Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, April 7, 2026
- When: Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 12:30 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/1179635813
- Transcript: full text (4,790 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 met with Vice Chair Ruth Cruz presiding and heard seven public commenters, most of whom spoke about the planned Grand Avenue protected bike lane project; several spoke in support and two spoke against it, raising concerns about parking, businesses and transparency. The committee approved the March Rule 45 report, recommended approval of the direct introduction ordinances on page two and the recommended items on pages three through 16, accepted a substitute for item eight on page 20, and recommended approval of the no-recommendation items on pages 17 through 20 except items two and six on page 20, which were held. CDOT then presented on a planned temporary closure of the Austin Avenue pedestrian bridge for repairs, expected to last about two months starting mid-to-late May. Alderpersons Hopkins and Curtis asked about detour signage, public notification, Kennedy lane closures and advance notice of bridge closures, and CDOT said it would follow up with details through the chair.
Topics: Grand Avenue bike lanes, public comment, traffic safety, hit-and-run crashes, Rule 45 report, Austin Avenue pedestrian bridge, bridge closures, detour signage
Agenda items discussed
- 9:47 Public comment: discussed
- 29:11 March Rule 45 report: passed
- 29:36 Direct introduction ordinances (page 2): passed
- 29:58 Recommended items (pages 3-16): passed
- 30:46 Substitute ordinance for item 8 on page 20 (per CDOT recommendation): passed
- 31:08 Items 2 and 6 on page 20: held
- 31:14 No-recommendation items (pages 17-20, excluding items 2 and 6 on page 20): passed
- 31:43 Subject matter hearing on the closure of the Austin Avenue pedestrian bridge: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Ruth Cruz (chair): Expressed condolences to the family of Damien Gomez, a bicyclist killed the previous weekend. (28:56); Asked CDOT to confirm the start date of the Austin Avenue pedestrian bridge project. (34:37); Asked when the bridge project is expected to be finished and what the worst-case timeline is, and asked CDOT to share lane closure information with members. (38:50)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Asked CDOT about communication with affected pedestrians and the signage plan for the pedestrian detour. (34:55); Suggested posting a map of the full detour route at each end and asked whether signs had been ordered given the sign shop backlog. (35:36); Asked whether CDOT is coordinating overnight Kennedy lane closures with IDOT's ongoing bridge work and whether closures will affect both directions at once. (36:35)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Asked whether CDOT is putting measures in place to avoid multiple bridges closing at the same time and to give the public and Council a year's notice. (37:36)
Exchanges between members
- 34:49 Vice Chair Ruth Cruz recognized Alderperson Brian Hopkins for questions on the bridge closure.
- 37:18 Alderperson Brian Hopkins concluded his questions and thanked the chair.
- 37:19 Vice Chair Ruth Cruz recognized Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis for questions.
- 37:25 Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis thanked the chair before asking his question.
- 38:46 Vice Chair Ruth Cruz thanked Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis after his question.