[remote or in person] Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety

Chicago City Council

Transportation

Politics

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Kaelyn Robinson

Alders and constituents spoke to the importance of the Complete Streets Ordinance.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski

Hey there, Chicago! Happening NOW, the City Council's Committee on Traffic and Pedestrian Safety meeting. There will be a hearing on the Complete Streets Ordinance. 🚲 Let's talk bike infrastructure! 🏙 I'll be livetweeting the proceedings for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters

09:57 AM Feb 6, 2024 CST

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 2/55

The revised agenda is here (click over to the files tab)

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?meeti…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 3/55

See John Greenfield for @streetsblogchi

chi.streetsblog.org/2023/11/01/cdo…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 4/55

Ah, I always reverse this. One correction it's the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. That's better.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 5/55

View the livestream from
Chair @DanielLaSpata (1st Ward) will get us started. Stay tuned!

chicityclerk.com

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 6/55

@DanielLaSpata This ordinance passed in 2022 and requires all road improvements to include bike and pedestrian infrastructure and standardizes what that should look like across the city.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 7/55

The meeting has been called to order. Quorum is established. Public comment is starting. Alder La Spata is saying that public comment will begin and that speakers will be limited to 2 minutes. Usually, each person would have 3 minutes to speak. There is some talk in the chamber.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 8/55

The first speaker is speaking about the new arrivals, saying without evidence that migrants are driving unlicensed and uninsured, causing accidents. Our next speaker is Jessica Jackson. She spoke at the Immigration Committee meeting last week.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 9/55

She is speaking against the change in the timing change of public comment. She says the city is anti black.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 10/55

Our next speaker is Edgardo Ramírez. There is cross talk in the chamber. Mr. Ramírez is speaking, in Spanish, about the challenges for his children in his neighborhood, traveling down the sidewalk. Another person is attempting to provide a translation in English.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 11/55

Other speakers are upset that the translation is taking extra time. Ald La Spata is explaining that two minutes includes time for translation.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 12/55

Our next speaker is from the 25th Ward. She is saying that there have been lots of accidents on the Boulevards near her home. She is saying that both signage and accessibility near schools needs to be improved.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 13/55

It seems that this change to make more time for speakers is a distraction that is could take more time to enforce than it would save.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 14/55

Our next speaker is also speaking in Spanish. She is saying that transit options are limited in Gage Park, especially near the schools, and there is a busy Amazon distribution center that brings a ton of truck traffic. A translator steps in partway through, and there is crosstalk

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 15/55

The next speaker is Lilia Guevarra (sp?). She is saying that she is a parent of students and Acero Charter Schools. She is saying that the charter network has failed to provide basic needs for pedestrian safety.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 16/55

The next speaker is Tim Shambrook. He is a bike activist whose three year old daughter was killed. He is speaking about the increase of cars in the city, and that this is unsustainable.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 17/55

See Meredith Deliso for ABC News

southernillinoisnow.com/2023/01/18/par…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 18/55

The next speaker is speaking about moving bike lines to improve bus service on Milwaukee.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 19/55

Our next speaker is Mr. George Blakemore. His mic is turned off, but he is speaking loud enough without it. Apologies, he is not standing at the mic. He is also speaking about the change from 3 to 2 minutes. He says that the change is meant to silence people.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 20/55

The next speaker is Aida Guevara (sp?). She is speaking in Spanish. She says that, yes she is a immigrant. And that she deserves safe streets all the same. She speaks as a crossing guard, saying that the school in the neighborhood isn't visible enough among factories.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 21/55

There is some translation being provided as well.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 22/55

The next speaker is discussing a development on Halsted and Chicago. He is saying that there are una dressed needs for bus, bike and pedestrian as a result of development near the Bally casino.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 23/55

Our next speaker is from Sierra Club, and is speaking aboht the lack of support for pedestrians in crosswalks. She is speaking about the importance of disability justice in pesestrian safety.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 24/55

Public Comment is concluded at 10:49am. The rule 45 report has been published.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 25/55

In addition to the subject matter hearing there are a number of direct introductions, and recommended to pass items that have been approved.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 26/55

We have arrived at our hearing. Acting Director of the Department of Transportation, Tom Carney among others will present.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 27/55

Last week, Brandon Johnson submitted a communication nominating Mr. Carney to fill the role permanently. This body will presumably weigh in as to whether Mr. Carney will be confirmed as the Transportation head.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 28/55

Tom Carney is speaking about the "design elements" that make up a complete street. This includes ADA ramps, pedestrian islands, protected bike lanes and "greenways."

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 29/55

It appears there is a slide deck being projected, but we cannot see it on the livestream.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 30/55

Carney is now talking about the "network elements." This appears to be bus infrastructure, such as elevated bus islands, and bus only lanes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 31/55

Mr. Carney says that street resurfacing provides an opportunity to include these elements and helps slow down projects long enough so that best practices can be implemented.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 32/55

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 33/55

Now we have some presentation slides!

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 34/55

This is some things to come in 2024.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 35/55

The Acting Commissioner is done with his presentation. Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth (49th Ward) @lenihoppenworth is speaking about a pedestrian fatality in her ward, saying she is glad for changes, but that we shouldn't have to wait until someone dies to make things safe.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 36/55

Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth continues, saying that there are equity issues where some parts of town are lacking much more basic things like any sidewalks at all.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 37/55

One staff member from CDOT says that the department has been digging into the data around racialized inequity and he then changes his tack and starts talking about the streets and making it safer for "everyone," meaning all modalities (cars, buses, bikes, pedestrians).

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 38/55

Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth is asking about how sidewalks figure in to the planning.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 39/55

Cmmr Carney is saying that the city is about 50% compliant around ADA compliant sidewalk ramps.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 40/55

He says that there are some material constraints on the ramps, some of which have plastic tiles that are not durable.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 41/55

Cmmr Carney is speaking about the legacy of disinvestment that the department needs to try to recover for. He calls out needs around citizens with visual impairment, who have almost no accommodation on sidewalks and traffic lights.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 42/55

See Nick Blumberg for WTTW

news.wttw.com/2024/01/16/des…

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 43/55

Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth's last question is about expanding a pilot that started downtown to ticket folks parked in bus only lanes or bike lanes.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 44/55

This pilot was championed by Ald Matt Martin (47th Ward). @AldMattMartin

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 45/55

CDOT staff says things are moving forward, if slowly.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 46/55

Alderman Peter Chico (10th Ward) is next. He is asking about community engagement for the streetscape on Commercial Ave.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 47/55

Ald Chico is speaking to a bus stop that was moved. CDOT Deputy Commissioner Vigneth Krishnamurthy speaks to the process of engineering for different needs.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 48/55

Ald Bennet Lawson (44th) @AldLawson is speaking about the value of loading zones, especially for daytime hours, could be expanded and would be well used, even one per block. This may be related to folks parking in bus and bike areas, making room for cars that are stopping.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 49/55

Ald Matt Martin is next to speak, he is highlighting some work on Clark North of Montrose.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 50/55

Chair La Spata is speaking about "menu" spending. Each of the city's 50 wards has a million bucks to spend on ward specific improvements. He asks the Acting Commissioner, what should we be looking for from CDOT to inform decision making for these dollars.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 51/55

The Cmmr Carney says that leveraging constituent input is the best way to direct the dollars.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 52/55

Ald La Spata asks how can we stay focused on investment, so we don't go backward and have more "lean" times of disinvestment. The Acting Commissioner says it's about the human element. If people's lives are improved, streets are safe, if the money is spent well, it will continue.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 53/55

Chair La Spata thanks Cmmr Carney and the other CDOT staff, and asks for a motion to adjourn. Motion carries, and the meeting is adjourned at 11:37 am.

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 54/55

Thanks for following along with me! This concludes my coverage of the meeting of the Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. Want to read more hyper local coverage of meetings like this? Visit .

Documenters.org

Kaelyn @Kaelynski 55/55

And subscribe to the Newswire Newsletter for a weekly recap of the best from #CHIdocumenters

citybureau.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5d…

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Attachments

Meeting details

By India Daniels 2/6/2024

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

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At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.