan. We also highlight our work on bus priority infrastructure including our day trip to Madison, Wisconsin with key CBOs and government stakeholders to tour Madison Metro’s new bus rapid transit line.