Committee on Transportation and Public Way meeting, May 13, 2026
- When: Wed, May 13, 2026, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Transportation and Public Way
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1191621840
- Transcript: full text (14,586 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 Transportation and Public Way considered Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointment of William Cheeks Jr. as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation. Six public speakers commented, five of them in support of the nominee and one questioning the selection process; Cheeks described his prior CDOT and Water Management experience and his priorities on efficiency, safety, and follow-through. Members raised overlapping north side bridge closures, equity in MENU funding for large wards, street materials, barricades left at completed projects, contractor damage to the public way, school-area safety, and stop sign visibility, and the committee recommended the appointment by voice vote. The committee also approved its April 8, 2026 Rule 45 report, 18 miscellaneous ward ordinances, an alley vacation at 2171 North Rockwell Street, an alley dedication at the former Louis Armstrong School site in the 29th Ward, and an alley vacation for a grocery store redevelopment at 6200 West Higgins.
Topics: CDOT commissioner appointment, Bridge closures and congestion, MENU program equity, Street resurfacing materials, Pedestrian and school safety, Public way restoration by contractors, Alley vacations, Alley dedication, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 18:11 Motion to allow remote participation by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr.: passed
- 18:20 Public comment: discussed
- 39:05 Rule 45 report for the April 8, 2026 meeting: passed
- 39:48 Acceptance of direct introduction of mayoral appointment: passed
- 40:11 Appointment of William Cheeks Jr. as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation: passed
- 1:37:37 18 miscellaneous ordinances introduced by local alderpersons: passed
- 1:38:10 Vacation of a portion of a public alley at 2171 North Rockwell Street (1st Ward): passed
- 1:40:18 Dedication of public alleys near Congress Parkway and Harrison Street at the former Louis Armstrong School (29th Ward): passed
- 1:43:31 Vacation of public right of way for 6200 Higgins LLC grocery store redevelopment (45th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gregory I. Mitchell (chair): Said he shares Alderperson Jeylú B. Gutiérrez concern about work site safety. (1:04:50); Told the nominee the committee expects a lot from him and invited him to ask the committee for help in making operational changes. (1:29:34); Asked whether CPS would have pursued the alley dedication without an identified buyer for the school site. (1:42:43)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Called the nominee's qualifications outstanding and said he supports the appointment. (45:29); Said overlapping bridge closures on the north side caused avoidable congestion and economic harm and urged better coordination and congestion mitigation using predictive tools. (46:00)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked how the nominee would address equity when every ward receives the same $1.5 million in MENU funds regardless of size, noting the 21st Ward has the most public right of way. (49:00); Asked how CDOT could expedite improvements on WPA streets that have lacked curbs and sidewalks for decades. (50:37); Asked how CDOT would partner with the state to speed repairs on 95th Street east of Halsted. (51:26)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Congratulated the nominee, called the appointment well deserved, and asked that the ward's CDOT liaison remain in place. (58:25)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said the nominee comes well regarded by respected people in the industry and expressed confidence in him. (59:17); Described traffic calming and lowering speeds as a public safety priority and said CDOT has a public safety mission. (1:00:30); Cited Lake Street in Oak Park and the potential of 26th Street as examples of built environments that attract people to business districts. (1:01:38)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Thanked the nominee for responding to an emergency in her ward while he was out of town. (1:02:51); Urged better protection of work sites, especially near schools and parks, and timely removal of barricades and materials after projects finish. (1:03:27)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Said the nominee's longstanding relationships with respected former city officials speak well of him and recalled his response to pipe breaks at 79th and Green. (1:05:40); Asked that project managers not sign off on projects with barricades left or incomplete work. (1:08:02); Asked whether longer-lasting street materials are available given limited MENU funds. (1:09:21)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Praised the nominee's vision and asked him to lead on reforming MENU funding for larger wards, citing Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley point. (1:17:56)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Said north side alderpersons sent a letter seeking better coordination of major bridge and street closures. (1:19:47); Said maintenance after projects and MENU-funded work deserves more focus than big-ticket projects. (1:20:42); Called for more enforcement so contractors, utilities, sister agencies, and railroads restore the public way after work, citing a 2019 Inspector General audit. (1:21:53)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Called the appointment a great addition given the nominee's CDOT history and urged colleagues to support it. (1:27:06)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Said he has already seen changes in public way inspectors since the nominee became acting commissioner and congratulated him. (1:28:11)
Exchanges between members
- 48:21 The chair thanked Alderperson Brian Hopkins after his remarks.
- 58:16 The chair thanked Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley after his questions.
- 1:04:50 The chair said he shares Alderperson Jeylú B. Gutiérrez concern about work site safety.
- 1:05:06 Alderperson David H. Moore joked with Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley about their shared Kenwood connection with the nominee.
- 1:17:53 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin thanked Alderperson David H. Moore before his remarks.
- 1:18:18 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin endorsed Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley point about MENU funding for larger wards.
- 1:19:47 Alderperson Scott Waguespack referenced Alderperson Brian Hopkins remarks on bridge closures and described joint efforts on the issue.
- 1:26:43 The chair thanked Alderperson Scott Waguespack and said he appreciates his line of questioning.
- 1:27:55 Alderperson Felix Cardona Jr. thanked the chair for the opportunity to speak as a non-member.