Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker generally has a decent record on sustainable transportation. But while he's talked about wanting to make our state a leader in the fight against climate change, he has a frustrating blind spot when it comes to highway expansion. He's been a vocal advocate for using much of the projected $17 billion Illinois will get from the new federal infrastructure bill to add lanes to expressways and Interstates, which would encourage more driving and divert funding from sustainable transportation project.
Fortunately, the Active Transportation Alliance and 50 other sustainable transportation, environmental, and social justice advocacy organizations have teamed up to send the a letter to the governor and Illinois Department of Transportation secretary Omer Osman calling on state officials to move away from the car-centric status quo and allocate more resources to creating a safer, more efficient, more equitable, and more environmentally-friendly transportation system.
"To achieve these goals and solve our transportation problems, we have to stop expanding highways and embrace the full range of solutions that federal funding can support," the letter states. "IDOT has the flexibility to spend federal funds on the state’s 63 distinct public transit systems, solutions that reduce air pollution and address the climate crisis, complete streets projects that offer safe alternatives to driving such as walking and biking, ADA improvements for the disabled and mobility impaired, infrastructure to unite neighborhoods separated by freeways, and improved transit access for rural and Tribal communities."
These potential solutions include (language from the letter):
● Reconnecting communities and reflect the inclusion of disadvantaged and under-represented groups in the planning, project selection and design process.
● Improving the condition, resilience and safety of road and bridge assets consistent with asset management plans (including investing in the preservation of those assets.)
● Promote and improving safety for all road users, particularly vulnerable users.
● Making streets and other transportation facilities accessible to all users and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
● Addressing environmental impacts ranging from stormwater runoff to greenhouse gas emissions.
● Prioritizing infrastructure that is less vulnerable and more resilient to a changing climate.
● Future-proofing our transportation infrastructure by accommodating new and emerging technologies like electric vehicle charging stations, renewable energy generation, and broadband deployment in transportation rights-of-way.
Chicago's Ashland Avenue Green and Pink line station. Photo: John Greenfield
The letter notes that it's especially important to invest in transit. "We know that abundant transit unlocks freedom of movement and dramatically increases access to opportunity. When people can count on the bus or train to get where they need to go, they can easily access jobs, education, medical care, culture, goods and services, and the daily life of their communities. They benefit from greater economic mobility and lower household costs."
The memo also states that transit is crucial for reducing air pollution and addressing climate change. It points out that racist 20th Century urban planning resulted in expressways being run through communities of color. "This resulted in perpetuating racial, income and health inequities, limiting economic opportunity, hastening catastrophic climate change, and exacerbating chronic disease adding to disparate health outcomes for those communities."
The letter tells Pritzker and Osman, "You have a historic opportunity to change the status quo of transportation planning to build good zero emissions public transit systems and construct infrastructure for safe walking and biking that meets the needs of communities of all sizes around Illinois." Hopefully the governor and his IDOT chief will get the message.
Access Living Active Transportation Alliance Austin Coming Together Bike Peoria Bike & Walk Des Plaines Bike Walk Oak Park Center for Neighborhood Technology Champaign County Bikes Chicago Area Tandem Society (CATS) Chicago Heights Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center Citizens’ Greener Evanston/Go Evanston Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) Community Organizing and Family Issues Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) Chicago United for Equity (CUE) Cycle Brookfield The Equiticity Racial Equity Movement Elgin Community Bikes Elmhurst Bicycle Club Environmental Law & Policy Center Evanston Transit Alliance Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club Friends of Big Marsh Friends of the East Branch DuPage River Trail Go Green Glen Ellyn Go Green Highland Park Go Green Illinois Go Green Wilmette Illinois Environmental Council Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) McHenry County Bicycle Advocates Metropolitan Planning Council Midwest Sustainability Group The Nature Conservancy in Illinois North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC) Northwest Center Chicago Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Parents Organized to Win, Educate and Renew – Policy Action Council, Illinois Quad Cities Bicycle Club Respiratory Health Association Ride Illinois Rikosys LLC, Transport Consulting, of Champaign, IL Rogers Park Business Alliance Shared-Use Mobility Center Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter Skokie Bike Network Springfield Bicycle Club Starved Rock Cycling Association Trail Advocates of Central Illinois United Congregations of Metro East
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes about transportation and other topics for additional local publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.