Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, September 15, 2026

When: Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 10:00 AM (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/showcase/8928552?video=1226691639
Transcript: full text (9,057 words, automatic captions)

Video chapters

20:37 Direct introduction ordinances, pages 2-5
21:25 Recommended items, pages 6-25, including substitute for item 6
22:16 No recommendation items, pages 26-27, including substitute for item 11
23:19 Amendment of Municipal Code 9-108-070 regarding bus terminal loading and unloading zones (authority to…
24:30 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked whether the bus permit revocation authority applies to charter buses around Wrigley…
27:32 Report on Smart Streets pilot program
27:59 Daniel La Spata: Thanked colleagues who led passage of the Smart Streets pilot before the presentation.
36:18 Daniel La Spata: Asked what the collection rate means and whether it differs between commercial and…
41:36 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked why the pilot remains limited to small areas years later rather than scaling…
43:38 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked what it would cost to outfit all City vehicles with cameras and suggested running…
44:23 Daniel La Spata: Asked whether Council authorization is needed to add enforcement vehicles, noting the map…
44:56 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Said the Council could change the code to allow citywide enforcement and asked for cost…
46:23 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked how Smart Streets targets heavily metered streets with bike lanes but no bus…
48:10 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked whether crosswalk violations are enforced and expressed support for adding them.
52:26 Matthew J. Martin: Said the City is overdue to pilot smart loading zones as other cities have and asked for…
52:51 Matthew J. Martin: Asked how many staff and vehicles have been assigned to the program and its net revenue…
53:39 Matthew J. Martin: Asked when violations should decline, saying the program was meant to change habits…
56:42 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked to include Sheridan Road in her ward in an expansion, citing delivery traffic…
58:10 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked whether violation data can be shared with wards and whether enforcement covers…
1:00:00 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Raised concern about delivery drivers stopping in the bus lane on Sheridan Road.

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 approved its July Rule 45 report and recommended passage of its routine direct introduction, recommended and no-recommendation traffic ordinances, including two substitutes. It also recommended passage of O2026-0027125, a mayoral ordinance giving the CDOT commissioner explicit authority to revoke curbside loading permits for intercity bus operators, after a question about how it applies to charter buses near Wrigley Field. CDOT and the Department of Finance then reported on the Smart Streets camera enforcement pilot, which expires December 21, 2026, describing its expanded area, about 140,000 warnings and violations issued (75 percent zero-fine warnings), low repeat offense rates except among trucks, and about $2.5 million collected; the CTA said bus-mounted cameras are expanding from 6 to 52 buses. Members asked about scaling the program citywide, the cost of expansion, crosswalk and loading zone enforcement, and repeat violations by delivery companies, and several said they support expansion; no vote was taken on the report.

Topics: Smart Streets pilot, automated parking enforcement, bike and bus lanes, delivery vehicles, smart loading zones, intercity bus permits, traffic ordinances

Agenda items discussed

12:11 Public comment: discussed
20:16 Approval of the July Rule 45 report: passed
20:37 Direct introduction ordinances on agenda pages 2 through 5: passed
21:25 Recommended traffic ordinances on agenda pages 6 through 25, including a substitute for item 6: passed
22:16 No-recommendation ordinances on agenda pages 26 and 27, including a substitute for item 11: passed
23:24 Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 9-108-070 regarding bus terminal loading and unloading zones (authority to revoke intercity bus curbside permits): passed
27:32 Report on the Smart Streets pilot program: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

Daniel La Spata (chair): Thanked colleagues who led passage of the Smart Streets pilot before the presentation. (27:59); Asked what the collection rate means and whether it differs between commercial and passenger vehicles. (36:18); Asked whether Council authorization is needed to add enforcement vehicles, noting the map expanded without more vehicles. (44:23)
Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked whether the bus permit revocation authority applies to charter buses around Wrigley Field and how approvals are coordinated. (24:30); Asked how Smart Streets targets heavily metered streets with bike lanes but no bus routes, such as Southport. (46:23); Asked whether crosswalk violations are enforced and expressed support for adding them. (48:10)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked why the pilot remains limited to small areas years later rather than scaling cameras citywide. (41:36); Asked what it would cost to outfit all City vehicles with cameras and suggested running cameras before issuing tickets to verify accuracy. (43:38); Said the Council could change the code to allow citywide enforcement and asked for cost options at several funding levels. (44:56)
Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Said the City is overdue to pilot smart loading zones as other cities have and asked for a timeline. (52:26); Asked how many staff and vehicles have been assigned to the program and its net revenue for 2025 and 2026. (52:51); Asked when violations should decline, saying the program was meant to change habits rather than close budget gaps. (53:39)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked to include Sheridan Road in her ward in an expansion, citing delivery traffic and enforcement challenges. (56:42); Asked whether violation data can be shared with wards and whether enforcement covers residential streets and crosswalks. (58:10); Raised concern about delivery drivers stopping in the bus lane on Sheridan Road. (1:00:00)

Exchanges between members

40:40 The chair recognized Vasquez first as a co-sponsor of the original Smart Streets ordinance.
44:21 The chair asked Vasquez to allow a clarifying question and said he shared the confusion his colleague raised about vehicle numbers.
46:05 Vasquez thanked the chair after his questions.
46:08 The chair joked about Vasquez's car-model references.
46:16 Lawson joked in reply to Vasquez's Pinto reference.
50:48 The chair thanked Lawson for his questions.
52:26 Martin said he would build on the chair's question about smart loading zones.
53:19 Martin followed up on Lawson's question about whether the program is revenue generating.
55:14 Martin said the delivery company issue dovetails with the chair's point about smart loading zones.
1:05:46 The chair returned the floor to Vasquez for a second round of questions.

Documents

Sources and methods: how we get and count this data · report an error