Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
After liftoff 'Steering Inop' caution was indicated on EICAS; few seconds after we selected landing gear lever up; 'gear disagree' warning appeared. Stop at 7000 feet request delay vectors did first the gear disagree checklist; then the steering inop (steering did not reset). Weather had improved during that time. ACARS dispatch; told them the event; intentions to go back to Airport ZZZ; indications for them to call airport ops in order to alert them too and have ready a tug to pick us up on the runway. Told the Flight Attendants what was going on. That we were going to land and stop on the runway in order to get towed and just in case be prepare in case of an evacuation.A PA announcement to the customers was made telling them that we were going back to ZZZ due to mechanical inconvenience steering inop being one of them. Also that we will stop on the RWY after landing and wait for the tug; also that the company new about our air return and them were working on making arrangements to take them to Airport ZZZ1.During all that process we had burned enough fuel in order to land below max landing weight. Request CFR just in case; also we call ops on the radio to have them on the loop just in case dispatch would not do that. Landed; stop on the runway without any other inconvenience; PA to the customers 'welcome to ZZZ stay seated; we are going to gate xxx; ask CFR for outside aircraft conditions which were good. Towing truck connected asked them to verify visually all tires; and then we were towed to the gate.Customer deplaned; were ok. Then we went to other gate/plane and made the original flight.
CRJ-900 Captain reported declaring an emergency and returning to departure airport after receiving a Steering Inop caution message.