The committee.
The Committee on Transportation,
the public way is now called to order.
We will now have a roll call to establish quorum.
Will the alderman please make sure their
microphones are muted?
Please note that your yes
or present response will redeem to be a yes vote
when this quorum roll call is used as reference.
Vote for later items. Thank you. Chair Mitchell.
Present, vice Chair
Vazquez Derman Conway.
Derman Irving. Alderman Fuentes.
Alderman Gutierrez Alderman Harris. Here, Derman Hopkins.
Alderman Moore. Alderman Mosley.
Alderman Nugent. Alderman Rodriguez.
Ottman Waba Altman Yancy.
There are seven members present. We have a quorum.
Alderman Irvin and Alderman Es have requested remote
participation under Rule 59 of the rules of water
and procedure for the city Council.
Can I have a motion to allow remote participation of the
above mentioned alderman?
So Alderman Mosley, so moves on the motion.
All in favor say aye. Oppose No.
Any the opinion of the chair. The ayes have it.
Uh, recognizing alderman new Nugent for purposes of quorum.
At this time, we will begin the public comment period.
Out of respect for everybody's time.
Public comment will be limited to 30 minutes,
and each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Chairman, both together
present Latin America and Fuentes
Fuentes.
All right, our speakers in accordance
with Rule 58 of the City Council.
Rules of order. Please refrain from profane language I've
seen conduct or disruptive comments.
Our first speaker is Maria.
Hi, my name is Maria. I'm a resident of, uh,
Brighton Park Neighborhood.
I just wanna say, let's use CTA.
November 18th, Brittany McGee burned
to death in the blue line.
December 12th, 2020 5, 44 old year,
year old man was shot and killed.
A man with a knife took a gun from a passenger.
December, 2026, blue line, 37-year-old man stabbed to death.
Suspect recorded the attack on his phone.
January, 2026,
international student on the red line attacked
and robbed February, 2026.
Victim punched in the face, robbed
and got her head stomped in, in the red line.
Safe you say, the more likely to die
as a pedestrian on the street
or riding CTA than driving just my opinion.
Infrastructures in Brighton Park bring more business,
putting bike lanes.
Do you not care about mechanics?
Auto stores, car wash cars, gas stations, car dealership.
By the way, guess who's driving bikes and bike parts.
Delivery trucks.
Bike lanes don't cause traffic.
But you think reducing car lanes too.
Put a bike lane doesn't make traffic.
Do you think traffic magically disappears?
What it does is a domino effect.
It redirects traffic into residential streets. Is that safe?
No. It causes a chain reaction of congestion.
The more time on the road increases the chances
of car accidents, more pollution
to the environment than before.
I'm with a group for Archer,
Archer, guardians of Brighton Park.
We don't want these infrastructure changes.
CTA Pulaski ISS crazy. There's bump outs on one block.
The next block, they're pulling over as usual.
The next block is a car lane or a bike lane.
I don't know what it is. Then the following block,
they have a a bike, uh, bus only lane.
And when they reach the end of that, there's a bump out.
So they still have to merge back in.
There's zigzagging cars cannot predict these buses.
CTAs, they wanna install cameras in the front of CTAs
to take pictures of people that park
and bus stops for a hundred dollars ticket.
But yet you park on a bike lane and it's $250 ticket.
Don't make no sense. Our neighborhood has
very few bikers in our neighborhood,
yet they install these bike lanes
and these infrastructures
that people are crashing into them.
It's not safe.
Thank you, RIA. Uh,
our next public speaker is George Blakemore.
Before you get started, Mr.
Blakemore, I'm recognizing, uh, Ottman Brian Hopkins
for purposes of quorum.
Thank you. Proceed. Mr. Blakemore,
Thank, thank you young lady for speaking on the subject.
Artificial intelligence.
Some of you all are not, uh, intelligent at all.
I believe you are. You are abusive.
You all are abusive. Mr. Conway, you are abusive.
But, but the buck stopped. The buck stopped with us.
The citizens, we allow you to abuse us.
You having another meeting that's going on at the same,
in the same, uh, uh, building at the same time.
Two meetings are going on.
The scheduling, you know, the young man say, Mr.
Blakemore, we should, uh, uh, uh, vote for you for mayor.
I said, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
And he say, well, what can we do?
I, I'm under the impression right now, the only thing
that could clean up this, a blue cesspool here,
democratic cesspool.
And I use Maria Antoinette Democratic,
the French Revolution.
She said, forget the people. Forget 'em.
Feed 'em cake after that.
Now, now look at Michelle just smiling a a
after that, you know what happened to Maria Antoinette?
And it became the first revolution.
Even this country was built on violence.
The American Revolution, the Civil War
enslaving black people in, in, in America, a balance,
not legislative violence.
So some kinda way that we have to
purge this whole system here,
by any means necessary, it is not working.
And by interest. Now look at those two talking.
It's not working in the interest of, of other people
and people out here, sir, you, you got me, uh, on Facebook,
they can get a million hit
and no change will come until the people change.
Okay? Fake news. Uh, uh, it's fake news.
Time is out.
You, we have to get rid
of all these elected officials
and bring a new system of equity,
a new system, a multi-party system.
Stop it. Otherwise, it's nothing
but a dog and pony show.
Remember, this country was built on violence.
Throw them out by any means.
I hope. Be absolute good. Thank you, Mr. Blake Moore.
Our our next public speaker is Richard Zuki.
Do we have a Richard Zu? Oh, there he is. Yes. Thank
You.
Um, Richard Zku. I am raw here.
On behalf of many Brighton Park residents
and business owners who are deeply concerned about the
ongoing impacts of the Archer Avenue Pro protected bike lane
project, we have compiled a list
of verifiable community reported concerns
that have persistent since
construction began in November, 2025.
Peak hour gridlock in significantly longer commute times,
some reports of four times increase
with traffic spilling into residential streets and alleys.
Reduced emergency vehicle access during congestion,
supported by residents submitted video evidence.
Local business revenue losses, 20 to 70% re reported due
to limited customer access
and removal of around 200 parking spaces.
Winter maintenance challenges protected, uh,
lanes frequently filled with snow
and debris, forcing cyclists into the single effective
travel lane and creating hazards for all users.
Ongoing FOIA delays. Our January 5th, 2026 request.
Referral number S 1 23 8 9 5 5 6
for the around 500 survey responses
and related records was extended to January 21st, 2026.
But we have received no response or production as of now,
and it's February 11th.
These issues have left many residents feeling
that the project was implemented without adequate broad
consultation, and
that there is currently no effective recourse.
At the same time, we recognize the shared goal
of safer streets for everyone, including driver, cyclists,
pedestrians, first responders, students, and businesses.
We do not want conflict. We want resolution.
To that end, we propose the
following collaborative path forward.
Thank you for hearing this. Please restore Archer Avenue
and relevant psy segments
to at least two wide open travel lanes in each direction.
With dedicated left turn pockets at intersections
as existed prior to the project,
this would immediately improve flow visibility,
emergency access, winter plowing efficiency
and safety for the car dependent majority
construct a dedicated off street bike
and pedestrian path along the Chicago River from Ping
to park in the south to Harlem Avenue in the north,
utilizing existing city trail planning,
the Great River Chicago South Branch framework
and bridge rail adjacent connections.
This provides a safer, low stress alternative for cyclists
and pedestrians without disrupting main roadways.
And this is important. Just
please do this one if nothing else.
And it's easy. Install clear yield to bikes, buses, signage,
and launch a short public education campaign
to reinforce safe sharing of the right lane.
An approach that has demonstrated similar safety benefits
to protected lanes in other Chicago locations without
requiring physical barriers.
It gives you the same safety protection
work together publicly.
To present this as a community supported agreement,
we come together, please all of us
that addresses legitimate safety concerns while restoring
efficient travel and economic vitality for Brighton Park.
We believe this plan can be a win-win.
It reduces crash risks, the original goal.
Thank you Mr. Zku.
Our next public speaker is Carmen Rodriguez.
Good morning, alderman. Uh, my name is Carmen Rodriguez.
Good morning public.
Uh, I was here on Monday
for the other transportation meeting.
I am here once again, um, because I want to address
and follow up on what Maria
and Rich just mentioned about the Archer Avenue Corridor,
um, and the mass destruction of that thoroughfare.
Uh, let me just, in case you don't drive on Archer Avenue,
let me familiarize yourself.
Let me familiarize you with that street.
It is the bread and butter of the southwest side of Chicago.
Let's just say it's the analogy of what Michigan Avenue is
to downtown Chicago.
It is a street that is full
of commercial businesses starting from Bridgeport,
McKinley Park, followed by Brighton Park,
Archer Heights, Garfield Ridge.
And then we go into the suburbs summit.
What is the problem here?
Uh, your, um, colleague, uh, alderman, uh,
Julia Ramirez from the Brighton Park area has decided
to put the special interest groups, the
probably less than 1% of the Brighton Park residents
that actually ride a bike.
She has put their interest first
before putting the interest of the Brighton Park businesses
and the residents.
But let me tell you, you may be talking
right now amongst yourselves.
This is relevant to you.
You know why it's relevant to you, especially to like,
let's say the neighboring neighborhood, Archer Heights,
J Lou Guttier, uh, alderman Gutierrez, uh,
because these bike lanes complete waste of tax dollar money.
What is this costing over 700 million?
Yeah, like, uh, I think the budget for this is, uh,
for the city of Chicago, CDOT over $700 million.
Those are not your dollars. Those are our tax dollars.
You need to be a good advocate of our basically
how you spend our money.
And I'm, I'm, I'm asking you please,
if there is a vote on the city hall floor next week,
the following week, whenever, don't just vote yes or no
because your colleagues are your friends.
Think about your constituents in your neighborhood in the
Brighton Park neighborhood.
I spoke to all these businesses.
Do you know what their losses are?
Because of these bike lanes?
Uh, over 20% losses, bike lanes
that have one person.
I was there on Monday, one person in three
hours I saw on a bike.
I went into all these businesses trying to support them
and there was no business.
So all I ask, please, when you're thinking about anything
that benefits the community, the public way, transportation,
think, is it going to attract business?
Is it going to keep existing business
or is it gonna hurt business
and make them leave the city of Chicago?
You need these businesses. Keep them happy.
If you keep them happy, you keep revenue,
you keep residents, you keep everybody happy,
you keep people employed.
Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.
Uh, well that concludes the public comment period.
I moved at this time.
I moved to approve the Rule 45 report
of the Committee on Transportation
and Public Meeting held on January 20th, 2026.
Can I get a, uh, alderman Moley? So moves on the motion.
All in favor say aye. Opposed? No. Any opinion of the chair?
The ayes have it
Today.
We have seven items on the agenda going out
of order on page two.
Item one is a substitute ordinance for an amendment
of municipal codes.
Uh, section nine dash six four dash 70 a to allow parking
of taxi decals on residential streets within the 29th ward.
Can I get a motion to accept the, um,
accept the substitute ordinance on the floor?
Uh, Auman wa So moves on the motion. All in favor say aye.
Those opposed. And the opinion of the chair, the ayes habit
also going out of order on page four,
item one is a direct introduction
for a miscellaneous item in the 47th award.
Can I get a motion to accept the direct introduction into
committee, uh, vice Chair Vasquez?
So moves on the motion. All in favor say aye. Opposed?
No independent chair. The ayes have it.
Page two, item one, amendment
of municipal code section nine dash six four dash 1 7 0.
Ordinance 2 0 2 6 0 2 2 1 5 1.
A amendment of municipal code section 9 6 4 1 7
to allow parking
of taxi cabs on residential streets within the 29th ward.
Can I get a motion to, to recommend approval of this item?
I vasque sole moves on the motion. All in favor say aye.
Oppose no. Any opinion of the chair, the ayes habit.
Now on page two, item two, a amen amendment
of municipal code section 2 8 2 dash eight dash
4 0 0 2 2 0 2 6 0 0 2 2 5 3 5.
A amendment of municipal code chapter two dash eight dash
0 4 0 allowing all the persons to propose up
to four honorary street sign designations per calendar year.
Alderman Vasquez Ottman Harris Altman Moley.
So moves on the motion. All in favor say aye. I. Opposed?
No in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Pages three, item seven will be held in committee.
Page three and four include nine ordinances
for miscellaneous items introduced
by the local alderman from Wards
1, 16, 21, 24, 35, 40, 45
and 47.
Can I get a motion to recommend approval of these items?
Alderman Hopkins. So moves on the motion.
All in favor say aye. Oppose, no. Any opinion of the chair?
The ayes habit, page five,
item 1, 4300 North Armitage Incorporated re,
subdivision ordinance 2 0 2 6 0 0 2 2 5 1 7.
A mayoral introduction, authorizing
and directing the commissioner of the Chicago Department
of Transportation, or any
of the commissioner's designees to approve.
They propose Dens re subdivision being a re
subdivision of certain lots owned
by 4,300 North Armitage Inc.
And Illinois Corporation owner
and the block bounded by West Montrose Avenue,
north Armitage Avenue, west Column Avenue,
and North Ravenswood Avenue.
The property is located in the 47th Ward here to speak.
We have Tyler Manic, attorney Shane and Banks, uh,
and Molly.
Molly, Molly, Sam, die, uh, deputy Commissioner cdot
and Anita Gal, owner representative.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee.
Uh, for the record, my name is Tyler Manic.
As a chairman mentioned, I'm joined by, uh, Nita Goyal,
who's representative of the property owner,
4,300 North Hermitage, Inc.
Uh, we have an application before you.
Uh, the applicant owns four recorded lots
that are dimension 50 by 163.5,
um, which are larger than normal lots on the block.
Uh, we're looking to subdivide these four lots into six
lots, measuring each 32 feet wide
by 163.5 feet deep,
which is gonna accommodate a lot size
and a single family residence.
Uh, that'd be more compatible with the rest of the, um,
improvements on the block.
Um, technically, uh,
this applications exempt from the Illinois Plaid Act,
but CDOT has a regulation that, um, they just
want to memorialize any change in, uh, re in in lot lines.
So this is just formalizing the change in the movement
of lot lines in from four, lots into six.
And I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Uh, committee, are there any questions
for any of the witnesses?
Uh, I have a question.
So,
Ms.
Coya, Anita, go.
The owner's who actually owns these prob, the, the property.
4,300 North Hermitage Inc. Um, Ms.
Al's, a shareholder in the corporation. What? In the
Corporation?
Uh, any more questions for members?
Alright, there is no compensation due for this project.
Uh, can I get a motion? Recommend approval of this item.
Alright, Beck, so moves on the motion. All in favor say Aye.
Opposed? No. Any opinion of the chair? The ayes have it.
Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank
You
There being no further business before the committee.
Can I get a motion to adjourn by the same roll call vote
as was applied to determine quorum Altman Moley.
So moves on the motion. All of them favor say, aye. Opposed?
No. In the opinion of Chad, the ayes havoc, the median
of Committee on Transportation public wa is now adjourned.