and,
For.
Today.
Yeah.
What is your face?
You don't have no damn black friends. You don't even have
no grocery store, you got a food daily.
She?
See.
What the hell is down the street sound like that?
Mr. Blakemore, you loud?
Your?
The.
I had.
I had a.
My husband, I got a song.
I,
plan.
People.
and traffic, safety is now called to order for January 14th
2025. We will now have a roll call to establish quorum
Terminal spot. Present. Vice chair Cruise.
Alderman Hopkins.
Almond Robinson.
Maybe joining us online.
Almani.
Almond Chico.
Almond Quinn.
Allman Moore.
Ottoman. Curtis
almond, Irvin momentarily.
Ottoman kutson.
Ottoman, Martin.
Lawson. All the women were
we have 8 members present, we have a quorum
The committee members may join us by Ruel 59 at a later
date.
At this time, we will begin the public comment period out
of respect for everybody's time. Each speaker is limited to
3 minutes. Our first speaker is Roman Schuster.
Thank you very much. My name is Roman. I'm speaking for
myself. Uh, thank you for that opportunity to speak. Uh,
today. Um, I'm here to, uh, to ask the committee to pause
or amend the 25th an hour speed limit ordinance that is
currently being scheduled to vote on tomorrow, uh, as the
Chicago parents who bikes takes public transit. And yes,
sometimes drives, I have 3 concerns about the current
proposal to lower the speed limit in Chicago.
First, uh, the we really haven't studied the impact of the
speed limit on people's travel times. Advocates will tell
you, it's about 2 to 4 minutes, um, but yet, when we
consider other recent infrastructure changes like removing
travel Lanes, uh, blocking streets. All these incremental
increases add up and negatively impact the residents
quality of life.
Uh, secondly, it's still unclear. Which streets would be
impacted by the change. Advocates will tell us that this
ordinance only covers neighborhood streets, but when you
that text is written today, it will cover all streets. Uh
if the ordinance was amended to explicitly exclude ktrials
like Ashland Western Urban Park Cyborg and others. I expect
more residents would buy into this plan and I think we all
want slower, neighborhood, streets.
And and finally I'm adding and Urgent to consider all the
1, the spot, as resolution to make traffic enforcement more
Equitable in tandem with passing the lower speed limit
research, shows that speed speed speed, speed camera,
speed, cameras, and traffic stops, just proportionately
impact, Chicago's black and brown communities.
Any changes to the Citywide speed limit should follow
rather than come before the successful implementation of
the Equitable enforcement resolution.
We should not lower the Citywide speed limit. Until
Equitable enforcement is in place.
Uh, in my view, the lower speed limit would have broader
Buy in and would have more, it would be executed more
equitably. If residents travel times, were fully considered
the types of roads are going to be impacted are clearly
stated and Equitable enforcement is in place. Uh, thank you
so much for your time
Thank you, Mr. Schuster also noting Alders, Hopkins, and
Irvin present for Quorum. Thank you, gentlemen.
Our next speaker is Stephanie Blumenthal.
Good afternoon.
My name is Stephanie Blumenthal. I'm here representing the
Illinois. Environmental Council as their climate policy
manager. I see represents over 100 organizations, including
active Transportation, Alliance, Riot, Illinois and others
focused on Transportation policy in Chicago. I'm commenting
today in support of the ordinance, to lower Chicago
Citywide speed limit, um, introduced by milder Alderman,
laspada. We appreciate his leadership as we seek to pass
legislation that ensures the safety of all those who use
the roads across our city.
As a resident of Chicago, I made the decision to move here.
Um, in large part based on the fact that I wanted to have
access to Alternative modes of transportation.
I did not want to rely on a vehicle and prefer walking or
using public transportation. However, as someone who lives,
2 blocks from a 6-way intersection, I see the number of
buses cars bikes and scooters who sit in congestion daily.
I want to feel empowered to safely walk or bike around my
community without worrying about my safety. As a pedestrian
by decreasing, the speed limit in Chicago, we have the
have the opportunity to make alternative modes of Transit
safer and more appealing to all Chicagoans in addition to
streets safer for all who use them lowering. The speed
limit has the potential to reduce congestion on our
streets. This would reduce the pollution created by
personal vehicle traffic and improve air quality around the
city. Decreasing the number of cars on the road will allow
more Chicagoans like me to have a greater number of
healthy, environmentally friendly ways to travel around the
city. This is possible. If we begin by lowering the speed
limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour,
In addition to lowering the speed limit, this committee
should consider the remaining policies included in the
vision. Zero package competing and working group. That
includes Community groups is an important step to creating
a fair system. That enforces Equitable mixed uses of our
roadways. Additionally, the implementation of a resident
based system for reporting bike and bus lane blockages, can
uplift the work. Our enforcement officers do daily.
Following the passage of this ordinance to reduce the speed
limit. Enacting the remaining Vision zero policies will
help Chicago, be a climate Leader by supporting a reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions.
further by reducing overall speed in the city, Chicago can
optimize our streets for bike ebike e, scooter, uses and
pedestrians, and IEC supports legislative actions that
recognize micromobility as an important part of a clean and
Equitable transportation system. In the future of our city.
I urge you all to support this ordinance, and I thank
alderman for his continued support of these important
safety standards for our city. I encourage you all to vote
in favor of this ordinance. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Blumenthal. Our next speaker is Jim
Merrill.
Good afternoon everyone. My name is Jim Merrill. I am the
managing director of advocacy for the active Transportation
Alliance. We are a regional advocacy organization that
works to promote walking biking and public transit, to
create healthy sustainable and Equitable communities. Um,
really, really excited to be here today. Uh, and I want to
say thank you to this committee for, you know, supporting
the 2 ordinary are going to be providing updates on this.
Uh the Legacy crash reporting, ordinance and the complete
streets ordinance. Um that you all worked on last year are
both really examples of really good policy and the fact
that we're here having this conversation in a transparent
way, um, is a really big step forward for our city, and so
I just want to commend uh members of the committee uh and
the good Folks at
At C do, uh, for uh, for working on this good policy.
Um, and it's in particular, I want to say congratulations
to the Department of Transportation for, uh, the work that
they've done. That has resulted in a pretty significant
drop in in, uh, serious, crashes, fatalities and injuries
on our, our roadway, which we're going to hear about. I'm
sure in a little bit. Um, you know, many of the challenges
facing our city are are complex uh, reducing or eliminating
injuries and fatalities is not 1 of them. We know that
know that speed is is deadly and when it comes to uh,
making our streets safer for everyone, we need to slow
down, uh, the the speeding that is happening throughout uh,
uh, the city. Uh, see that's on data has showed that this
Citywide problem, basically. On every street people are uh,
are uh, exceeding the, the speed limit and we know that uh,
in addition to a lot of the complete streets improvements
that we're going to hear about today and some of the using
the data to Target the most dangerous places. Uh, the best
1 of the best tools we have in our tool box is actually
reducing the default, speed limit in the city of Chicago,
uh, as Alderman Rodriguez has said previously, when
discussing this issue,
Chicago is really behind the times on this, you know, this
isn't a uh, a bold uh situation where we're leading, we're
actually falling behind pure cities that have already
embraced lower speeds, and has have uh, yield yielded,
great benefits in terms of safety and reducing injury and
it's important. I think also to remember that here in
Chicago, this is a Health Equity issue with
African-American residents are disproportionately impacted
by excuse me. If you do you mind, I'm going to, I'm going
to finish my comment. Thank you.
I'll listen to yours. I appreciate it.
We can't rest on our Laurels, all right? We need to take
this work to the next level. And so in addition to uh
having this report here, uh, I also want to encourage
everyone to support uh tomorrow's vote to lower the Chicago
speed limit and in addition to that, we need good design,
right? We need good data, we also need money, the Chicago
Works program, that you all have supported uh, is up for
Renewal. And we know that that has had a simply a
transformational impact for C dot to, to quickly deliver in
a timely fashion, uh, these life-saving projects. So we
have the tools. We have the know-how, we just ask for your
support and putting all this together and putting Chicago
as a leader nationally in traffic safety. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Merrill. Our next speaker is Mr. George
Blakemore.
Racism.
when it comes to, uh,
Racism walking, white black.
Talking white, black driving white black.
And these laws.
are not enforced, uh, equally
And several times I I've been speaking about the parking uh
situation and also about uh some people never die even in
voting.
They never die here.
They're old, the dead always vote and the dead always have
a disabled place.
To park their vehicles.
So, this is something that you should constantly do.
They get these uh uh disabled and and the people are gone.
It's something inherently wrong here. And blowing the speed
limit 5 miles, I don't think it's gonna happen and
residential parking.
These streets belong to all of us. If you live in the ghetto
ghetto and go up, north my call center, they say from 8 to
8 pm to 8 a.m. uh you came that's for these people.
Rather than to parking. I'm against that.
So, Mr. Blakemore, you bring up a lot of common sense
things but they don't. Listen.
They don't listen, maybe it's your presentation. Maybe
they're racist.
maybe they know better but they don't want to do better the
queen and some of them been here so the streets of Chicago
out
And then they say they need Revenue. Who does that?
To sell your Treasures out.
Who does?
Sell fish.
People.
Oh, oh, David, whoever sold it out? These offerings went
along with this. That's your money there. That's your
treasure there. And when it comes to Red Light camel, they
put them mostly in the black neighborhood.
The so you started out speaking about racism.
Racism.
So,
Walking white. Black talking? Why? Black come in the city
council? Why black they'll lock you up?
They'll lock you up.
Follow you around, call the police on you. Mr. Blakemore you
you still on the way man's Plantation. You think you free?
You keep messing with these white folks. They have yourself
in the insane of selling, you never get out.
You keep a car going around and see the old holler.
Thing about it all of our black people are still on the
planet. Well, you have black. Also, black also don't have
no damn power.
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore, our next speaker is Jessica
Jackson.
Um, so
A speed limit being, uh, brought down from 20, uh, was it
from 30 to 25 miles per hour? That's not gonna do anything
at all. If you really want to stop traffic and slow traffic
down, then you put speed bumps
On the street. But then that would mean that the city would
be paying for that instead of taxing up, the individual
citizens and we know that right now in our current
Administration is about taxing, the citizens, not about
getting the city. And so then when you say that, um, this
is about walking and riding bikes.
I'm trying to figure out how is it up to you all to decide
what steps people want to take for help?
And then I'm trying to figure out how it is that. Somebody
white can come up here and talk about what's needed in
Black communities. I don't understand that at all.
Because we don't stand up here and talk about what's needed
in white communities. We let white people handle white
people business, but for some reason white liberals think
they need to speak for us and give us their situation. What
black person is going to walk around 71st Street 75th,
Street 79th, Street on a bike at night time. So what we
can't come out after the street lights, come on.
Like we in third grade.
We want to get around the city, how we want to get around
the city and that includes right? Using cars if we want to
We don't need other people to think for us and tell us what
time we need to be in and out the house so that we can be
on a bike or we can walk.
Come to our neighborhoods. And you see that it ain't float.
Everything is not close enough for us to walk to, because
all the businesses are dragged up because they haven't been
economic development on the south side and west side in
decades.
So it's not no good restaurants. At night time, we can walk
to a ride a bike too. So man, your wife business and stay
out of ours.
Now, look up at the clock, I get done. When I get done, I
know how to see a clock.
Y'all so dog, going to disrespectful.
and David Moore ran his punk self out of here cuz he don't
want to hear just like that Lobby is ran her Punk self out
of here and you can sit there and smirk. What just see me,
huh? Nothing except for a qualifies while we coming for
your seat.
Now you talk on work at all out for you. And you think he
not sitting there looking Goofy with that stupid grin on
your face.
He going to work it out for you.
This concludes the public comment period, the committee
also received 2 written comments that were distributed via
email and will be recorded in the January, rule 45 for
Port. Also noting Vice chair, Cruise present for quorum.
our first order of business, is the rule 45 report from
December, which was sent out via email and distributed to
committee members, can I have a motion to approve? The
December rule, 45 report,
So I'll give this 1 to ottoman, uh, Curtis. So moves all of
those in favor of passing. The reports. Say, I
I'll take it all of those opposed say nay in the opinion of
the chair that I have it, we will now begin with the items
before the committee. We are going to go out of order and
we'll begin with the direct introduction. Ordinances on
page 2, can I have a motion to recommend approval of all
direct introduction ordinances on page 2 by the same roll
call vote as was applied to determine quarum.
Alderwoman crew so moves hearing no objection. So ordered
let us turn to Pages. 3 through 6 for the recommended,
recommended portion of the agenda. Can I have a motion to
recommend approval of all recommended ordinances on pages 3
through 6, by the same roll, call vote, as was applied to
determine quarum.
Alderman yansi so moves hearing no objections. So ordered
We will now turn to Pages, 7 and 8.
For the no recommendation portion of the agenda, which are
items that received no recommendation, from City
departments, these ordinances were submitted as overrides.
Are on the agenda at the request of the auto person or do
not require departmental approval.
Can I first have a motion to recommend approval of all
ordinances on pages, 7 on page 7 and items, 1 through 6 as
well as item 8 on page. 8 by the same roll call vote as was
applied to determine quarrel.
All the women manah hopworth so moves hearing no
objections. So ordered
for item 7 on page 8, we received a substitute ordinance.
That makes a correction to language per recommendation from
C dot. The Substitute ordinance was emailed out and
distributed today.
Can I have a motion to accept the substitute ordinance?
I love it. Ottoman. Curtis So moves hearing no objections.
So ordered with that can I have a motion to recommend
approval of the substitute ordinance. So 2024 D 0000137 on
page 8 by the same roll call vote as it was applied to
determined quorum.
Ormond yansi so moves hearing no objection. So ordered we
will report these items out at the next regularly.
Scheduled city council meeting and are pleased to have
non-member order woman lie with us. Very good to have you.
Moving back to page 1, we will now have a subject matter
hearing with the Chicago Department of Transportation on
the 2023 crash report, pursuant to section 9116 of the
municipal code and the yearly update on the on complete
streets, pursuant to section 10-14 of the municipal code
with us, we have commissioner of the Chicago Department of
Transportation Tom Carney and managing managing Deputy Vic.
Krishna Murthy gentlemen, great to have you with us. Take
it away. Great.
Okay. Uh, thank you, chairman laspada and members of the
committee uh very happy to be here today. Uh I'm Tom
Carney. Commissioner of the Chicago Department of
Transportation. Uh alongside me here is managing Deputy
Commissioner Vick Christiana Murthy.
Uh we appreciate the opportunity to present C, Dot's annual
crash report and share how we're make. We're working to
make Chicago Streets safer for everyone.
last fall C, do published the 2023 annual summary report on
traffic, crashes offering a detailed analysis of fatal and
serious injury, crashes in Chicago.
This data, informs our strategies, helping us identify
Trends, address challenges, and prioritize, safety
Investments.
By analyzing when, where and how crashes occur? We can
focus resources, where they will have the greatest impact.
The crash report shows measurable Pro progress has, uh, vig
will further elaborate in his presentation. But the Top
Line we we want to emphasize is that in 2023, Chicago
recorded a 27% reduction in traffic fatalities from the
2021 Peak.
And that's compared to a 5% reduction Nationwide.
This means Chicago is outpacing the nation and creating
safer streets and encouraging sign that our investments
over the last several years are yielding meaningful
results.
Provisional data for 2024 shows this trend, continuing with
further, reductions in serious crashes, and fatalities
This progress wouldn't be possible without the strong
collaboration we've had with the Chicago city council and
the communities that we all serve.
While we're encouraged by the positive Trends, we recognize
that even 1. Traffic fatality is, is 1 too many.
That's why I continued collaboration and Investments are
essential to making Chicago Streets safer for everyone.
We are also pleased to discuss with you today. Our complete
streets guidelines. A key part of this effort is our
implementation of complete Street guidelines, which we
presented to the committee last year.
This toolbox of Street treatments is helping us deliver
effective safety measures at scale Citywide.
Across all major C projects and doing so, efficiently and
consistently.
In 2024, we had significant safety and Engineering
milestones.
It was a very busy and productive year for Cad. And using
these design guidelines, we were able to deliver
significant safety elements across Chicago including 67,
pedestrian Refuge Islands. 22 raised crosswalks and over
1,000 curb extensions.
These Investments help reduce conflicts improve visibility
and address dangerous speeding.
as a result, our streets are becoming safer for everyone,
especially vulnerable Road, users like pedestrians cyclists
individuals, using Mobility devices, seniors and children.
As we look ahead, safety remains Central to Sea Dot's
mission.
We are committed to leveraging, data-driven Solutions,
prioritizing equity and fostering Community Partnerships to
create safer streets for all Chicagoans.
We thank the cities, uh, the city council for your ongoing
partnership, and your dedication to making Chicago, a
leader in traffic safety.
Um, and kind of going off script here and, and, and prior
to, uh, turning it over to my colleague Vic here. Um, I
just wanted to, uh, share, um, a lot of the members in
Council know that my father, uh, worked for the city of
Chicago for over 30 years. Uh, he worked at the city sign
shop. Um, and then, even prior to that, he was at Public
Works. Um, and they had a bureau of traffic um, in which he
he worked at back in the, in the 80s. Um, and 1 of the
things he was involved in was, was the recording and, and
working with police of, uh, the police department on on
Crash data. And, and getting that information about
fatalities and crashes. Um, recently, he was doing some
cleaning in his garage um, and, you know, going through
some old boxes. Uh, came across some old reports uh from
back in the day. Um, and I have 1 of them here today. Um,
I I respectfully uh asked uh the members of the committee,
not to ask questions about why my dad has uh old boxes in
the garage that that needed it, some cleaning out. But um I
thought that this uh report was extremely uh helpful and
useful in sharing some context because it has uh crash and
Fatality and injury data from the 1970s and into the 80s.
Um, and some of the notable things that I just want to
share and highlight are
um, this 1 report focused on a 3-year span from 1978 to
1980 and the City of Chicago had 346 pedestrians killed
during that time.
Um to bring in that into the context of today where we saw
the the co Spike which gave us a lot of alarm um, that
3-year span of of 2021 and 222. There were 157, pedestrians
killed in Chicago. So again in 78 to 80 we had 346
pedestrians killed in Chicago. Uh, 2021 and 222, we had
157. Um, I think it's also very notable, um, that in 1980,
um, 294 fatalities. Uh, due to crashes that that
encompasses, you know, pedestrians folks, and vehicles. Um,
in 2024, we saw 133. Um, so I, I thought these this
context, I mean, it it,
It opened my eyes um, and looking at it and thinking about
today. Um, and and I thought it was important uh, for us as
a department to elevate that context 1 um to elevate the
great work that we have done as a city. Um and and through
partnership with city council um through partnership with
our our C dot divisions and through Partnerships with
concerned residents and local school councils and and and
different advocacy groups that uh, take this uh, to heart.
Um, so we all deserve credit for that, uh, work that's
making a difference that the numbers bear that out. Um, but
context is it also is, is should be motivation for us that
And a reminder that our work is not finished here. Um, it
took a lot of a lot of investment and a lot of work to have
numbers go from 3:46, down to 157. And, um, I, I think that
this is a reminder that this context is motivation that we
have more work to do.
To get that number to go from 157 to further decreases. Um,
so I I appreciate everyone giving me that chance to indulge
us all with a little trip down, uh, Memory Lane there and
and providing that context. And with that, I will turn it
over to my uh, colleague managing. Deputy Christian Murthy.
Thank you, commissioner. Um, good afternoon, chairman
members of the committee.
Hey Christian. Matthew managing Deputy Commissioner cot. I
would just like to take a few minutes to guide you through
uh some of those uh trend lines behind the major headline,
the commissioner shared which is um indeed over the last
over the last few years we have seen in Chicago, a lot of
progress in the right direction, 27%, decrease in traffic
fatalities, uh, compared to 5% Nationwide. Uh, at the start
of the pandemic, there was a sharp spike in traffic
fatality. Um, locally nationally and globally. And
certainly, uh, this is a sign of of things heading in the
correct direction and progress. We want to continue.
Um, looking at this graphically uh, 202021 was again a very
very alarming year as the commissioner spoke to, uh, and we
have seen year-over-year, uh, those, um, Trends improve the
data showing, uh, progress, but still a lot of work to do,
uh, provisionally for 2024 data from the Chicago Police
Department, show that, you know, we are seeing traffic
fatalities continue to subside. Um, but I do want to point
out that, um, as commissioner said, every fatality is 1 too
many. Uh, when you look at the, uh, distribution of these,
um, fatalities in the victims, by the mode of travel, 1 of
the, um, persistent, um, categories of individuals
involved, in fatal traffic, crashes,
Are still people in a car driving a vehicle. So this is a
topic that affects all Chicagoans. No matter how you travel
walking scooting taking, CTA, driving bicycling, um, the
work is a shared work because the all are affected
now, the key issues, um, as commissioner Carney said, we
are not just trying to look at the trend line, but really
try to dig a Little Deeper to understand
Um, in spite of progress. Why? Why do these uh traffic
fatalities and serious injury? Crashes persist and um,
speed and size are 1 of the themes uh ever present in our
work uh, approximately 3/4 of of fatal, traffic, crashes,
involve some some kind of speeding uh, you know, which is
understandable, you know, the, the force, the loss of
reaction time, the increased braking distance, all those
things that we can probably relate to intuitively, uh, are
ever present in those fatal crashes. Um, but
Uh, the size of our streets, also plays a very critical role
role. Um, and we have just seen that in streets, wider than
50 feet. They have 14 times more fatal crashes than streets
and arrow within 50 feet.
50 foot number really represents. It's a proxy for so many
different things. It's not just if we narrowed a foot out
of the street, that the problems would be resolved. They
represent the Pulaski and Cicero and, and other high-speed
streets in the city that carry large volumes of people,
large volumes of traffic and at the same time, businesses
Industries, many times even homes, uh, facing arterial
streets. So there is a lot of work to do there on our major
arterials.
Um, at the same time, um, reckless driving, uh, is, uh,
associated with more than 3 quarters of fatal crashes, uh,
and we Define reckless, driving working together with
Police Department is things like intoxication, you know,
extreme speeding like 50 and 20, 25 Mi over the speed
limit. Um, wrong way, driving disobeying a red signal.
And um that subset there about 20% of traffic fatalities in
involve specifically, disregarding traffic control devices
like stop signs and signals. Which the department works
very hard with Council and communities to erect these. Stop
signs and signals where they're needed. Um but they aren't
going to be effective if uh people roll right through them.
And then, um, persistent inequities, right? The progress.
We, we spoke about this. I think last time we were here,
commissioner and I progress needs to reach all and both,
um, geographically racially or age-based. Uh, no matter how
you look at, uh, various forms of the identities. We have
there are these persistent inequities in our data that we
see that, um, black Chicagoans older Chicagoans and the
South and West sides, as well as downtown continue to be,
um, you know, areas of, uh, great concern and a lot of work
to do because that's where we see a prevalence of uh, fatal
and serious injury crashes.
now, in terms of investment, the complete streets guideline
which was presented on at this committee, um late uh last
year or early last year, pardon me.
I laid out a road map to uh guide C Dots, major project
design and how we will use a toolbox of proven uh, safety
and enhancing features in our designs and apply them
through various projects at various scales. And so um, in
following with the ordinance reporting requirements,
We just want to reiterate um, some uh of the types of tools
that are more commonly being used in our major projects as
well as some of the um totals in terms of construction.
So the complete streets guideline as a refresher. Uh,
categorize the safety enhancing Street elements into 3
categories, core elements uh which include things like um
ADA Compliant curb ramps. Enhanced crosswalks those are
really the foundation for accessibility for all
Then enhanced Elements which increase visibility and reduce
speed such as uh, Refuge Islands, curb extensions, and
raise crosswalks, and there's an example here.
Um, on 24th Street shown recently constructed and then our
Network Elements which really work to increase mobility and
safe movement of um modalities like CTA and biking and
walking that maybe were not historically, the focus of
traffic engineering so that includes our bikeways bus
lanes, bus boarding, Highlands, and so on.
Um, are the third layer of of investment?
The.
totals for the year um across all these major programs is
about a 56% increase in delivery from the previous year.
Um, that is 7,300 core elements, delivered 1,093 enhanced
elements constructed and then 18.6 miles.
Of network elements. And uh, this is possible really through
the integration and standardization of both the design of
these elements as well as the criteria and decision-making
process within different kinds of projects. Um to make sure
Um to make sure that these are programmed designed and
delivered and constructed in the most efficient manner
possible to reach the most people in the cost-effective
way.
so diagrammatically, um, whether it's our Tiaro
resurfacing, the streetscape program, our Major Street
reconstructions C Dots, complete streets, um projects and
um reconfigurations of streets or even the aldermanic menu
program. Uh core elements enhanced elements and network
elements. If we think of the tally is presented on the
previous slide, there are examples of, uh, many of those
kinds of elements being, uh, delivered through each of
these programs. So that we have that efficient, uh,
delivery and able to produce at scale.
Um, I just want to end with the fact that really, the goal
is not, uh, necessarily just, um, producing elements or
designing and, uh, constructing tools. But it is the
results and the meaningful results that these tools can
provide for, uh, our residents. So just 3 examples.
Uh, I want to take a minute to talk about the left turn
traffic calming program. This is something that really
started as a pilot, uh, in the downtown area and we worked
together with, uh, academic institutions to help us, uh,
evaluate and study, you know, is this something that was
new in the nation? And you know, what is the effect? Uh,
and we determined there was almost a 24% reduction in all
crashes and nearly 30% uh increase in um people drivers
yielding to to uh people walking in the crosswalk.
this is very significant because when we go back to the
city level data, um, a, a very large number of pedestrians,
Serious injury, and fatal, crashes involve left turns. And
there's a Confluence of factors there because, you know,
driver attention is split, when you're making a left turn
between navigating oncoming traffic people in the
crosswalk. There's just so much going on, exacerbated by
trans and vehicle designs that we've spoke to about, you
know, bigger pillars bigger blind zones.
Um but then we didn't just stop at a Pilot. We said let's
let's see do these uh data that we see proven in a pilot?
Do they come true at scale? And so the department did, you
know, another dozen locations or so as an example, now, as
we gain our comfort level and uh understanding of um what
are the factors that make this tool work? We are now on to
the next Forefront of a permanent left? Turn traffic
calming design that we're implementing through selected,
arterial, resurfacing projects. So there's really kind of
from a few to a dozen to getting to scale. Um a a a
assembly line if you will of developing these tools, making
sure they are tested work in Chicago and then trying to
really reach as many Chicagoans as possible.
Um, to wrap up uh Jackson Boulevard in Columbus Park was an
example of um,
Location where we implemented a variety of features
together Refuge Islands. Um protected bike lane CTA bus
boarding islands, and saw a 75% decrease in um people
exceeding. The speed limit or um incurring speed violations
through the automated speed enforcement program. And then
finally, um, at the Garfield Park Conservatory, on the west
side,
again, a project that brought together multiple tools uh
raised crosswalks and other, uh, Street enhancements. Um,
post implementation data show, Almost a 60% decrease in
speeding and really the reconfiguration of the roadway
reduced, the distance that people have to cross in half,
which translates to, you know, 50% reduction in your
exposure. You're not out in traffic.
For crossing 4 Lanes, you're only out in traffic, Crossing
2, lanes, and, uh, speed table right there at the, um,
lining up with the main door to the facility. So, um,
without further Ado, thank you for your attention and time
and, um, welcome, um, comments from the chairman or
questions from the committee.
Thank you very much to both of you. Before we go to
questions from Members non-members. I, I did want to give a
quick shout out first to Ormond Martin and colleagues
ottoman. Martin actually helped spearhead, the ordinance
that gave rise to the complete streets hearing that as part
of today's meeting and also also to all the women
Silverstein who led and was the lead sponsor on the traffic
fatalities report that now we'll have the opportunity to
both have compiled and have these annual hearings on. So my
my sincere gratitude to both of them um noting non-member,
Ronnie Mosley president as well. Thank you so much for
joining us. Um
I have a couple quick questions.
To start off and then I will pass the microphone to my
peers. I know on the complete streets piece.
uh, a lot of this is funded through the Chicago Works
Capital program which we know is
Up for Renewal can you because there's always what we can
do through menu. And I know everybody here stretches their
menu dollars as far as they can. Can you give us a sense of
how complete streets and the kind of infrastructure that we
saw on the screen is going to be reflected in the
forthcoming. Chicago Works Capital Grant
uh, sure Alderman chairman um,
so, uh,
With this, the Chicago works or whether there's another
Capital Bond. Um, we we take that money and then we we
program it into different categories. Um, and 1 of the
things that that previous Bond and we hope, uh, another
Bond will will allow us to do is
You know, everybody thinks of the big things in Chicago, you
know, we, we, we program money towards Bridges, right? We
program money towards, uh, you know, uh, uh, street lights
and categories.
1 of the big things was, we created categories that focused
on traffic calming elements and and and complete streets.
So we gave those their own categories of funding um which
which is really helped us further Advance these
improvements because um while we were making progress on
things like uh these these improvements through our um
arterial surfacing program and and and and where we do uh
Street Scapes or where we do Street reconstructions,
By program by creating those programs and those those
designated funding sorts it took it to the next level. So
so we fully intend to give it its own bucket of funding
again. Um in that next Bond.
Fantastic. Um,
I think the report as a whole is available as a PDF.
It's worth digging into because it really gives us a sense
of the city as a whole. I did want to ask 1 question.
If I may and this is a slightly tangential but it's related
to 2024. So when folks may know, if you Google Chicago
Vision zero you can get monthly reports of what traffic
fatalities and serious. Crashes are looking like across the
city. At the end of October that number was 94.
That had me feeling.
Really hopeful about the trajectory that we were on.
The preliminary data of which we know may end up being
increased by the data that we get back from, I do.
Is 133. That means that we had
by my math 39 traffic fatalities.
in the last 2 months of the year, which
is significantly more than we saw in 2023. Um,
do we have a sense?
There are many causes of traffic fatalities to see that
much of a year-over-year jump. It was jarring to me and I'm
wondering if we have a sense of what we attribute that to,
Or if that takes some digging in like feel free to let me
know.
It does take some digging in. Um, you know, I will say
uh unfortunately we do see um certain months of the year
year there there, you know, like over, if you look over 5,
ten years, there's certain times of the year, in certain
months of the year that that see a higher, uh, see some
slightly higher numbers. Um, fourth quarter, being 1 of
them.
um some some subtle things such as, you know, time change
and and and it it the um getting darker, um, and and around
around times of, uh, that that that time change and, and
and Nightfall, um, just things like that, subtle things can
can have slight influence on the numbers, but in terms of,
um, specifics, I think we would need a little time to to to
to dissect that a bit. I don't know Vic. If you want to add
anything, I think I'll just add to what the commissioner
said in the, um, provisional data, which we work with CPD.
Sometimes we do get delayed fatalities, um, from other
jurisdictions, or, you know, a crash that may have happened
in October may have a fatality that isn't unfortunately, in
November. Um, but looking at the mode, um, it's really
uptick in driver and driver passenger and there were
several, um, fatal traffic crashes, which have multiple
victims? Uh, you know, uh, regrettably of people and
And their occupants in a vehicle, you know, 2 3 victims.
A large proportion of our motor vehicle, facial crashes in
the city are still what we call single unit crashes.
So essentially a single driver um getting into a crash that
that results in the fatality of that driver either with
another vehicle with a fixed object or with leaving the
roadway. So that that was a bit of a unusual thing. Um,
towards the end of 2024 were those multi victim, fatal
crashes of uh individuals in cars.
Okay, I appreciate it. I I will hand over the microphone to
colleagues who have questions on either subject matter
presented today.
Yes. Bye sir Cruse.
More than a question. Is that, as a statement? Um, this is
great information for us to have is, you know, at times we
do common measures and I know we have talked, we have
worked really closely and some of the things in the 30th
forward and sometimes resident doesn't comprehend why
right? Or you're frustrated you're you know you're adding
these things. It's going to make my commute, take a little
longer, but we want to make sure that we understand the um,
result of doing things like that that there is a reason why
why we we do these things and is to, you know, see what
we're seeing like this reduction in fatalities overall,
that's a great success. This is, how do we protect people.
And also, when you look at some of these data, especially
for just people walking, I understand sometimes people are
like, well, they're biking or or in a scooter. But this is
just regular people that any of us, we walk through every
single day to see the number of fatalities, it's pretty
alarming, but again, that's why there is type of infra.
Structure, this type of investment in these things and what
better way to um, do it with the leadership of you too, and
you're you have an outstanding team as well that is always
very responsive. I was reaching out to think about what are
those um ways to to be able to, you know, have those um,
common measures but looking ahead. So let's think about,
you know, you share with us. It was a 56%, um, increase in
the 3 core elements that you talked about today. What are
we? What are the things that you're hoping? What is your
vision and your goal for 2025? When it comes to continue
with this, um, infrastructure or implementation said, we
have seen this past year.
Yeah, so um, thank you for that, uh, your kind words. Alden
1 would greatly appreciate that. Um, the team has worked
worked very hard on this, so, uh, we thank you for that.
think that I would like to highlight, I mean, certainly the
certainly the funding. Uh, continuing the funding, uh, the
bond funding is, is key for us. Um, but like all the like,
all the work categories for for, um, Chicago Works in this
capital,
It's the getting the assembly line going, right? It it was
the challenge in a lot of work by by folks in our
department. So to create not only just, you know, 1 year,
we're not just putting together a 1-year thing, it's to
create a continual pipeline. Um, and what's reflected in
those numbers with that big increase was the pipeline. The,
the assembly line is rolling now.
So we have that. So we we continually have a flow of things
that are getting identified designed engineered and that
issue or hand it over to construction. And then from
construction delivery of that. So I would say we're going
to we're on track to have provided funding continues and
other big year because we have the assembly line rolling of
now, the next wave of locations and and we were continuing
to take new requests and work with Council to identify,
what's next?
Thank you.
uh, yes, uh
Sorry ottoman. Yes. And then older woman Elite
Thank you for this presentation again. Um,
So 1 of the areas that was highlighted as sort of a hot
spot for traffic. Uh, crashes in fatalities is great at
Grand Crossing and I think I've talked with both of you
about South Chicago and it's just highlighted that, um,
there seems to be a little bit of a disparity when it comes
to, you know, essentially underserved communities. And I
was just wondering what sort of, uh, strategies are you
using to help, uh, continue to mitigate some of those, uh,
either hot spots or particularly the, uh, uh, sort of
uptick in traffic fatalities and crashes in those
underserved neighborhoods?
Yes, so uh thank you for that. So um a key thing here is um
the the IAT routes, um, in in the city of Chicago, these
are some of our, uh, most precarious, uh, locations for for
travel. Um, and so we've worked very hard um with with I do
to try and move the needle on that. Uh I am happy to say so
say. So a couple years ago we we had entered into an mou
an mou with I dot. Um, but has the, the the, um, trying to
implement a. Some of the improvements that was contemplated
with that. We, we did encounter that there was going to
need to be legislation, uh, passed at the state level. Uh,
I'm happy to report that, that that language modifications,
modifications, that were needed. Um, that did pass, um, in
the lame duck session recently, um, and then we're
certainly very happy that we have a new. Um, I dot
secretary who is, uh, a seat alumni as I like to refer to
her, uh, Gabby AI. So we feel like that combination is
going to, uh, help us on these larger more precarious
routes. Um, so you're talking about Pulaski, talking about
Cicero, talking about, uh, Stony Island, South Chicago.
These, These are the, the, the I dot routes that are, um,
Broadway, uh, is another location, um, that, that I've
talked.
to so many members of council, particularly members of this
committee here, who are here today, about these locations
that I think that's going to be the big thing for us to,
uh, we'll see progress, uh, much needed progress, um, in
2025, and continuing to 2026 on those locations. Yeah,
thanks for that. And then 1 more thing, um, you mentioned
state roads was triggered, uh, Lakeshore Drive or disable
Lakeshore. Drive is a pretty significant Rodeway. Inn The
Fifth Ward, and we've got a number of challenges around,
um,
Speeding and other sort of Reckless Behavior Uh particular
like there's Alright. Alright. By lower beita Hospital uh
on Southshore Dr. We've gotten repeated calls from
residents who are concerned about uh folks driving on the
other side of traffic, the wrong way of traffic in order to
go around the red light. And I understand that part of the
challenge around, um,
our red light and speed, light cameras is that at least red
lights are
Handled by the state. I think there's currently a
moratorium on red light cameras. At least that's what I was
told. And then speed cameras uh was having a conversation
with chairman laspada. Uh, in November about, um, the
legislation says that speed cameras, can go near a park,
Lakeshore Drive on the west side of Lakeshore, Drive is a
park for most of it and I was wondering if there was some
way to
Utilize either of those resources in a way that brings some
more immediate relief for people, uh, particularly like, I
guess it would be in between
67th and Yates and essentially 63rd and uh, dabble Drive.
Yeah. So we'll be happy to to meet with you and and look at
options um for that um I will flag that um, it is in State
State Statute, um, that speed cameras are not allowed on
Lakeshore Drive. Um, so that that is a something that we
would have to work with the state and and legislature on.
Um, but in terms of those other things, other options, that
some of those, I know some of those other signals kind of,
its not Lakeshore Drive that you reference. So we'll be
happy to have our team meet with you on that on there.
Okay. And then just for clarification, does it
differentiate Lakeshore Drive and South Shore, Drive in the
ordinance? I mean, in the law, it's just like short drive,
okay, thank you.
Next was order woman lie.
Thank you chair. Um, and thank you, commissioner and, uh,
Deputy Commissioner for being here and for providing the
report, um,
And thanks also for, when we've requested the information, I
I have the heat map of all the accidents in the 11th ward.
Um, and the, the state designated roads are a real
problematic, right? Archer Avenue Sac Road, Persian Road.
Um, they all sort of banned around, uh, the 11th ward, uh,
and that's definitely where we see the majority of the, uh,
traffic accidents. And I think where we see most of the
fatalities, you know, that's where cars are going fast
enough to do that. Um, and I know that there's, there's
pending legislation at the at this moment as well. Um, so a
a lot of my questions are going to sort of be of this ilk.
Just trying to make sense of, um, the, the whole picture of
it. Um, and I love all the work that's being done. In fact,
I had a great meeting with uh, a good number of your staff
commissioner um on Friday. Really looking at what we can do
do from an infrastructure perspective? Um, in big sections
of the 11th ward, I'm talking hosted to Canal from Persian
road to 29th Street. I've got 2 uh 2 big streets, Union and
emerald 1 Way north south
Um with traffic lights on them, they were their traffic
lights on them because of the 1968 Democratic National
Convention. Um, you know, we're in 2025. I feel like those
traffic lights can probably go. Um, mostly because they,
they make people gunned it down these streets. Um, so that
if you want to get from Persian to 31st Street quickly and
you want to beat every single light, um, we've clocked
people going upwards of 50 miles an hour on these streets.
Um, so it's a big concern. So you know uh in that sense 1
of the biggest.
Complaints that I get is how do we slow people down in the
neighborhood? Um,
so I'm wondering what the crash data that we have, um
available, um,
You know, do we know is is there something we can
extrapolate from uh from the crash data? Because I don't
know if we have information on how fast a vehicle was
going. I guess the key question here is um I know that if
we drop the speed limit from 30 to 25 5 drop from 30 to 25
is the difference between saving a life and and losing a
life. Um, but a lot of these vehicles were already going
faster than that. Um, what what does that tell us? At the
end of the day, is there anything that any inferences that
we can make based on the crash data that we have?
Uh, well, I, I'll take a first stab at it. Um, and then
I'll, I'll turn it over to um, big. Um,
You know, I, I want to elevate again, something big had
pointed out that, um, the highest number of fatalities that
we're seeing, are, are the individuals in the vehicles, the
drivers, the drivers, uh, or passenger with the driver. Um,
and for that to happen, you have to be going at pretty
fast. Um, and you're you're colliding with something.
You're driving at a dangerous speed that you can't control
the vehicle or and you're hitting into something. Um, so
we, we see a lot of those that are occurring in the
overnight hours, late night hours. Um, unfortunately,
um, and I think, um,
The 1 other thing. I just wanted to, um,
Share uh in in response to your question. So everyone knows
you know my view on it is um changing
Changing speed limit, um, is has to be part of the overall
toolbox. We, we have to the, the biggest way we see
movement is we keep working on all these things. So, um,
are going to be working on a program this year with uh,
with uh, adding more speed cameras, that's another tool
that will help at locations. We have to add more pedestrian
Refuge islands and and curb extensions. We have to continue
to work with Council on speed hump program um on our
residential streets, right? Um and you know all these
things in collaboration need to be done. Um, there's not
any 1 single thing that's going to make a, a magic move
here. So, um, I emphasize that while all these are
and and, and see that looks forward to working with
everyone, but we have to not just think that there's going
going to be this 1 thing as much as we have to have the
whole toolbox in, in, in full force. Yeah, I can agree with
you more on that. I think, you know, and I'm, I'm glad to
hear you say that. I know that's been the philosophy.
FC dot for the time that I've been in office. Um, which is
why, you know, was a great conversation I had with your
team on Friday because it really is, you know, we put 1
speed camera in um, on Wallace. It was the first time we
actually put it off of a, um, put it on a smaller Street. I
think your team wanted to put it on 35th Street. I was like
my problem's not on 35th street. It's on Wallace where, uh,
actually a parent, uh, who had just dropped her
kindergartener off at school, was hit by a vehicle and had
a traumatic brain injury at the end of the day. So we put
that speed camera and it's been great because we don't have
those issues there now. But it's pushing traffic to other
streets now. So which is why uh we decided to take a a
broader. Look at how we calm traffic um in in a particular
particular area. Um, so I'm with you on WE it has to be
comprehensive, um, lowering the speed limit, but we have to
have enforcement. We also have to make sure that the
streets that we have um, are not little mini highways, uh,
for people to continue to to drive fast. Um,
How are we going to? Um, I guess as we're reducing traffic
flow and using all of the, the tools that we have before
us. Um,
What what's the focus for for this coming year? We just
continuing to build on what we've done in the past, um, and
how many more speed cameras do we have to allocate? I know
we talked about this at budget. I just can't remember, um,
because I'm definitely interested, um, in, um, additional
speed cameras where we can put them in particular, I'd love
to talk to you about.
Putting them on the streets, where we have the, the most
problems with drag racers, Archer Avenue after 7, or 8 PM,
especially in the summertime, um, is where we've got a lot
of problems and that is, I think we could get a lot of
people there and I think putting a mechanism like that, uh,
will would definitely discourage, um, people flying down
these streets, especially, you know, as as we already
talked about, right? A lot of these things happen late at
night. Um, so interested to hear your thoughts on what we
could do, um, to focus where we know, you know, the data
points to these incidences happening, um, at different
times of day, um, and what tools we have at our disposal.
Sorry. I just asked you, like, 6 different questions at
once, so the place. Sure. So yes, we are going to be
working on speed, uh, adding speed cameras, uh, to the
network in 2025, uh, what was 5050, more, uh, locations,
Um, be happy? If, if you remember, is the committee have
locations would like to be considered please, you know,
follow the format of of sending us.
A letter with the location. You're you're interested in us.
Assessing um,
And then, uh, there was another. I just lost my train of
thought. Um, oh uh, what I did want to say, is because
we've talked about this and I, I, I think it's the right
go, but we do have uh, statutory limitations. Um, I I think
I think there is an appetite and, and, and a real, um,
worthwhile Endeavor to take a look at, uh, enforcement in
the late hours. Um, what we're seeing in, um, areas
throughout the city with um, dangerous driving, uh
drifting. Uh, the, you know, the the phenomenon from, um,
Fast and Furious. Um,
It's happening overnight. It's happening at 1 in the
morning. It's having 2 in the morning.
our current program is,
Park and school 11, oclock focused, right? So, if if this
activity is going on at 2 in the morning, even even having
those cameras in place, they're not going to get us what we
need in terms of enforcing that. So it's something we we we
think is worthwhile to explore and we'd be happy to have
further conversations with with uh, with with you and and,
and the committee to look at what what would be needed from
a legislative, uh, perspective to
To, to make it uh, worthwhile.
Yeah, I'd love to be a part of that conversation because I
do think and I agree. Um, whatever we can do to sort of um,
give ourselves more ability given the the data that we know
exists today, and when things are happening, uh, that would
be able to capture that. I mean, that has the extra added
benefit of Public Safety, as well. Not just from a traffic
safety perspective, but you know, a speed camera has a
license plate reader, right? Um, and you know, the the last
fatality in my ward, um, it, you know, it was a stolen
vehicle and he was driving away and he ran into somebody
that was in the middle of an intersection, um, killed his
passenger. Um, but that was, you know, had he gotten away.
He may have just um, hit another car and caused some other
accident, but we we could have gotten the license plate off
off of it as well. So I think it's it's got the Dual
Purpose use uh, there from a public. Safety perspective. Is
that something that has to be done at the state level or is
that something from like a municipal code? Um, Chicago rule
that we can
Do does anybody know?
The, um, the the limitations on the speed camera for hours,
it's it's both. We definitely do both state and city, okay?
I think that's definitely something sure we should look at,
um, and and pursue in terms of those changes, um,
as far as current speed limits go
Do they vary currently in different places in the city or
is it a standard 30 miles an hour across the city, no
matter where you are? Because I know there's sometimes like
school zones that might have a lower speed limit. Um, where
where do we find that information?
It it is standard across the city except by where ordinance
where it's been reduced, okay? So it's 30 miles unless it's
been lowered by ordinance in place and do. We does see that
track that like where the speed limits of been reduced at?
I'd love to through the chair. Obviously, I don't I don't
expect you to have this committed to memory but um through
the chair um where uh where the speed limits vary from um
from 30 miles an hour.
and then,
Jurisdictional ownership of streets.
Can you talk to me about like, how much control we have as
the city over I dot streets? Um,
And sort of what, uh, where the guardrails are in terms of
the the bounds of what you're able to do as C dot versus
when you have to go to I dot for something.
Well um so with respect to like what we're talking about
here, I'm not talking about like going underground or
anything like that. Um mostly just, you know um
Guardrails speed limits cameras on like, if we wanted to put
a speed camera on Archer Avenue. It's a it's an i. Road. Is
there a special, you know, permission or authorization? We
need to get from them. And you know, if we wanted to let's
say, you know, limit truck traffic somehow. Yeah, so I I
I I mean, we we at CAD, you know, the state provides us
funding annually to, uh, maintain the idat routes in the
city. And it's, it's a very good partnership. I mean, we,
you know, we get the funding, we need to fix roads, and,
and lights and street lights, and signage, and all sorts of
things. So, it's, it's a valuable partnership, 100%. Um,
but I I that has jurisdiction, so things like, if we do
a project on an IAT route, we do have to get a permit from
from them and the work has to follow um their their
follow um, their their specifications and their standards.
So that is where things like the um, the recently passed.
Um, like the I do.
That c mou and it ended up being called the the truck
length legislation that passed. The lame duck session. It
it we have to follow their specs and their requirements
that they have. So um the stuff that we do is in accordance
with that and that's why sometimes if you see um,
If you see work, we do on a on a streetscape or Street
reconstruction and a segment. And you say, wow look at
that, you know why is it like that here? Why can't we do it
over there? Um it's generally there it's probably it
actually is the the kind of subtle differences in some of
the legislative and requirement specifications that I that
has on their jurisdiction streets, versus what we have. I
think the example that I I think is most uh when I use most
frequently talking to counselors. If you if you're on the
the North side and you look at what Irving Park Road, looks
versus the the project that is on an eye that route. Uh,
Irving Park Road versus what seat did on Belmont which is C
dot right away.
Gotcha. Um okay. And I have just 1 last question. Um,
Maybe I don't I have I'm gonna send you some some requests.
I don't need to I don't need to tie up more time and hear
you. I mean it's been really helpful conversation. Um, I do
have some I I think just bits of data that I'll I'll send
I'll send to you at an email that I can. Uh, I think I can
Uh, I think I can grab. Um, but I I think that my biggest
that we we need to make sure we have a really holistic
really holistic plan, um, to continue to make, uh,
progress. Um, and it's great progress. I I think that's
incredible to go from what you found in your garage, uh, to
where we are today. Obviously, you know, we've got, we've
got other things to people drive, safer, cars are safer,
but that doesn't negate the fact that
Hey, we're less than half the number of fatalities now based
on where where we were before and I think that's something
to be celebrated. Um and and as much as we hear from people
that they want, you know, walkability they want to be able
to use other forms of transportation. Um, also very
striking to see that 1 of the the biggest uh, groups is
just pedestrians walking who are getting hit. And I've seen
seen that, you know, time and time again. Unfortunately, in
my own Community would love to continue to find ways to,
um, to slow people down in cars. Um, and, uh, make
everybody a little bit more aware of, uh, their
surroundings, whoever's whoever they're sharing the roads
with. So thank you.
Thank you. Thank you cheer.
Uh, next we had order woman, man. Happy worth followed by
Allman Curtis.
Thank you, chair.
Hi commissioner. Hi Deputy Commissioner, hello? Um, shout
out to
those on your team who are not here including um Brad and
Dave Smith and um, Deputy Commissioner SDI, who's has been
very very available so I appreciate it very much. There's a
lot going on and, and our Ward. And and a lot of the
questions that have been asked today, um, answered some of
the things that I I was curious about including, um,
You know what can we do?
With, I dot regarding doaba, Lakeshore Drive um things that
alter and Nancy. And Lee brought up, um, speeding is a
Is an issue. Um, and we are at the end of Dhaba, Lakeshore
Drive in Edgewater
um, you also
um, thank you for bringing that information that your dad
found in in his garage. That's fascinating. And we love to
see that data. We we just love it. Um,
I'm curious about what I'm curious about because, um,
you've talked a lot about the memorandum of understanding
with I Dot and, uh, the coordination that needs to happen
with them, but not only with them, but everybody all the
way down to the block clubs, um, schools and that kind of
thing. Um, I and you also mentioned to you have B, um, and
it reminds me that you sent us a letter in October about a
new division that you had a division of planning and
policy. And so I'm just curious how
How does that relate to what we have been talking about
today? And can you talk about the mission of that new
division?
um, and any timelines that that you want to share with us,
um, and the goals
Sure um yes so the the division of planning and policy is
up and running. Um, we're very happy about that. They're
they're actually our uh uh had an open survey uh that was
up on our website to look asking for Public's input of of
uh long range planning um and policy uh ideas that for
them. You know, here interested to hear what others would
be interested in them focusing on. Um
I think a lot of what we're talking about here today is
things that is is with us, you know, obviously how how the
numbers look from last year, uh, what we're planning to
work on, you know, in 2025 construction season, um, the the
planning and policy group, certainly, uh, I I envisioned
over time we'll probably analyze uh, uh, how all this work
has been successful. Uh, is there other, you know, National
Trends or things? We should be looking at. But they're not
specifically focused on this as as a, as much as a wide
variety of topics. So, uh, electric vehicles and, and, you
know, autonomous vehicles, um, longer term things like
that, um, you know, uh, our our managing of freight going
through Chicago, you know, big big ticket, things like
that, major planning studies. How how does that? Uh, how
do, how do we, uh, fit in things, regionally, and, and
nationally. Um, so they they have a kind of a, a, a
A wider, uh, portfolio. Uh, so to speak, uh, you know,
things about the environment, they'll be looking at. Um,
but I, you know, um,
This is uh what we're talking about here today is very
Central to see that's core Mission. So certainly uh
planning and policy over time will I'm undoubtedly be
analyzing things that are related to this and and their
work. Uh the the 1 of the, the aspects and goals of having
that division is their work will better position us to
pursue various state and federal grants that can help with
whatever their um
That that topic area that they've researched and and
reported on.
well, will there be involved or are they already involved
with the re envisioning of tawbah lakes share Drive
Um, member, well let me say it. This way members of the new
division are very much on our our Dhaba lecture Drive, uh,
um and reimagine the drive, uh, project so hand and glove a
bit. Yes, it's just. We're a little bit at a, a different
phase in that because we've been at that for 10 years. So
they're they're coming, is this but key members of the team
are the same Personnel if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah,
thank you. Um,
I was curious about taking it back to um, you know the local
local level you talked about. Actually, you talked about
something that passed in Lane Duck Session about trucks
and, um, the movement of trucks, I guess in neighborhoods
and it reminds me because we have several projects in the
ward, right? Um, how you work with firehouses and, um,
and firemen who might be concerned about what we're doing
at cadat, and how it might affect their work, their ability
to get to, um, to respond to an emergency call. Can you is
that related in some way the movement of trucks and the
fire trucks and the neighborhoods um the legislation that
passed and also the ability of trucks to move in
neighborhoods including fire trucks. Yes. So so when our
our folks, um,
Our engineering projects um 1 of the key things they're
looking at is different vehicle uh truck lengths and
turning movements. So that in so as you know, looking at
the geometry of that street of that intersection to make
sure that, um, they're designing something that appropriate
Vehicles, whether it's school buses or a firetruck, can or
or CTA bus can navigate that we don't want to design
something that's a problem on arrival, right? So so that
fire trucks is something that's taken into consideration
when we are
Designing these improvements. Yes. And it certainly we we've
we've collaborated with fire department on on needs that
they have at at, you know, on specific, uh, corridors, um,
there are modifications on, you know, on our street
reconstructions and and things where we have to make
modifications, uh, to, uh, accommodate maybe, you know, a
larger driveway space for, uh, EMS and and, and and fire
trucks in and out, um, or adjusting. Um,
you know, we we might initially have a design or a thought
for a, um,
Pedestrian Refuge island or median. Um and then that has to
to be modified or changed because of proximity to a
firehouse. So we we certainly engage with them and and and
work with them because we know the importance of of their
role
Yeah yeah it reminds me of what's happening on Granville
because that's not too far from the firehouse but it also
reminds me of the 4 referrals, many many, many, many years
on Broadway, right? Um
And an intersection where a 90 year old man was, um,
critically injured because of a hit and run, right? Um, but
I, I just wanted to say thank you for, for your work.
Commissioner, and your team is fantastic. Thank you Vic for
all also being available on the ground to us so that we can
explain, you know, it's, it's hard for people to see change
in their neighborhoods, but we want people to be safe.
And the kind of like the the footprint of the 48th Ward is
such. That is basically all a school zone where kids want
to ride their bikes and they want to be safe. And uh, we
want our roads to be safe for students and uh, seniors
alike. So thank you for your work. I appreciate it. Thank
you, thank you.
Thank you very much, much older woman. And now we have
Ormond Curtis sir.
Thank you, chairman.
Good. Good afternoon. Uh, commissioner
uh,
again, uh, like my colleague, I definitely want to thank
you for that, uh, bringing that, uh, information to father
had long time ago. That's uh, very important. I remember.
Um, when we first had this conversation, uh, about
Uh, speed limit. I I think it was back in May.
Uh, and there was a strong debate, uh, in city council
about this among the members. And, uh, I, I, I definitely,
uh, uh, support this. Uh, and I don't know why, uh, you
know, and it's different in, in, every reward, I guess.
But, uh, as you know, and we, we've talked about this for
some time.
Uh uh, you know, I don't I don't know what it is. It it it
starts with driver's Behavior, Number 1 uh uh and and I
think the last committee meeting we had about this. I I got
in trouble 1 of my constituents, saying that because uh, I
said, no matter the age color creed, I don't care. No 1
stop that stop signs anymore, they just be right through
them. Uh you know, we've been having problems like on our
Pulaski Road that I share with another 5 almond from 87s in
Pulaski down to I 55 which is 43rd Street uh, constant
crashes. Or we've had, uh, a few for fatalities. It is is
really getting bad. Um, I'm now,
Starting to spend more menu money. Now, people starting to
ask for Speed, humps on residential blocks,
Uh, than anything. Now that was never the case.
uh, I've also found myself putting temporary, um,
curb extensions also,
because at the same Corners because of speed, I've had
accidents with cars ended up writing someone's living room
Uh, and we, we put up extensions there. So I do appreciate
uh uh this robust conversation. Uh we started a uh, a
steering committee, uh, for Traffic Safety. Which last week
we had our first me, uh, meeting. Uh, someone also was uh,
from the Department of Transportation on that on that, uh,
uh, Zoom call. Uh, and and and, and I think we're coming up
with a lot of great ideas. Uh, and I'm interested in
working with along with my other colleagues, even the long
Pulaski Road when it comes to, uh, traffic safety. And what
we can do, uh, again our our money definitely the menu
money doesn't stretch far. So I'm also glad to hear that we
now have a bond that we can work with to, uh, help, uh, fix
Some of those issues. Uh, and the only other issue that I
have that, uh, I have spoke about that. I that I do need.
Uh uh Expediting is uh, right in front of a, a firehouse
the the lines have disappeared and when an emergency, the
ambulance and the firemen can't get out of the firehouse
anymore. So, we'll talk about that offline. But again, I, I
again, I, I appreciate this, uh, I, I appreciate the
sponsors and I'm definitely, uh, will support, uh, this
effort, uh, and I will be supporting, uh, our new, um,
Uh speed change, thanks a lot, thank you. Uh commission,
thank you chairman. Thank you very much sir. Um
Final question, columns from the side of the road. A row.
Are you good sir?
All right. Uh, with that said, my thanks again to both of
you gentlemen, for the genuinely robust conversation it. It
encourages is encourages me, it builds My Hope for the city
that we're building together. Thank you. And with that, may
I have a motion to adjourn.
So moved older woman manah hoppenworth, thank you very
much, we are adjourned.