# Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, June 12, 2025

- When: Thu, Jun 12, 2025, 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](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/pedestrian-and-traffic-safety)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928552/video/1092949789
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1092949789.txt) (3,003 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 had no public speakers and approved its May Rule 45 report. It recommended approval of all direct introduction ordinances, all recommended items including three substitutes, and all no-recommendation items including six substitutes, by the same roll call vote used for quorum. Chair Daniel La Spata ordinance amending Title 9 to clarify traffic code definitions, bus stop zone boundaries, and parking and standing offenses in bus and bike lanes under the Smart Streets pilot was explained by the Department of Law, with questions from members about loading exceptions and delivery vehicles. After a recess for a livestream outage, the committee accepted the substitute and recommended the ordinance for passage.

Topics: traffic code, bus and bike lane enforcement, Smart Streets pilot, delivery vehicles, loading zones, Rule 45 report

### Agenda items discussed

- [1:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=96) May Rule 45 report: passed
- [2:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=121) Direct introduction ordinances (pages 2-4): passed
- [2:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=145) Recommended items (pages 5-7), including three substitute ordinances: passed
- [3:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=196) No-recommendation items (pages 8-13), including six substitute ordinances: passed
- [4:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=281) Amendment of Municipal Code Title 9 clarifying traffic code definitions, bus stop zones, and parking and standing in bus and bike lanes (O2025-0017552): passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (chair): Said he introduced the ordinance because CDOT and the Department of Finance encountered issues enforcing and adjudicating violations under the Smart Streets pilot. ([5:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=308)); Asked for a practical example of violations seen in the pilot area and how the ordinance would address them differently. ([12:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=748))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked about the exception for expeditious loading and unloading near bus stops and how it differs from the rules in the pilot zone. ([9:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=556)); Asked whether expeditious loading is defined, describing cars waiting at a bus stop in front of a busy business in his ward, and said he wants Lakeview included in the pilot. ([10:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=640))
- [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (alderperson): Said targeted enforcement on Wells Street between Division and North Avenue has gotten delivery drivers' attention but they have no alternative place to unload, and asked for solutions. ([15:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=926))

### Exchanges between members

- [8:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=533) The chair thanked Chairman Jason C. Ervin for joining remotely.
- [9:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=553) The chair recognized Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson for questions.
- [9:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=556) Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson thanked the chair before asking his questions.
- [15:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=924) The chair recognized Alderperson Brian Hopkins.
- [17:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE?t=1067) The chair suggested Alderperson Brian Hopkins continue the loading zone conversation offline as the committee recessed.

## Documents

- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/cd0b21c0-b248-4b44-b3e7-d407eba52e65.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/86593e8f-44b4-4887-8c36-d518b89af7fd.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/c6e1065a-02aa-4f1f-abcc-9eae08b5a318.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C23E88C3-5445-F011-8779-001DD8307DDE · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt