# Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, July 21, 2025 - When: Mon, Jul 21, 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/manage/videos/1101640479 - Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1101640479.txt) (21,216 words, official 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, chaired by Alderperson Daniel La Spata, held a subject matter hearing on Chicago's sidewalk network. Five public commenters, mostly from transportation and planning groups, called for proactive, grid-based sidewalk repair, dedicated funding and an ADA transition plan. They described the complaint-based 311 system as inequitable. The acting CDOT commissioner described the department's capital, shared-cost and 311-driven repair programs. CMAP, Access Living and Project Sidewalk presented on ADA requirements, accessibility needs and crowdsourced sidewalk condition data. Members asked about survey backlogs, staffing, prioritization, the shared-cost program and how repairs are communicated, and the chair said a 35-year wait for an ADA transition plan was too long. No action was taken. Topics: sidewalk repair, ADA accessibility, ADA transition plan, 311 complaint-based requests, shared cost sidewalk program, aldermanic menu funding, Project Sidewalk data, CDOT staffing, litigation risk ### Agenda items discussed - [28:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=1725) Subject matter hearing on Chicago's sidewalk network: discussed ### Alderpersons who spoke - [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (chair): Said sidewalks are used by everyone regardless of age or ability and are the part of the public way that most often leads to costly litigation against the city. ([29:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=1776)); Asked what inspectors look for, whether they apply current ADA or PROWAG standards, and how repairs are routed to programs. ([1:40:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=6033)); Asked whether inspection results are shared with ward offices and what timeline residents can expect between identification and repair. ([1:43:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=6219)) - [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (alderperson): Asked the Project Sidewalk researcher how community engagement worked in the 40th Ward and how the ward used the data. ([1:04:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=3876)); Asked CDOT for staffing levels, in-house versus contractor inspectors, and vacancies on the survey team ahead of budget season. ([1:07:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4047)); Asked for annual sidewalk repair spending over three years and how CDOT conducts proactive street surveys. ([1:09:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4191)) - [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Asked Access Living for examples near new Red Line stations in Edgewater and Uptown where access could be improved. ([1:11:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4296)); Expressed interest in Project Sidewalk for the 48th Ward and concern that areas with low 311 engagement fall into disrepair. ([1:14:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4452)); Asked CDOT whether it has considered a grid-based approach like tree trimming and how ADA issues can be prioritized. ([1:15:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4500)) - [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson): Praised the presentations and the acting commissioner, and drew on his years as a ward superintendent to suggest giving superintendents more jurisdiction. ([1:20:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4851)); Said many seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford the shared cost program and that the $1.5 million aldermanic menu does not go far. ([1:27:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=5238)); Said budget season is the time to address sidewalk funding and suggested menu funds be allocated more flexibly across wards. ([1:32:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=5574)) - [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (alderperson): Said barriers to accessible sidewalks are significant for an aging community and called the hearing a chance for the council to work with CDOT to address disparities. ([1:39:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=5967)) ### Exchanges between members - [1:11:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=4287) La Spata thanked Martin for his questions and turned to the next member. - [1:30:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=5412) Curtis referred to Manaa-Hoppenworth's question about how to prioritize repairs. - [1:34:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=5655) La Spata said Curtis had given the panel a lot to respond to and invited responses. - [1:53:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=6807) La Spata summarized Curtis's point about limited funding and said the city needs to find more resources overall. - [1:53:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654?t=6826) Curtis agreed with the chair and said the council and administration must decide on more CDOT funding. ## Documents - [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/ad00e84b-8757-f011-877a-001dd805001e.pdf) - [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f424a17e-f6f7-469e-9b34-54f165c2a474.pdf) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/F200CED8-8657-F011-877A-001DD8309654 ยท Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. 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