# Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, October 8, 2025

- When: Wed, Oct 8, 2025, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/pedestrian-and-traffic-safety)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928552?video=1125246994
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1125246994.txt) (13,781 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 three public speakers, including a parent who asked for more data on school-zone safety work and rapid improvements after a 9-year-old was killed outside McNair Elementary School. The committee approved the September Rule 45 report and recommended passage of the direct introduction ordinances, the recommended agenda items, and the no-recommendation items with accepted substitutes, while holding item 14 on page 16. CDOT officials then presented highlights of the 2024 traffic crash report in a subject matter hearing, reporting a 30 percent drop in traffic deaths since 2021, a disproportionate share of fatal crashes on state-controlled streets, and results from Complete Streets projects. Members asked about rapid responses after fatal crashes, funding sources, pedestrian deaths among older adults, scooter and e-bike injuries, truck enforcement, Lake Shore Drive, and intersection safety; no vote was taken on the report.

Topics: traffic crash report, Vision Zero, Complete Streets, school zone safety, older pedestrians, scooters and e-bikes, IDOT state roads, truck restrictions, Lake Shore Drive

### Agenda items discussed

- [26:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1597) Rule 45 report from September 2025: passed
- [27:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1628) Direct introduction ordinances (agenda pages 2-3): passed
- [27:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1650) Recommended traffic ordinances (agenda pages 4-7), including substitute for item 4: passed
- [28:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1694) No-recommendation traffic ordinances (agenda pages 8-17), with substitutes for items 13 and 5: passed
- [28:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1733) Item 14 on page 16 of the no-recommendation agenda: held
- [29:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=1769) Subject matter hearing on CDOT's 2024 traffic crash report: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (chair): Recalled the death of 9-year-old Anakin Perez and asked whether CDOT has a rapid infrastructure or personnel response after a fatal crash while permanent designs are planned. ([53:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=3239)); Asked what funding sources pay for the Complete Streets infrastructure shown in the presentation. ([56:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=3379)); Said the share of serious crashes on state roads remains concerning and asked about state-level policy changes such as truck turning radius rules. ([59:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=3586))
- [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (alderperson): Asked CDOT to document in detail which improvements produced the large drop in serious crashes in East Garfield Park so results can be replicated and defended. ([1:03:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=3807)); Noted residents 65 and older are nine times more likely to be killed as pedestrians and asked for deeper analysis of causes such as crossing time. ([1:05:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=3936)); Asked that activated amber LED crossing flashers be made available through aldermanic menu funds for mid-block crossings near senior populations. ([1:07:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4020))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Agreed CDOT should show data on outcomes of investments and asked that corridors used by seniors be treated like school and park zones. ([1:10:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4217)); Asked about rising serious injuries for bikes and scooters relative to growing ridership. ([1:11:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4282)); Asked how truck restrictions are enforced and called for electronic enforcement, noting trucks getting stuck on Lake Shore Drive. ([1:15:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4526))
- [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (alderperson): Thanked CDOT for traffic calming on 71st Street and asked for solutions to speeding and red-light running on South Shore Drive and Lake Shore Drive ahead of increased traffic from the Obama Presidential Center. ([1:20:49](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4849))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Thanked CDOT for bike maps, new speed humps, and greenway and Sheridan Road improvements in her area. ([1:23:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4992)); Raised concerns about scooters and e-bikes near older adults and asked what responsibility Divvy has to educate young riders. ([1:25:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=5127)); Said she prefers traffic calming to speed camera fines and asked what measures could slow traffic on Broadway near the Armory and schools. ([1:29:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=5340))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:10:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2?t=4217) Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson echoed Alderperson Brian Hopkins request that CDOT show the data behind its safety results.

## Documents

- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f03a04c6-b82d-4cfc-9189-2e2cfa975977.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/529ee79b-5190-47de-9662-b1053dc394af.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/bdb841c9-bac8-416e-b28d-42ce13e280e6.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/5e7e208c-38a2-43f4-8293-e5e834f16bd0.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/43febb99-84b5-4f32-99eb-37e02960bb3d.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8685D53E-A694-F011-B4CB-001DD806A7A2 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt