Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, February 9, 2026
- When: Mon, Feb 9, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1161566002
- Transcript: full text (24,994 words, automatic captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety heard 13 public commenters, many of them Brighton Park residents objecting to the concrete-protected bike lanes on Archer Avenue, along with advocates supporting Complete Streets investments. The committee approved the January Rule 45 report and its routine direct-introduction, recommended and no-recommendation items, holding one item. On a roll call, it recommended approval of an amended substitute ordinance creating a two-year pilot for enforcement of parking in crosswalks, bike lanes and bus lanes through a street operations task force and a 311 dispatch system. CDOT then presented its annual Complete Streets hearing on safety results and economic indicators; members raised delivery loading, business parking, community engagement and the Archer Avenue project, with non-members Alderpersons Dowell, Lopez and Ramirez also speaking. Finally, the committee recommended approval of Alderperson Brian Hopkins substitute ordinance requiring CDOT to appear before the committee before major planned bridge closures, after the requirement for council approval of closures was removed.
Topics: Archer Avenue bike lanes, Complete Streets, parking enforcement pilot, bike and bus lane obstruction, delivery loading zones, traffic safety data, community engagement, bridge closures, business parking
Agenda items discussed
- 15:02 Motion to allow members to participate remotely under Rule 59: passed
- 15:28 Public comment: discussed
- 53:28 Approval of the January Rule 45 report: passed
- 53:55 Direct introduction ordinances (page 2): passed
- 54:18 Recommended items (pages 3-18): passed
- 54:36 No-recommendation items (pages 19-21), with substitutes for items 4 and 5: passed
- 55:15 Item 7 on page 21: held
- 55:47 Substitute ordinance establishing a public enforcement pilot program for covered parking offenses in crosswalks, bike lanes and bus lanes: passed
- 1:17:34 CDOT annual Complete Streets subject matter hearing: discussed
- 2:39:52 Ordinance requiring CDOT to come before the committee prior to bridge closures for planned work (substitute): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Daniel La Spata (chair): Described the amended substitute pilot: a street operations task force of parking enforcement aides, then a 311 dispatch system by December 31, 2026, applying to commercial vehicles with reporting requirements. (56:21); Said he appreciated the compromise reached with departments as logistically feasible and leading to greater safety. (58:35); Said Milwaukee Avenue's economic results, from an independent study, vindicated the work, and praised CDOT staff for in-person business outreach on Chicago Avenue bus lanes. (1:38:17)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Described Wells Street between North and Division, which has no alleys or loading docks, and asked CDOT where delivery trucks should park once enforcement begins. (59:10); Said the enforcement ordinance is a good idea that may work in some areas but not everywhere. (1:01:00); Said union delivery drivers resist off-hour deliveries and that government will need to convene delivery companies to coordinate. (1:04:05)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Thanked CDOT for door-to-door business conversations about deliveries and customers on Clark Street and Western Avenue. (1:07:19); Described safety projects in his ward that followed fatal crashes and urged CDOT to keep working with ward offices. (1:39:40); Cited reduced speeding and crashes and increased bike ridership in his ward and asked that decisions remain data-driven and transparent about trade-offs. (1:42:20)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Described loading restrictions around Wrigley Field and called for a citywide approach to loading zones, including shared loading zone pilots. (1:08:39); Said the lack of enforcement drives blocking of bike lanes and crosswalks and that the ordinance is an enforcement tool. (1:09:53); Said including crosswalks was a key issue for him and stated he would vote yes. (1:10:24)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Thanked the chair for the ordinance, describing having to leave blocked bike lanes and the delivery needs of Clark Street businesses. (1:12:46); Described Edgewater as a cut-through ward and thanked CDOT for work on Granville and Berwyn. (1:50:21); Asked what the council should focus on, such as legislation, funding or policy, to deliver Complete Streets faster. (1:52:42)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Said the enforcement issues are not ones his ward faces and asked why the program is citywide rather than ward-based or opt-out. (1:14:38)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Asked what timeframe the economic metrics in CDOT's presentation were based on. (1:35:13); Asked for data on initial impacts after installation versus later improvements to explain changes to constituents. (1:36:05); Supported the bridge ordinance, saying aldermen learned of closures at the same time as the public. (2:48:47)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Said the 13th Ward is not interested in bike lanes on Archer and that he would lead opposition if CDOT pursued them. (1:37:02); Asked CDOT to prioritize 59th Street from Harlem to Narragansett as the ward's main need. (1:37:33)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Said he spends menu funds on pedestrian safety and that pandemic-era curbside bus lanes upset his community over parking and turning. (1:44:34); Asked what businesses on 79th Street should do when bike lanes and bus turns eliminate parking. (1:45:42); Said projects were often done without notifying wards or businesses and suggested bike lanes could go on different streets. (1:49:13)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Said she came to raise concerns about CDOT's approach to installing Complete Streets projects and bike lanes. (2:08:39); Contrasted the Indiana Avenue project, which had community engagement, with the 18th and Wabash bike lanes, which she said had none. (2:09:24); Said CDOT does not consult OEMC or the fire department on emergency vehicle impacts. (2:11:50)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said as a Brighton Park resident that Complete Streets has been a disaster for Brighton Park. (2:13:47); Cited about $791 million in planned transit, bicycle and pedestrian spending and said CDOT should prioritize street lighting. (2:14:24); Questioned the composition of the 2023 Archer task force, saying most members were not from Brighton Park. (2:16:06)
- Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Said she represents the Archer and Kedzie Complete Streets segments and invited colleagues with concerns to speak with her directly. (2:26:12); Asked CDOT to explain how Complete Streets differs from simply adding bike lanes. (2:27:22); Asked why this segment of Archer was chosen and how jurisdiction differs between city and state. (2:30:44)
Exchanges between members
- 1:07:19 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin referenced the needs Alderperson Brian Hopkins raised about deliveries and described similar work in his ward.
- 1:08:39 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson said Alderperson Matthew J. Martin was correct about loading restrictions around Wrigley Field.
- 1:11:24 Alderperson Brian Hopkins commended Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson for raising the enforcement issue and added it to his request to CDOT.
- 1:12:46 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair for bringing the enforcement ordinance forward.
- 1:13:36 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth noted Alderperson Matthew J. Martin success with CDOT on Clark Street and hoped it would extend north.
- 1:14:38 Alderperson David H. Moore said he was building on Alderperson Brian Hopkins point that the program would not work in all wards.
- 1:41:10 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin echoed Alderperson Marty Quinn on the importance of CDOT talking with ward offices.
- 1:42:50 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin echoed Alderperson Walter R. Burnett call for data-driven decisions.
- 1:43:32 The chair added emphasis to Alderperson Matthew J. Martin point about safety improvements following fatal crashes.
- 1:51:57 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth agreed with the chair that the city should not wait for a death to act.
- 2:21:41 The chair told Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez that CDOT had been asked to present holistically, not on Archer specifically.
- 2:22:07 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez responded that CDOT should be able to answer questions about its own published information.
- 2:25:16 The chair asked Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez to finish his statement so the committee could move to its remaining agenda.
- 2:25:25 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez objected to being asked to wrap up, calling it disrespectful to the community.
- 2:26:25 Alderperson Julia M. Ramirez invited the colleague who had just spoken to discuss his concerns with her directly as the 12th Ward alderperson.
- 2:48:47 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett supported the bridge ordinance and thanked Alderperson Brian Hopkins for proposing it.
- 2:49:30 The chair asked Alderperson Brian Hopkins to confirm the ordinance does not require council approval for bridge closures.
- 2:49:58 Alderperson Brian Hopkins confirmed and thanked the chair for helping revise the ordinance.